---
name: "Desperate Stand"
mana_cost: "{R}{W}"
cmc: 2
type_line: "Sorcery"
colors: ["R", "W"]
color_identity: ["R", "W"]
keywords: ["Strive"]
set: "JOU"
set_name: "Journey into Nyx"
collector_number: "147"
rarity: "uncommon"
artist: "Raymond Swanland"
oracle_id: "f8252564-3e61-4ed5-bef1-6ec22882854b"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/desperate-stand-jou"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Desperate Stand
- **Mana Cost:** `{R}{W}` (CMC: 2)
- **Type:** Sorcery
- **Keywords:** Strive

## Oracle Text
Strive — This spell costs {R}{W} more to cast for each target beyond the first.
Any number of target creatures each get +2/+0 and gain first strike and vigilance until end of turn.

> *Ai cancelli di Akros, gli opliti riportarono in campo le tattiche dei famigerati miliziani di Kytheon Iora.*

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Ajani's Presence](/printing/ajanis-presence-jou.md) — Instant
2. [Phalanx Formation](/printing/phalanx-formation-jou.md) — Instant
3. [Rouse the Mob](/printing/rouse-the-mob-jou.md) — Instant
4. [Colossal Heroics](/printing/colossal-heroics-jou.md) — Instant
5. [Blinding Flare](/printing/blinding-flare-jou.md) — Sorcery
6. [Harness by Force](/printing/harness-by-force-jou.md) — Sorcery

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Journey into Nyx (JOU) #147
- **Rarity:** Uncommon
- **Artist:** Raymond Swanland
- **Total Printings:** 11 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`