The 37 Best Prowess Cards in Magic Ranked

Last updated on August 31, 2025

Monastery Swiftspear | Illustration by Steve Argyle

I thoroughly enjoy looking at Magic from a more mechanic-oriented outlook as well as from a flavor and lore perspective. I also enjoy being very critical of this game when I have to.

But I’m also a simple guy when it comes to some things. I think martial arts are very cool. So when the Jeskai were introduced way back when, I was very happy.

Khans of Tarkir was, and still remains a very interesting and beloved Magic set for a lot of players. It also has some controversial design choices, especially as the entire block was released and its corresponding worldbuilding was revealed. But for more on that you can go over to Spice8rack’s great completely normal-length video.

Our first visit to the Tarkir plane and the introduction of the Jeskai monks also gave us what I’d argue is one of the best abilities for spellslinger decks along with magecraft: prowess.

The spellslinger archetype has long been a staple in Magic. I mean, this is a game about casting spells, after all. But prowess took a strategy that had some issues with combat and simply gave it a concise, effective way of mixing up non-creature spells and combat.

So let’s go ahead and take a look at some of the best prowess cards in Magic.

What are Prowess Cards in MTG?

Fugitive Codebreaker | Illustration by joseph Weston

Prowess is a triggered ability that gives a creature +1/+1 each time you cast a noncreature spell. This ability stacks, which means a good spellslinger deck can make a prowess creature become a true threat.

Now, I’m gonna be listing specifically cards that have the prowess keyword ability and what other abilities or utilities they have that make them stand out.

#37. Pearl Lake Ancient

I honestly just wanted to give this blue creature a shout out because I like these very circumstantial designs. Is Pearl Lake Ancient a great blue card? Not really, but it’s a fun one. All of its abilities are pretty good by themselves, but the card as a whole isn’t the greatest for most Constructed play, especially in most prowess-themed decks.

That being said, it can be a really fun add in a casual environment. You could say it's a best-of-the-worst kind of situation, where you wouldn’t play this at any relatively competitive level, but it makes for a fun finisher in a Draft environment.

#36. Fugitive Codebreaker

Was morph a really fun mechanic? Yes. Did I like most of Murders at Karlov Manor? Not really. Do I like disguise and the fact that it brings back morph mechanics? Absolutely! And Fugitive Codebreaker is no exception.

If you’re paying this card’s full disguise cost, you’re not only playing this card wrong, but you’re playing your entire deck wrong. This can only see any real play in a spellslinger deck, which means that by the moment this card hits the field face down, you should already be able to turn it face up for a single red mana.

All that being said, this is a good red creature, but it’s far from my first pick for a prowess deck since it can be a bit slow, and the benefits aren’t all that great.

#35. Heartfire Immolator

I like when a simple ability like prowess can have a variety of uses. Heartfire Immolator can obviously work as a simple attacker that gets stronger the more spells you cast. But it can also become a pretty good source of removal and interaction.

This red human wizard can fit right into decks that benefit not only from this card’s ability as a last-resource-removal, but also as a self-sacrificing tool. After all, most Rakdos decks () run a nice amount of noncreature spells while also drawing tons of benefits from sacrifices.

#34. Jeskai Elder

Jeskai Elder was really fun, and pretty decent back when it was released. Of course, power creep comes for us all, and this card is no exception.

However, I think it got an advantage as time went on: Discarding a card isn’t such a big drawback anymore. Tons of decks have ways to reach into the graveyard, so if you discard the right cards, this card’s ability no longer has a drawback.

#33. Jhessian Thief

Jhessian Thief and Jeskai Elder could reasonably swap places depending on what you prefer. I ultimately chose to place this card one step higher because it feels safer in the long run.

Not having to discard for drawing, as well as having higher toughness makes this rogue a little less dependent on external factors to remain useful, and I personally appreciate that.

#32. Dragon-Style Twins

Who doesn’t love a card with double strike that can start growing out of the blue? Dragon-Style Twins is mostly designed for Limited play, but man, what a fun card to have in a Limited play game.

The moment you play this red creature, you should start using it to put some serious pressure on your opponent. Double strike with prowess is something not every creature can survive, and you should always have combat tricks and spells that give some form of evasion at hand to make this a serious finisher card.

#31. Bloodwater Entity

Reasonable mana value? Check. Prowess and flying? Check. Good stats? Check. All this would already earn Bloodwater Entity a spot on this list. It’s reliable and strong.

But this elemental also lets you return a spell from your graveyard to the top of your library. Of course, returning it to your hand would be better, but it’s still additional value on an already pretty solid card.

#30. Abbot of Keral Keep

Abbot of Keral Keep isn’t too complex, but it’s ultimately useful. Impulse draw is great in most spellcasting decks, since you should be playing plenty of low-mana value spells.

An additional benefit of this card is its own low mana value. That makes it easier to cast early while leaving enough mana open to cast most of what you could exile with it.

#29. Curious Homunculus / Voracious Reader

One thing I really like about many double-faced cards is that they can be useful in the early game, while also staying strong in the late game. That’s the case with [car]Curious Homunculus[/card], which can enable tons of spells in the early game.

Once it turns into Voracious Reader, it reduces the cost of all your instant and sorcery spells while also making itself a more than decent attacker.

#28. Aisha of Sparks and Smoke

I’m a bit conflicted on this red human warrior. On the one hand, I think it’s good, it has nice stats, and being able to give it first strike is pretty nice. On the other, casting a spell after dealing damage is counterintuitive and not as useful when paired up with prowess.

I think Aisha of Sparks and Smoke has its uses and can earn a place in tons of decks, but I find its design a bit unintuitive and I don’t really love that.

#27. Lilah, Undefeated Slickshot

I sincerely like that we’ve been getting some cards that support more specific strategies and niche archetypes. I’m not gonna say casting multicolored spells is niche or hyper-specific, but giving Lilah, Undefeated Slickshot a specific condition like that is definitely a good slow-down on power creep, especially in an archetype like spellslinger, which uses tons of monocolored spells.

All that being said, if you have a nice build to fit this Izzet rogue into, it can become really fun and pretty powerful without too much work. Especially since it plots the cards instead of giving them something with less player interaction, like rebound.

#26. Seeker of the Way

One of the biggest issues I’ve encountered when playing prowess decks is that I always end up leaving myself open to attacks. Of course, there are plenty of ways to prepare for that, but it’s always nice to give yourself some extra support. In this case, with Seeker of the Way’s lifelink.

#25. Stormwing Entity

Playing Stormwing Entity for its full cost? Terrible. Playing it for its reduced cost? Now that’s much better. In any case, you shouldn’t have any issues playing this card for its reduced cost since you should always be playing it in spellslinger decks.

Scry is always good in decks that cast tons of spells (and usually draw tons of cards), and I’ve already spoken on the virtues of cards with prowess and evasive abilities.

#24. Mistfire Adept

Mistfire Adept is really good when paired up with other prowess cards, especially since, in a good turn where you play tons of spells, you can give most if not all of your creatures flying in addition to any other prowess pumps.

#23. Bedlam Reveler

Most of my opinions on Bedlam Reveler are similar to those on Fugitive Codebreaker. I ultimately prefer this devil horror due to its better stats, and the fact that its ability triggers when it enters the battlefield, which makes it a bit more reliable.

The higher mana value can be a bit of a drawback since you’ll take longer to cast it, but I honestly believe it’s not such a big issue.

#22. Shipwreck Dowser

Do I need to explain why having creatures that can return spells from your graveyard to your hand is useful in prowess and spellslinger decks?

Shipwreck Dowser‘s biggest drawback is its mana value, making it a pretty big investment that won’t always have a strong payoff. But if played at the right time, it can ensure some significant advantages.

#21. Cyclops Superconductor

Cyclops Superconductor is a tailor-made common to work within the Jeskai () energy archetype, and it’s a great addition to energy decks. It’s already strong as a card that adds three energy while being a relevant prowess creature, but it’s a fairly independent card. I can live with attacking for three and bolting something when this card dies.

#20. Ecstatic Electromancer

Ecstatic Electromancer compiles all the benefits you’d get from Jeskai Elder, being slightly harder to cast, but at the same time a looting machine. It’s perfect to trick your opponents into not blocking, since you want to attack anyway to loot, and they’ll always fear a trick or two.

#19. Invasion of Regatha / Disciples of the Inferno

I’m simply gonna skip this card’s battle side and go straight into the creature. The same thing I said for the previous card applies for Disciples of the Inferno: This is very much a burn card.

Being able to increase the damage your spells do can uptick the speed of your already absurdly fast archetype. This creature is amazing support for any burn deck, and it can even find a place in less burn-oriented spellslinger decks.

#18. Stormchaser Mage

At this point I feel kind of annoying saying “yes, prowess and flying is a good combo,” but hey, can you blame me? Stormchaser Mage not only has prowess and flying, but also haste and a more than reasonable mana value.

This card won’t be a gamechanger, but it’s reliable and a good reward for a small investment.

#17. Eris, Roar of the Storm

Yes, it has flying and prowess. With that out of the way, let’s look at the rest of Eris, Roar of the Storm’s abilities. For starters, its mana reducing ability can be a bit hard to hit at first, considering most spellslinger decks focus on spells with mana values of 1 or 2. But you can still work around this easily, especially if you’re using Eris as your Izzet commander.

And once this card hits the battlefield, it shouldn’t be too hard for this warlock to build a pretty large dragon army to overpower your opponents.

#16. Elusive Otter

I’m a huge fan of the recent increase in otter creatures. But Elusive Otter is kind of a thorn in my side. Its adventure is great, especially in green decks, and the creature’s abilities are more than decent.

But why do I have an issue with it, you ask? Well, this Simic card’s not bad at all, but its adventure being green puts it back a bit for me. For one, I can’t place it in the otter typal EDH deck I’ll inevitably build once Bloomburrow drops. But more importantly, it has some issues fitting into most prowess and spellslinger Commander decks since they tend to be either Izzet or Jeskai.

#15. Khenra Spellspear / Gitaxian Spellstalker

I’ve been playing a ton of Brawl lately, and there’s no card in my prowess deck that draws as much hate as Khenra Spellspear. And I absolutely get it (don’t tell anyone but I mostly run it as removal bait), because if it manages to transform into Gitaxian Spellstalker it can prove to be a pretty threatening creature.

#14. Emberheart Challenger

Emberheart Challenger is a very pushed creature as a 2/2 haste with prowess, and as you go off by targeting it with your own spells, you get to cast more spells. It’s not rare to see it attacking as a 4/4 or greater.

#13. Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest

I have some mixed feelings about this card. I’m not that big of a fan of its mechanics, especially when compared to some of the other khans in its cycle. That being said, if we add Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest into a more aggressive deck, its ability can prove pretty useful.

As much as I don’t really like it, I’ve seen people get some pretty good plays in with this card, and that gets it some points.

#12. Lyse Hext

As a 2/2 for 3 mana, Lyse Hext starts small, but it's a heck of a card thanks to its cost reduction. Once you start attacking with this card as a 4/4 or larger with double strike regularly, you’re in business. The difference between casting only one spell and two is huge, so treat this as a flurry card.

#11. Pinnacle Monk / Mystic Peak

I’m considering this card a red Shipwreck Dowser. But we must also consider that Pinnacle Monk is also a red land as a fail-safe, and we get a nice, prowess creature that we can slot for free in decks.

#10. Bria, Riptide Rogue

When Bria, Riptide Rogue was spoiled, I saw a lot of people saying it made sense that this card is the face of a starter, low-powered deck, since they found it pretty bad. Maybe I play Magic differently, but I definitely don’t see it. I mean, sure, this otter commander’s no competitive card, but it’s definitely a fun card and one that fits perfectly into any prowess deck.

Giving additional prowess instances to your creatures is really good, and being able to make them unblockable more than makes up for this legendary rogue’s somewhat higher mana value. I guess its proper place will be defined once Bloomburrow actually releases and we see how well it fares.

#9. Soul-Scar Mage

Most of the cards in this list are at their best in spellslinger and prowess-oriented decks. Most of those decks run a decent amount of direct damage spells, but they tend to also play plenty of enchantments, and colors like blue and white, for a more strategic approach.

However, if “strategic approach” isn’t necessarily your thing, burn can be more your thing. And if that’s the case, Soul-Scar Mage is a great card. Not only does this card turn things like End the Festivities into a massive downgrade for your opponents’ creatures, it also turns your damage-based removal into cards that can take out indestructible creatures.

#8. Riptide Gearhulk

Riptide Gearhulk is big, it’s an artifact for decks that care about that, and it comes with a catch-all removal spell attached, the kind we love from Teferi, Hero of Dominaria.

A 2/5 double strike is already a great body for 5 mana, and in x spellslinger decks, this becomes a 4/7 double strike or greater. The turns you burn a blocker into bounce another blocker into attack for 8 are, indeed, great.

#7. Drake Hatcher

Drake Hatcher sees a good amount of Standard play, offering you value early while casting spells and later when you get Drakes. The worst part about prowess creatures is that many don’t have haste, so you lose whatever spell you cast after them, but this card can at least be charged with counters.

#6. Elsha, Threefold Master

Elsha, Threefold Master’s abilities all work in unison. It’s fragile at first as a 1/1 for 3 mana, but once it gets big, it becomes a payoff with its ability. Trample helps you connect, and you get the makings of a fine spellslinger or Voltron commander. Just getting a single Monk token after Elsha connects is a great deal.

#5. Narset, Enlightened Exile

I’ll try not to be biased here, since this is not only my latest Commander deck, but also my best Brawl deck and a card that I really like from a flavor and mechanical perspective. One thing I’ve found through playing Narset, Enlightened Exile is that it can be a tricky card if your opponents don’t pay proper attention to it. I run it in a deck with tons of defensive spells that cost 1-2 mana, because I always expect my opponents to use any removal they have on my Jeskai commander. To my surprise, I’ve had a ton of players opt into using their removal on other things. A decision they usually regret as soon as I get a chance to attack.

If you’re playing Narset, Enlightened Exile in Brawl, you should aim at ending the game in a couple turns after playing it. And this doesn’t mean necessarily winning through damage, but rather playing so many spells that it becomes a consistent threat thanks to it giving prowess to your other creatures, while also being able to use both your and your opponent’s spells from the graveyard.

#4. Elsha of the Infinite

Elsha of the Infinite has a really neat design. It’s very clearly designed to be a Jeskai commander, but it’s a really fun (and pretty good) one at that. This card enables some pretty good prowess and spellslinger strategies while also being pretty good itself.

Another use it tends to see is as the face of some storm decks. There’s definitely some other, more competitive options for those decks, but Elsha of the Infinite is a great entry point as well as being good enough to hold its own without any issue.

#3. Harmonic Prodigy

I really like Harmonic Prodigy’s design. The way it synergizes with most of the creatures you’d probably be running in spellslinger and prowess decks is definitely cool, and it can definitely make some cards a big threat by doubling their triggered abilities.

My only complaint against it is that it benefits wizards and shamans, but not monks, which are a huge part (if not most) of the creatures with prowess. And this card was definitely thought up as a support for prowess decks. But at the end of the day, it can enable some pretty powerful interactions.

#2. Monastery Swiftspear

I’m honestly really sad that this red card isn’t all that good in EDH. Monastery Swiftspear is probably the most well-known prowess card, and for good reason. Those who play it know that it’s versatile, reliable, and extremely useful. And those who play against it know that it’s a mistake to think of it as harmless due to its low stats.

If you leave it unchecked, it’ll turn into a huge threat sooner rather than later. Especially in decks with plenty of instants and combat tricks, where it gets harder and harder to respond.

#1. Monastery Mentor

Okay, maybe Monastery Swiftspear has some opposition as the most well-known staple with prowess. Monastery Mentor is a beast of a card if played right. In decks where you’re expected to be playing tons of noncreature spells each turn, this card’s ability proves to be a massive game changer.

It also solves this archetype’s issue with blocking: Once you have a few Monk tokens, you can cast spells to trigger their prowess while also creating other tokens that’ll serve as blockers later. When those tokens block, if you have mana and spells available, you can cast more spells to make them stronger while also creating new bodies to replace them. And it’s not even legendary, so it can get out of hand real quick in non-singleton formats.

Best Prowess Payoffs

There’s tons of cards that work well with prowess (most noncreature spells, after all). Listing them here would be absurd, but I can definitely mention types of cards that work well with them.

My first pick would be combat tricks. A lot of decks outside of Limited kinda forego combat tricks since they can work around what they do either with equipment, creatures, or other options. But prowess decks have a more ephemeral strategy, and those cards become a lot better here. They trigger prowess, usually cost only 1-2 mana, and also empower your attacking creatures.

In a similar vein, burn spells are also great support for prowess. They increase your creatures’ stats while also either removing creatures or dealing some extra damage to your opponents to get you to victory faster.

Cantrips are excellent in prowess decks. Opt, Ponder, Consider, you name it. Drawing cards, looting, and rummaging already give us a lot of benefits, and when they can act as combat tricks, the better. Sometimes you’ll chain a cantrip into another cantrip into a burn spell, affecting combat in a big way and dishing out loads of damage.

After prowess was created as a mechanic, many cards that make tokens with prowess were designed. Examples of these are Cori-Steel Cutter, Aligned Heart, and Stormchaser's Talent. Or we can go big with cards like Cunning Breezedancer, or even wider with Jeskai Ascendancy.

I’d also argue in favor of enchantments and artifacts for prowess decks. These cards trigger prowess, and can give some long lasting utilities and advantages both for your creatures as well as for your spells.

Wrap Up

Monastery Mentor | Illustration by Brian Valeza

These were my picks for the best prowess cards. I really like this mechanic and all of the flavor around it. I usually end these lists saying I wish the strategy gets some more support or things like that, but in this case I’m honestly really content with all of the options available. We consistently get new options with almost every new set, while also having tons of different possible builds.

But enough about what I think. Do you agree with my list? What are your favorite prowess cards? Would you have preferred to see other cards here? Which ones? Leave a comment letting us know! And while you’re here, make sure to pay our Discord server a visit. There you’ll find an amazing community of MTG fans to share your hobby with!

That’s all from me for now. Have a good one, and I’ll see you next time!