Testament of Faith 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
: This enchantment becomes an X/X Wall creature with defender in addition to its other types until end of turn.
Complete guide
Testament of Faith is a versatile white enchantment that offers a flexible defensive option for a low initial investment. By funneling mana into it, you can transform this static enchantment into a formidable blocker at a moment's notice.
A Shift in State
Testament of Faith features an activated ability that costs X mana. When activated, the enchantment becomes an X/X Wall creature with defender. Crucially, it retains its enchantment type, meaning it can be targeted by both creature and enchantment removal once the ability resolves.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you announce the activation and choose a value for X. Once the cost is paid and the ability resolves, the enchantment's power and toughness are set to X. This effect lasts until the end of the current turn. If you activate the ability multiple times in a single turn, the most recent value of X will determine its power and toughness.
Common Mistakes: Summoning Sickness
A common point of confusion is whether the 'creature' version of the card can act immediately. Even if it wasn't a creature when the turn began, it is subject to summoning sickness. If you haven't controlled Testament of Faith continuously since your most recent turn began, it cannot attack (if it somehow loses defender) or use tap abilities the turn it becomes a creature.
Strategic Timing
Because this is an activated ability, you can wait until your opponent's declare attackers step to see where they are sending their damage. You can then pay exactly the amount of mana needed to block their most threatening creature, making it an efficient use of your resources.
Interaction examples
Authority of the ConsulsIf your opponent controls Authority of the Consuls and you activate Testament of Faith, it does not enter the battlefield as a creature; it simply becomes one while already on the field. Therefore, Authority of the Consuls will not cause Testament of Faith to become tapped, nor will the opponent gain life.
Urza's SagaTestament of Faith is an enchantment, but it is not an artifact. While Urza's Saga can search for 0 or 1 cost artifacts, it cannot find Testament of Faith. However, if Testament of Faith becomes a creature, it remains an enchantment. This means it still contributes to any effects that count the number of enchantments you control, even while it is a Wall.
If an opponent attacks with a 3/3 creature, you can pay {3} into Testament of Faith's ability. It becomes a 3/3 Wall. Since it has defender, you can declare it as a blocker. Both creatures will deal 3 damage to each other, resulting in both being destroyed during the combat damage step.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Testament of Faith
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its
abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn't matter how long the permanent has been a creature.No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Testament of Faith
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.