# Mage Wars: Holy Strike Promo Card

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2013
- **BGG Rating**: 6.6
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2
- **Duration**: 90 min
- **Weight**: 3.00 / 5
- **Designers**: Benjamin Pope, Bryan Pope
- **Artists**: Leonardo Borazio
- **Publishers**: Arcane Wonders
- **Categories**: Card Game, Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy, Fighting
- **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Dice Rolling, Simultaneous Action Selection

## Verdict
If you love Mage Wars, this promo card adds a twist to your melee attacks.Ethereal effectLow mana costSynergy with meleeAdds tactical depthLimited availabilityNot in standard expansionsOne-time use per gameRECOMMENDED

## Description
Mage Wars: Holy Strike Promo Card is a promotional card released at Gen Con 2013 for the popular fantasy and combat card game Mage Wars. Titled "Holy Strike Incantation, Novice," it costs just 3 mana and lets the target of the next melee attack this turn gain the Ethereal trait. In Mage Wars, the Ethereal trait makes a card or attack bypass certain blockers or become untouchable by specific blocking effects, adding a strategic layer to area control and the choice of who dominates the board. As a promo card, it isn’t part of the regular expansions and can only be found at events or special promo packs. The effect is simple but powerful: by playing the card, you can ensure your melee attack isn’t blocked or that it slides past a blocker that would normally stop it. This opens up combo possibilities with other cards that boost attack power or reduce mana costs, making the card a valuable tool for players looking to optimize their control strategy. In terms of mechanics, the card fits nicely with Area Majority/Influence and Dice Rolling, as most Mage Wars games revolve around area control and dice rolls to determine attack success. For those familiar with the game, the card offers a new way to think about play order and the interaction between attack and defense cards. If you’re looking for a small edge that can shift the dynamic of a match, the Holy Strike Promo Card might be the missing piece in your deck, but remember it can only be used once per game and isn’t widely available in stores.

## FAQ
### How many players is this card for?
It’s designed for two‑player games, just like Mage Wars.

### Does adding the card change game length?
No, the average game time stays around 90 minutes.

### How complex is using the card?
Very simple: spend 3 mana and pick the target of your next melee attack.

### What components does the card add?
The "Holy Strike Incantation, Novice" card with the Ethereal effect.

### Who should use this card?
Players who want tighter area control and to bypass blockers on melee attacks.

### How does the Ethereal effect work?
When applied, the attack can’t be blocked by cards that would normally prevent it.

### Where can I get this card?
It was distributed at events like Gen Con 2013; now it can be found in promo collections or on rare card resale sites.