Stave Off is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Target creature gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.
Complete guide
Stave Off is a versatile white instant that provides a protective shield for your creatures. For just one mana, it can neutralize removal spells or ensure your creature survives combat unscathed.
What It Does
Stave Off grants a target creature protection from a color of your choice until the end of the turn. This invokes the 'DEBT' rule for protection: the creature cannot be Damaged, Enchanted/Equipped, Blocked, or Targeted by anything of the chosen color.
How It Resolves
When you cast Stave Off, you must first choose a target creature. You do not name the color yet. As the spell resolves, you then choose a color. Once the spell finishes resolving, the creature immediately has protection from that color, causing any illegal spells or abilities currently targeting it to fizzle.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is choosing the color too early. You should wait until the spell is actually resolving to announce the color. Additionally, remember that protection from a color will cause any Auras or Equipment of that color already attached to the creature to fall off.
When to Play It
Stave Off is best used reactively. Cast it in response to an opponent's removal spell to make their spell lose its target, or use it during the declare blockers step to make your creature unblockable by your opponent's colored creatures.
Interaction examples
Swords to PlowsharesIf your opponent casts Swords to Plowshares targeting your creature, you can cast Stave Off in response. As Stave Off resolves, you choose White. Your creature now has protection from White, and Swords to Plowshares will be countered by the game rules because its target is no longer legal.
Path to ExileWhen Path to Exile is cast, you respond with Stave Off. By choosing White upon resolution, the creature gains protection from White. Path to Exile fails to resolve, meaning your creature is not exiled and you do not get to search for a land.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Stave Off
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You choose the target as part of casting the spell. You choose what color the target gains protection from when the spell resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Stave Off
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.