Red-Green Dynamics: Harnessing Mortal's Resolve for Tempo

In TCG ·

Mortal's Resolve card art from Born of the Gods: a green instant featuring lush mythic artwork and a sense of fragile, fleeting moments saved by iron resolve

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Red-Green Dynamics in Tempo-Minded MTG Decks

Red-green (RG) tempo is all about speed and survivability, a dance between pressure and protection. In this regime, you’re not just swinging for damage; you’re forcing your opponent into bad trades, bluffing with reckless abandon, and then surprising them with a crisp bit of catch-you-off-guard inevitability. Mortal’s Resolve is a prime example of a compact trick that embodies the RG tempo philosophy: for {1}{G}, you hand a creature +1/+1 and, crucially, grant it indestructible until end of turn. That window is your lane to push through blockers, absorb removal, and keep the board state hostile for your opponent’s plans. 🔥🧙‍♂️

Card Spotlight: Mortal’s Resolve

  • Name: Mortal's Resolve
  • Set: Born of the Gods (BNG)
  • Mana Cost: {1}{G}
  • Type: Instant
  • Rarity: Common
  • Colors: Green
  • Oracle Text: Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains indestructible until end of turn.
  • Lore / Flavor: “The Fates tried to cut her string but found the thread had turned to iron.”
  • Set Symbol / Art: Svetlin Velinov artwork, classic Born of the Gods vibe

This is not a card that wins on raw power alone; it wins by reliability. It’s a flexible, low-cost tempo tool that can save a crucial attacker from a sweeper, or push through lethal damage by protecting a 2/2 or 3/3 in the heat of combat. In RG, where you’re often balancing two or three threats with limited mana available, Mortal’s Resolve gives you a critical argument to keep attacking rather than stalling for a more expensive play. And indestructibility lets you weather a fiery red removal spell aimed at your best threat, turning a potential swing-and-matter moment into a calculated, edge-of-your-seat finish. 💎⚔️

“The Fates tried to cut her string but found the thread had turned to iron.” — flavor text from Mortal’s Resolve

From a design perspective, Mortal’s Resolve embodies a classic green trick: temporary protection that enables a favorable combat outcome. The card’s relatively low mana cost and instant speed align perfectly with RG’s aim of pressuring the opponent while keeping options open for post-combat plays. In a meta where denials and removal run hot, this little instant can act as a genuine tempo anchor, allowing you to push past stubborn blockers or surprise the opponent with a previously unaccounted-for blow. 🎨🧙‍♂️

Strategic Applications in RG Tempo

  • Early pressure with protection: Play Mortal’s Resolve on a 2/2 or 3/3 that threatens to advance your board presence. The indestructible turn makes combat favorable against, say, a 2/2 with +2/+2 pump from the opponent. You’ll trade efficiently and maintain momentum. 🧭
  • Punish removal shenanigans: If your opponent wants to annihilate your earliest threat, you can save it for a turn with indestructible, then convert the extra damage into a win next turn. The +1/+1 helps your late-game behemoths stay true to the clock. 🔥
  • Protect key attackers in a race: In RG, you’re often racing to the opponent’s life total. A single Resolve can ensure your best beater survives to connect, buying you another couple of turns to finish the game. 🏁
  • Synergy with pump and flattening spells: Combine Mortal’s Resolve with other pump effects to outsize a blocker and secure lethal damage before the opponent stabilizes. The indestructible tag means the threat remains on the battlefield even after a buff wears off. ⚔️

Beyond raw power, the card’s flavor ties neatly into RG’s ethos: a swift, tactical adjustment that preserves the piece you’ve invested in. The artwork and lore evoke a mythic, iron-willed resilience—perfect for players who love a good comeback narrative in a compact package. 🧙‍♂️💎

Practical Deck-Building Notes

When weaving Mortal’s Resolve into RG strategies, consider the following:

  • Tempo is king: resist overextending. Ship in with creatures that can threaten the opponent, then back them up with this instant to preserve pressure without overcommitment.
  • Target selection matters: prioritize creatures that benefit most from the +1/+1 boost or are at risk of removal, ensuring the indestructible actually buys you a turn or two.
  • Balance with disruption: RG decks thrive on pressure. Pair Mortal’s Resolve with cheap removal and counterplay to keep your threats alive and your opponent on the back foot.

And if you’re juggling a few gadgets on the side, a reliable, budget-friendly card like Mortal’s Resolve fits nicely with RG’s lean, fast approach. It’s one of those small, satisfying tools that makes a deck feel nimble and alive—just the kind of spark MTG fans love to talk about while debating which card could have sealed the game last turn. 🎲🔥

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Mortal's Resolve

Mortal's Resolve

{1}{G}
Instant

Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains indestructible until end of turn. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it.)

The Fates tried to cut her string but found the thread had turned to iron.

ID: 131a96b4-393d-4e8e-9b6a-f15f3804febb

Oracle ID: ef29f979-1a6d-47bb-83f5-4679389471da

Multiverse IDs: 378499

TCGPlayer ID: 79173

Cardmarket ID: 266053

Colors: G

Color Identity: G

Keywords:

Rarity: Common

Released: 2014-02-07

Artist: Svetlin Velinov

Frame: 2003

Border: black

EDHRec Rank: 11940

Penny Rank: 12671

Set: Born of the Gods (bng)

Collector #: 127

Legalities

  • Standard — not_legal
  • Future — not_legal
  • Historic — not_legal
  • Timeless — not_legal
  • Gladiator — not_legal
  • Pioneer — legal
  • Modern — legal
  • Legacy — legal
  • Pauper — legal
  • Vintage — legal
  • Penny — not_legal
  • Commander — legal
  • Oathbreaker — legal
  • Standardbrawl — not_legal
  • Brawl — not_legal
  • Alchemy — not_legal
  • Paupercommander — legal
  • Duel — legal
  • Oldschool — not_legal
  • Premodern — not_legal
  • Predh — not_legal

Prices

  • USD: 0.07
  • USD_FOIL: 0.39
  • EUR: 0.13
  • EUR_FOIL: 0.21
  • TIX: 0.03
Last updated: 2025-12-08