Flare of FaithHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Flare of Faith is an instant-speed spell that targets a single creature to provide a power and toughness boost. The magnitude of the bonus and the secondary effects depend entirely on the creature type of the target. Non-Human creatures receive a respectable +2/+2 bonus, while Humans receive a larger +3/+3 buff and gain the indestructible keyword, making them immune to destruction from damage or 'destroy' effects.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you cast Flare of Faith and choose a legal target creature. Upon resolution, the game checks the creature's types. If the creature is not a Human, it immediately gains +2/+2 until the end of the turn. If the creature has the Human subtype (even if it has other types, like Human Soldier), it receives +3/+3 and indestructible instead. These effects last until the cleanup step of the current turn.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that giving a creature indestructible will protect it from all forms of removal. Indestructible only prevents effects that use the word 'destroy' or lethal damage. It does not prevent a creature from being sacrificed, having its toughness reduced to zero or less, or being exiled. Additionally, the type check happens only as the spell resolves; if a creature loses the Human type in response to the spell, it will only receive the +2/+2 bonus.

When to Play It

You should play Flare of Faith during the declare blockers step to save a creature from combat damage or to deal lethal damage to an opponent. It is also an excellent response to board wipes like Day of Judgment, provided your target is a Human. Keep in mind that since it targets, your opponent can fizzle the spell by removing the creature in response.

Interaction examples

Surviving Combat

You attack with a 1/1 Human Soldier token and your opponent blocks with a 3/3 creature. You cast Flare of Faith targeting your token. As it resolves, the token becomes a 4/4 with indestructible. It survives the combat, and the opponent's 3/3 is destroyed by lethal damage.

The Limits of Indestructible

Swords to Plowshares

You cast Flare of Faith on your Human creature to give it +3/+3 and indestructible. In response, or even after it resolves, your opponent casts Swords to Plowshares. Because Swords to Plowshares exiles the creature rather than destroying it, your creature is removed from the battlefield regardless of being indestructible.

Basic Land Search

Path to Exile

Similar to other exile effects, if you target your Human with Flare of Faith and your opponent responds with Path to Exile, the creature is exiled. Flare of Faith will fail to resolve because its only target is no longer on the battlefield. You will still get to search for a basic land from the Path to Exile effect.