In the collectible card game Magic: the Gathering (MTG), “bestow” is a keyword ability that allows a creature card to be cast as an Aura spell that enchants a creature you control. This means that the creature card will give its bonuses and abilities to the enchanted creature until it leaves the battlefield.
Bestow is a powerful ability that can be used to give your creatures a variety of advantages. For example, you can use a bestow creature to give your creature +1/+1, flying, or trample. You can also use bestow creatures to protect your creatures from damage or destruction.
Bestow was introduced in the Theros block of MTG sets. It has since been used in a number of other sets, including Khans of Tarkir, Battle for Zendikar, and Shadows over Innistrad. Bestow is a versatile ability that can be used in a variety of decks and strategies.
1. Versatility
The versatility of bestow lies in its ability to grant a wide range of bonuses and abilities to your creatures. This makes bestow creatures This is because bestow creatures can be used to improve your creatures’ power, toughness, and abilities in a variety of ways.
- Power and toughness: Bestow creatures can be used to give your creatures +1/+1, +2/+2, or even more. This can be a significant boost to your creatures’ power and toughness, making them more difficult to block and kill.
- Keywords: Bestow creatures can also be used to give your creatures keywords such as flying, trample, and haste. These keywords can give your creatures a variety of advantages in combat, making them more difficult to block, deal more damage, and attack more quickly.
- Abilities: Bestow creatures can also be used to give your creatures a variety of other abilities, such as lifelink, deathtouch, and hexproof. These abilities can give your creatures a variety of advantages in combat and other situations.
The versatility of bestow makes it a powerful and flexible ability that can be used to improve your creatures in a variety of ways. This makes bestow creatures a valuable addition to any deck.
2. Protection
Bestow creatures can be used to protect your creatures from damage or destruction in a variety of ways. For example, you can use a bestow creature to give your creature +1/+1 and flying, making it more difficult to block and kill. You can also use a bestow creature to give your creature hexproof, making it immune to spells and abilities that target it.
- Sacrifice: Bestow creatures can be sacrificed to protect your other creatures from damage or destruction. For example, you can sacrifice a bestow creature to prevent your creature from being destroyed by a removal spell.
- Blocking: Bestow creatures can be used to block creatures that are attacking your other creatures. This can help to protect your other creatures from damage.
- Abilities: Bestow creatures can also have abilities that protect your other creatures. For example, some bestow creatures have abilities that give your other creatures indestructible or regenerate.
Bestow creatures are a valuable tool for protecting your creatures from damage or destruction. They can be used in a variety of ways to keep your creatures alive and on the battlefield.
3. Tempo
Tempo is a Magic: the Gathering term that refers to the ability to play cards that have an immediate impact on the game while also setting you up for future turns. Bestow creatures are a great way to gain tempo advantage because they can be cast as creatures or Auras, giving you the flexibility to play them in the way that best suits your current situation.
For example, if you are facing down a large creature, you can cast a bestow creature as a creature to block it. This will prevent your opponent from attacking you with that creature, and it will also give you a creature that you can use to attack your opponent on your next turn. Alternatively, if you have a creature that is already on the battlefield, you can cast a bestow creature as an Aura to give it a boost in power, toughness, or abilities. This can help you to win combat, or it can simply make your creature more difficult to kill.
The tempo advantage that bestow creatures can provide is significant. By being able to play cards that have an immediate impact on the game while also setting you up for future turns, you can put your opponents on the back foot and gain a significant advantage.
4. Card advantage
In Magic: the Gathering, card advantage refers to the concept of having more cards in your hand than your opponent. This can be a significant advantage, as it allows you to play more spells, creatures, and other cards than your opponent, giving you more options and putting you in a better position to win the game.
Bestow creatures can be used to generate card advantage in a number of ways.
- Enchanting your own creatures: When you enchant one of your own creatures with a bestow creature, you are essentially getting two cards for the price of one. The bestow creature will give your creature a boost in power, toughness, or abilities, and it will also count as a creature on your side of the battlefield. This can give you a significant advantage in combat, and it can also help you to protect your creatures from removal spells.
- Enchanting your opponents’ creatures: In some cases, it can be beneficial to enchant your opponents’ creatures with bestow creatures. This can be a good way to neutralize a powerful creature, or it can simply be a way to generate card advantage. When you enchant an opponent’s creature with a bestow creature, you are essentially taking control of that creature. You can then use that creature to attack your opponent, or you can simply sacrifice it to gain card advantage.
Bestow creatures are a powerful and versatile tool that can be used to generate card advantage in a number of ways. By understanding how to use bestow creatures effectively, you can gain a significant advantage over your opponents and improve your chances of winning the game.
5. Flexibility
Bestow creatures are incredibly flexible and can be used in a variety of decks and strategies. This is due to the fact that they can be cast as either creatures or Auras, giving you the option to use them in a variety of ways.
- Aggro decks: Bestow creatures can be used in aggro decks to give your creatures a boost in power and toughness. This can help you to win combat more easily and put your opponent on the back foot.
- Midrange decks: Bestow creatures can also be used in midrange decks to provide your creatures with additional abilities. This can help you to control the board and win the game in the mid to late game.
- Control decks: Bestow creatures can even be used in control decks to protect your creatures from removal spells and other threats. This can help you to keep your creatures on the battlefield and win the game in the late game.
- Combo decks: Bestow creatures can also be used in combo decks to enable powerful combos. For example, you can use a bestow creature to give your creature haste, allowing you to attack with it on the turn you cast it.
The flexibility of bestow creatures makes them a valuable addition to any deck. They can be used to fill a variety of roles and can help you to win games in a variety of ways.
6. Flavor
The bestow mechanic in Magic: the Gathering is a direct reflection of the Greek mythological concept of gods and heroes bestowing their powers upon mortals. In Greek mythology, the gods were often depicted as granting mortals special abilities or powers, such as strength, speed, or wisdom. These powers were often bestowed upon mortals to help them complete a task or quest, or to reward them for their loyalty or bravery.
In Magic: the Gathering, bestow creatures represent these gods and heroes, while the creatures they enchant represent the mortals who have been granted their powers. When a bestow creature is cast as an Aura, it grants its power and abilities to the enchanted creature. This can represent the mortal being imbued with the god’s or hero’s power, or it can simply represent the mortal being aided by the god or hero in some way.
The flavor of bestow is an important part of what makes it such a unique and interesting mechanic. It captures the sense of wonder and excitement that comes from being granted power by a higher being. It also reinforces the connection between Magic: the Gathering and its source material, Greek mythology.
The bestow mechanic has a number of practical applications in Magic: the Gathering. It can be used to give your creatures a boost in power, toughness, or abilities. It can also be used to protect your creatures from damage or destruction. Additionally, bestow creatures can be used to generate card advantage or to enable powerful combos.
Understanding the flavor of bestow can help you to better understand how to use the mechanic effectively in your Magic: the Gathering games. It can also help you to appreciate the richness and depth of the game’s lore.
Frequently Asked Questions About “MTG Bestow”
The bestow mechanic in Magic: the Gathering is a unique and versatile ability that can be used to give your creatures a variety of advantages. However, there are some common questions and misconceptions about how bestow works. This FAQ will address some of the most frequently asked questions about bestow to help you better understand how to use it effectively.
Question 1: Can bestow creatures be cast as both creatures and Auras?
Yes, bestow creatures can be cast as either creatures or Auras. This gives you the flexibility to use them in a variety of ways, depending on the situation.
Question 2: What happens if a bestow creature is enchanted by another Aura?
If a bestow creature is enchanted by another Aura, the bestow creature will lose its bestow ability. This is because Auras can only be attached to creatures, not other Auras.
Question 3: Can bestow creatures be sacrificed for their bestow cost?
Yes, bestow creatures can be sacrificed for their bestow cost. This can be a good way to generate card advantage or to enable powerful combos.
Question 4: What happens if a bestow creature is countered?
If a bestow creature is countered, it will not be put onto the battlefield. However, if the bestow creature was cast as an Aura, the Aura will still be attached to the target creature.
Question 5: Can bestow creatures be used to enchant planeswalkers?
No, bestow creatures cannot be used to enchant planeswalkers. Auras can only be attached to creatures.
Question 6: Can bestow creatures be used to enchant creatures that are already enchanted by another Aura?
Yes, bestow creatures can be used to enchant creatures that are already enchanted by another Aura. However, the bestow creature will lose its bestow ability.
These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about bestow. By understanding how bestow works, you can use it effectively to gain an advantage in your Magic: the Gathering games.
Summary: Bestow is a versatile mechanic that can be used to give your creatures a variety of advantages. By understanding how bestow works, you can use it effectively to gain an advantage in your Magic: the Gathering games.
Transition: Now that you have a better understanding of bestow, you can learn more about how to use it effectively in your Magic: the Gathering decks.
Tips for Using “MTG Bestow” Effectively
The bestow mechanic in Magic: the Gathering is a versatile and powerful tool that can be used to give your creatures a variety of advantages. By understanding how bestow works and how to use it effectively, you can gain a significant advantage in your Magic: the Gathering games.
Tip 1: Use bestow creatures to give your creatures a boost in power, toughness, or abilities. This can help you to win combat more easily and put your opponent on the back foot.
Tip 2: Use bestow creatures to protect your creatures from removal spells and other threats. This can help you to keep your creatures on the battlefield and win the game in the late game.
Tip 3: Use bestow creatures to generate card advantage. This can be done by enchanting your own creatures or your opponents’ creatures with bestow creatures.
Tip 4: Use bestow creatures to enable powerful combos. For example, you can use a bestow creature to give your creature haste, allowing you to attack with it on the turn you cast it.
Tip 5: Be aware of the limitations of bestow creatures. For example, bestow creatures can only be cast as Auras on creatures, and they will lose their bestow ability if they are enchanted by another Aura.
By following these tips, you can use bestow creatures effectively to gain an advantage in your Magic: the Gathering games.
Summary: Bestow is a versatile and powerful tool that can be used to give your creatures a variety of advantages. By understanding how bestow works and how to use it effectively, you can gain a significant advantage in your Magic: the Gathering games.
Transition: Now that you have a better understanding of how to use bestow creatures effectively, you can learn more about the history of bestow and how it has been used in different Magic: the Gathering sets.
Conclusion
Bestow is a unique and versatile mechanic in Magic: the Gathering that allows you to give your creatures a variety of advantages. By understanding how bestow works and how to use it effectively, you can gain a significant advantage in your Magic: the Gathering games.
Whether you are a new player or a seasoned veteran, bestow is a mechanic that can help you to improve your game. By following the tips and advice in this article, you can use bestow creatures to give your creatures a boost in power, toughness, or abilities. You can also use bestow creatures to protect your creatures from removal spells and other threats. Additionally, bestow creatures can be used to generate card advantage or to enable powerful combos.
So what are you waiting for? Start using bestow creatures in your Magic: the Gathering decks today and see how they can help you to win more games.
