Refuse to YieldHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

For two mana, Refuse to Yield targets a single creature and grants it +2/+7 until the end of the turn. Additionally, it untaps that creature, effectively giving it a second life in combat or allowing it to reuse an activated ability that requires tapping.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you cast the spell and choose a legal target creature. Upon resolution, the creature immediately gains the +2/+7 stat bonus. Finally, the creature is untapped. If the creature was already untapped, it still receives the power and toughness bonus; the untap portion simply does nothing.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget that the +7 toughness can be used offensively with cards that allow creatures to assign damage based on toughness. Another mistake is trying to cast this after a creature has already been destroyed in combat; remember, this must resolve before the combat damage step to save a creature from lethal damage.

When to Play It

The best time to cast Refuse to Yield is during your opponent's declare attackers step. By untapping a creature they thought was out of the fight, you create an unexpected blocker that is very difficult to kill due to the massive +7 toughness boost.

Interaction examples

Survival Against Removal

Swords to Plowshares

If an opponent casts Swords to Plowshares on your creature, you can respond with Refuse to Yield. While your creature will still be exiled, its power will have increased by 2. When Swords to Plowshares resolves, you will gain additional life equal to that increased power.

Maximizing Resource Gains

Path to Exile

If your creature is targeted by Path to Exile, casting Refuse to Yield won't stop the exile effect. However, if you have other effects on the board that trigger when a creature's toughness changes, you can ensure those trigger before the creature leaves the battlefield.