Test of Faith
Instant
Prevent the next 3 damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn. For each 1 damage prevented this way, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- W
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Darksteel
- Price
- $0.18
- EDHREC rank
- #26423
Test of Faith turns a removal spell into a permanent buff — the creature survives and walks away bigger, often by three or more counters for a single white mana. One mana to blank a Path to Exile and net a 3/3 swing in stats is the kind of efficiency that earns a slot.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Test of Faith is niche but genuine — white creature decks running Hamza, Guardian of Arashin or any +1/+1 counter commander get real mileage from a one-mana spell that simultaneously protects a key piece and scales it. In Modern and Legacy it's too slow and narrow against non-damage removal like Fatal Push, so it doesn't see competitive play. Pauper is where Test of Faith has the most theoretical upside outside Commander, since combat damage and burn are common removal vectors and a single mana rebuff is strong at that power level.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.18 bulk tier
At $0.18, Test of Faith is bulk — you're not tracking down a copy so much as pulling it from a box. That price is stable; niche protection spells in white don't spike unless a breakout Commander deck brings them into the spotlight.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.