---
name: "Hour of Need"
mana_cost: "{2}{U}"
cmc: 3
type_line: "Instant"
colors: ["U"]
color_identity: ["U"]
keywords: ["Strive"]
set: "JOU"
set_name: "Journey into Nyx"
collector_number: "40"
rarity: "uncommon"
artist: "Jesper Ejsing"
oracle_id: "2002dd67-2347-4869-98de-299074206684"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/hour-of-need-jou"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Hour of Need
- **Mana Cost:** `{2}{U}` (CMC: 3)
- **Type:** Instant
- **Keywords:** Strive

## Oracle Text
Strive — This spell costs {1}{U} more to cast for each target beyond the first.
Exile any number of target creatures. For each creature exiled this way, its controller creates a 4/4 blue Sphinx creature token with flying.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Dazzling Sphinx](/printing/dazzling-sphinx-prm.md) — Creature — Sphinx
2. [Twinflame](/printing/twinflame-jou.md) — Sorcery
3. [Scholar of the Lost Trove](/printing/scholar-of-the-lost-trove-jmp.md) — Creature — Sphinx
4. [Ajani's Presence](/printing/ajanis-presence-jou.md) — Instant
5. [Consign to Dust](/printing/consign-to-dust-c18.md) — Instant
6. [Launch the Fleet](/printing/launch-the-fleet-40k.md) — Sorcery

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Journey into Nyx (JOU) #40
- **Rarity:** Uncommon
- **Artist:** Jesper Ejsing
- **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: `legal`