Faith's Reward: A Powerful Resurrection Spell

Faith's Reward is an instant spell that offers a powerful way to revive and reanimate creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its effects can be particularly potent when combined with other cards, making it a staple in aggressive decks.

Card Mechanics and Interactions

When Faith's Reward is cast, it triggers a effect that allows all permanent cards in the graveyard to return to the battlefield, except those that were put there by other means. This means that only permanents that were sent from the battlefield during the current turn will be returned with Faith's Reward.

This caveat is crucial to understand, as it distinguishes between permanents that are put in the graveyard through different means. For example, if a permanent is sent to the graveyard using "Return" or "Discard" spells, it will not be returned with Faith's Reward. Similarly, exiled permanents and cards in the player's hand will also not be affected.

Faith's Reward can interact with various other cards and mechanics, including removal spells like Fatal Push or Chandra's Phoenix, which may send creatures to the graveyard but not return them. It also interacts with other resurrection or revivification effects, such as Rebirth or Commendation.

Strategic Uses, Combos, and Synergies

Faith's Reward is a powerful tool for players who enjoy aggressive, mid-game plays that focus on quickly developing a strong board presence. By using Faith's Reward to revive and reanimate creatures that were previously sent to the graveyard, players can create an unstoppable force of aggression that is difficult to defend against.

One popular way to use Faith's Reward involves combining it with creatures like Serra Angel or Ajani's Pridemate, which provide flying and/or life gain. By using these creatures to attack the opponent, and then returning them to the battlefield with Faith's Reward, players can create an almost unbeatable board presence.

Another way to use Faith's Reward involves pairing it with removal spells like Lightning Bolt or Duress. By sending a creature to the graveyard with one of these spells, and then using Faith's Reward to bring it back into play, players can clear out their opponent's creatures and set themselves up for an easy win.

Faith's Reward also has strong synergies with cards that provide card draw or advantage. By using this spell to revive a creature, and then following up with a card like Exsanguinate to drain life from the opponent, players can create a powerful advantage that allows them to maintain pressure on their opponent even after they've lost a creature.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Faith's Reward is typically found in decks that focus on aggressive, mid-game plays. These decks often include creatures with flying or other forms of aggression, as well as cards that provide card draw or advantage.

Some common deck archetypes for Faith's Reward include:

• Aggro: These decks focus on quickly developing a strong board presence and using Faith's Reward to revive and reanimate aggressive creatures.
• Midrange: These decks often use Faith's Reward in combination with removal spells like Lightning Bolt or Duress, and then follow up with cards that provide card draw or advantage.
• Combo: Some players build decks around the idea of using Faith's Reward as part of a larger combo. For example, one might combine it with a spell like Rebirth to create an unstoppable force of aggression.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Faith's Reward has been played at various levels in Magic, including Standard, Modern, and Legacy. However, its format viability can vary depending on the specific metagame and the cards that are available.

In general, Faith's Reward is seen as a strong card in aggressive decks that focus on quickly developing a strong board presence. It is often paired with creatures like Serra Angel or Ajani's Pridemate, which provide flying and/or life gain.

However, Faith's Reward can also be problematic for players who are not prepared to take advantage of its effects. If an opponent has a well-protected graveyard that is difficult to disturb, they may be able to keep their creatures in the graveyard and prevent them from being returned with Faith's Reward.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

Faith's Reward triggers a triggered ability, which means that it resolves immediately when it is cast. This allows players to take advantage of its effects even after they've begun attacking or other things are happening on the stack.

One important thing to note about Faith's Reward is that it only affects permanents that were put in the graveyard during the current turn. If a permanent is sent to the graveyard through any other means, it will not be returned with Faith's Reward.

Faith's Reward also interacts with cards like Time Walk and Ancestral Recall, which provide card draw or advantage. However, these cards do not affect how Faith's Reward works; they simply allow players to take advantage of its effects more easily.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Faith's Reward was first introduced in the Guilds of Ravnica set for Magic: The Gathering. It is a powerful spell that reflects the theme of the guild of Orzhov, which emphasizes the importance of faith and resurrection.

The artwork on Faith's Reward depicts a regal-looking figure holding up a hand in prayer, with a backdrop of a ruined cityscape. This image captures the essence of the Orzhov guild's emphasis on faith and redemption.

# Conclusion Summary

In conclusion, Faith's Reward is a powerful instant spell that can be used to revive and reanimate creatures. It offers strong synergies with aggressive decks that focus on quickly developing a strong board presence, as well as with removal spells like Lightning Bolt or Duress.

While its format viability can vary depending on the specific metagame and the cards that are available, Faith's Reward is generally seen as a strong card in aggressive decks. With careful deckbuilding and playtesting, players can use this spell to create an unstoppable force of aggression that is difficult to defend against.

Overall, Faith's Reward is a powerful addition to any Magic: The Gathering player's arsenal, offering a versatile and flexible tool for building and playing a wide range of decks.

Synergies with Other Cards

Faith's Reward has strong synergies with various other cards in the game. Some examples include:

• Rebirth: This spell can be used in combination with Faith's Reward to create an unstoppable force of aggression.
• Commendation: This card provides a powerful source of flying and can be paired with Faith's Reward for increased effectiveness.
• Serra Angel and Ajani's Pridemate: These creatures provide flying and/or life gain, making them ideal targets for Faith's Reward.

Key Considerations

When building a deck around Faith's Reward, it is essential to consider several key factors:

• Removal spells: Players will need access to removal spells like Lightning Bolt or Duress to clear out their opponent's creatures.
• Card draw or advantage: Cards that provide card draw or advantage can help players take full advantage of Faith's Reward.
• Creature synergy: Creatures with flying and/or life gain can be paired with Faith's Reward for increased effectiveness.

Conclusion

Faith's Reward is a powerful spell that offers a versatile and flexible tool for building and playing aggressive decks. Its synergies with other cards make it an excellent addition to any Magic: The Gathering player's arsenal, offering a way to revive and reanimate creatures in a variety of situations. With careful deckbuilding and playtesting, players can unlock the full potential of Faith's Reward and create an unstoppable force of aggression that is difficult to defend against.