Arrester's Zeal

Strategy & Gameplay

Arrester's Zeal is a versatile White instant from RNA that deserves consideration in numerous deck strategies across multiple formats. This deceptively simple card offers conditional tempo advantage through its elegant addendum mechanic, which rewards main phase casting with the bonus of granting flying until end of turn. The baseline effect of +2/+2 for one White mana is already solid rate for an instant-speed combat trick, providing flexibility for both offensive and defensive applications during combat phases. However, the real value emerges when you sequence it correctly during your main phase, suddenly transforming a ground creature into an evasive threat that's harder for opponents to block or remove. This makes Arrester's Zeal particularly appealing in White aggro strategies, go-wide token strategies, and aggressive creature-focused decks that value early pressure and combat efficiency. In formats like Pioneer and Modern, it slots naturally into Selesnya or Mono-White aggressive shells where it can push through damage reliably while maintaining the flexibility of instant-speed interaction. The pauper format especially values this card as a common, providing budget-conscious players and format specialists with legitimate combat trick options. Even in Commander and Brawl, where singleton restrictions limit copies, this card shines in decks built around creature-heavy strategies or those looking to close out games quickly with unexpected flying threats. The addendum keyword creates meaningful decision-making moments, encouraging players to consider whether they should hold mana up defensively or use their main phase proactively, making Arrester's Zeal both tactically sound and strategically rewarding.