Temur CharmHow it works & interactions with other cards

Choosing Your Mode

When you cast Temur Charm, you must choose one of its three modes. The first mode allows a creature you control to get +1/+1 and fight a creature you don't control. The second mode is a soft counter, taxing an opponent's spell by three mana. The third mode prevents creatures with power 3 or less from blocking for the remainder of the turn.

Resolution and Targeting

For the first mode, you must be able to target both a creature you control and one you don't control to cast the spell. During resolution, if one target becomes illegal, the fight does not occur, and no damage is dealt. However, if only the opponent's creature is illegal, your creature still receives the +1/+1 bonus. For the third mode, the effect is a continuous condition that applies to all creatures meeting the criteria until the turn ends, even those that enter the battlefield after the spell has resolved.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake occurs with the fight mode; if your creature is removed before the spell resolves, the +1/+1 bonus is lost and no damage is dealt to the opponent's creature. Another important note regarding the third mode: a creature's power is checked at the moment the 'declare blockers' step begins. If a creature was power 4 during resolution but its power is reduced to 3 later in the turn, it will be unable to block.

When to Play It

Temur Charm is best held until you need to disrupt a specific play or push for lethal damage. Use the counter mode early when your opponent is tapped out, or save the blocking restriction for a big alpha strike against a deck full of small utility creatures.

Interaction examples

Fighting Through Interference

Beast Within

You cast Temur Charm choosing the first mode, targeting your 2/2 and an opponent's creature. In response, your opponent casts Beast Within to destroy their own creature, replacing it with a 3/3 Beast. Because the original target of the fight is no longer on the battlefield, the fight fails. Your creature still gets +1/+1 until end of turn, but it does not fight the new 3/3 Beast.

Stacking the Counter

Counterspell

You cast a powerful spell, and your opponent responds with Counterspell. You then cast Temur Charm choosing the second mode, targeting their Counterspell. If your opponent cannot or chooses not to pay {3}, their Counterspell is removed from the stack, allowing your original spell to resolve safely.

Breaking the Line

Beast Within

You cast Temur Charm choosing the third mode. Later in the turn, your opponent casts Beast Within to destroy their own land and create a 3/3 Beast token to use as a blocker. Because Temur Charm's effect applies to all creatures with power 3 or less for the whole turn, the newly created 3/3 Beast is immediately affected and cannot block when you move to your combat phase.