Rise to the ChallengeHow it works & interactions with other cards

Combat Dominance

When you cast Rise to the Challenge, you target a single creature on the battlefield. That creature receives a +2 bonus to its power and gains the first strike keyword until the end of the current turn. This is particularly effective during the declare blockers step, as it changes the outcome of combat math significantly by allowing your creature to deal damage during the first strike combat damage step.

How it Resolves

First, you cast the spell by paying its mana cost and choosing a legal target creature. If the target is still legal when the spell resolves, the effects are applied immediately. The power increase affects the creature's current power, and the first strike ability creates an additional combat damage step. If the creature already had first strike or double strike, the keyword gain is redundant, but it still benefits from the +2/+0 buff.

Common Mistakes

A common error is casting this after the combat damage step has already occurred; once damage is dealt, first strike no longer provides a tactical advantage for that combat. Another mistake involves targeting a creature that is about to be removed from the battlefield. If the target becomes illegal before resolution, the entire spell fails and none of the effects occur.

When to Play It

The ideal time to play Rise to the Challenge is during combat, specifically after blockers are declared. This forces your opponent into a situation where their blocking creature might die before it can deal any damage. It can also be used as a finishing move to push through those last 2 points of damage if your creature is unblocked.

Interaction examples

Countering Redirection

Deflecting Swat

You cast Rise to the Challenge targeting your 2/2 creature. In response, your opponent casts Deflecting Swat. Since you control your commander, they cast it for free and choose to change the target of Rise to the Challenge to their own creature. When the spell resolves, their creature gets the +2/+0 and first strike instead of yours.

Combat Survival and Removal

Chaos Warp

You attack with a creature, and your opponent blocks with a larger one. You cast Rise to the Challenge to give your attacker first strike. If your opponent responds with Chaos Warp to shuffle your creature into your library, Rise to the Challenge will lose its target and go to the graveyard without doing anything. However, if Chaos Warp is not used, your creature deals damage first, likely destroying the blocker without taking damage in return.