Seize the Initiative

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains first strike until end of turn.

The time between spotting a leonin shikari and feeling its claws is just time enough to draw your last breath.

Turn Aside

Instant

Counter target spell that targets a permanent you control.

"It's not my job to ask our leaders about their experiments at the Knowledge Pool. It's my job to make sure they can continue performing them."

Twisted Image

Instant

Switch target creature's power and toughness until end of turn.

Draw a card.

"True strength is in the mind, for the body is too malleable a form."
-Politus, vedalken emisar

Vault Skyward

Instant

Target creature gains flying until end of turn. Untap it.

"The edges of the Quicksilver Sea run dark with the spread of the Mephidross. Two more aerial passes before I can be sure what I'm seeing . . ."
-Lafarius, Neurok sky agent

Tainted Strike

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains infect until end of turn. (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)

"Welcome to perfection."
-Sheoldred, Whispering One

Galvanic Blast

Instant

Galvanic Blast deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

Metalcraft - Galvanic Blast deals 4 damage to that creature or player instead if you control three or more artifacts.

Mirrodin has little weather, but it certainly has lightning.

Untamed Might

Instant

Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn.

"Beasts kill for their very survival. If you would have their strength, you must know their desperation."
-Konnos, Sylvok sage

Wing Puncture

Instant

Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to target creature with flying.

"If I were the air, I wouldn't taunt the ground. It has the weight advantage."
-Konnos, Sylvok sage

Withstand Death

Instant

Target creature is indestructible this turn. (Lethal damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it. If its toughness is 0 or less, it's still put into its owner's graveyard.)

On Mirrodin, every conflict ends in either death or darksteel.

Emerge Unscathed

Instant

Target creature you control gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.

Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)

Smite

Instant

Destroy target blocked creature.

"The mighty rely solely on their strength. They are shocked when we do the same."
-Tars Olan, kor world-gift

Aura Finesse

Instant

Attach target Aura you control to target creature.

Draw a card.

"Although armor and auras can be similar, the brains required to use them are worlds apart."
-Zilan, Makindi auramancer

Suffer the Past

Instant

Exile X target cards from target player's graveyard. For each card exiled this way, that player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Ulamog's tentacles, their touch like burning ice, rummaged through his soul and stung his memories one by one.

Vendetta

Instant

Destroy target nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated. You lose life equal to that creature's toughness.

"Consider my debt to your kin paid in full."
-Idrol, Guul Draz assassin

Virulent Swipe

Instant

Target creature gets +2/+0 and gains deathtouch until end of turn.

Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)

Heat Ray

Instant

Heat Ray deals X damage to target creature.

"There was clearly a scream. I'm not sure if there was a mouth."
-Sachir, Akoum Expeditionary House

Leaf Arrow

Instant

Leaf Arrow deals 3 damage to target creature with flying.

"Those who think the trees shall remain bystanders throughout this conflict shall be sorely mistaken."
-Sutina, Speaker of the Tajuru

Might of the Masses

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each creature you control.

The Joraga elves never need ask a troll to leave their territory. They merely grant it their combined strength, and it can't resist embarking on a merry rampage.

Prey's Vengeance

Instant

Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)

Veteran's Reflexes

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Untap that creature.

"Assume everything wants to kill you. At the very least, assume everything wants what's in your pack."

Bull Rush

Instant

Target creature gets +2/+0 until end of turn.

"It's gone mad! Loose the chains and save what you can!"

Groundswell

Instant

Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Landfall - If you had a land enter the battlefield under your control this turn, that creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn instead.

"This world will not be tamed."

Nature's Claim

Instant

Destroy target artifact or enchantment. Its controller gains 4 life.

"On this plane, the use of magic can provoke a ferocious reprisal from nature. Whoever the Eldrazi were, their relics left Zendikar forever enraged."
-Jace Beleren

Brave the Elements

Instant

Choose a color. White creatures you control gain protection from the chosen color until end of turn. (They can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything of that color.)

"Trust me, your lost fingers and toes are nothing compared to the lost treasures of Sejiri."
-Zahr Gada, Halimar expedition leader

Shieldmate's Blessing

Instant

Prevent the next 3 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.

"Even land dwellers may call for Emeria's grace in times of need."
-Emeria's Creed

Spell Pierce

Instant

Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays .

"There's a hole in your plan."
-Noyan Dar, Tazeem lullmage

Disfigure

Instant

Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.

"Brave scar or unfortunate tale? It all depends on your pain threshold."

Vampire's Bite

Instant

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.)

Target creature gets +3/+0 until end of turn. If Vampire's Bite was kicked, that creature gains lifelink until end of turn. (Damage dealt by the creature also causes its controller to gain that much life.)

Burst Lightning

Instant

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.)

Burst Lightning deals 2 damage to target creature or player. If Burst Lightning was kicked, it deals 4 damage to that creature or player instead.

Unstable Footing

Instant

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.)

Damage can't be prevented this turn. If Unstable Footing was kicked, it deals 5 damage to target player.

A long way down is shorter than you think.

Primal Bellow

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each Forest you control.

"A might spell can be handy against baloths, giants, kraken, the Roil-or if you lose your bearings in the woods."
-Chadir the Navigator

Vines of Vastwood

Instant

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.)

Target creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control this turn. If Vines of Vastwood was kicked, that creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn.

Condemn

Instant

Put target attacking creature on the bottom of its owner's library. Its controller gains life equal to its toughness.

"No doubt the arbiters would put you away, after all the documents are signed. But I will have justice now."
-Alovnek, Boros guildmage

Silence

Instant

Your opponents can't cast spells this turn. (Spells cast before this resolves are unaffected.)

"Take a quiet moment to reflect on your sins."
-Cleph, Order of Redeemed Souls

Diminish

Instant

Target creature becomes 1/1 until end of turn.

"‘That was a narrow escape!' said Alice, a good deal frightened at the sudden change, but very glad to find herself still in existence."
-Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Stabbing Pain

Instant

Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Tap that creature.

"You can take the fight out of nearly any creature if you know where its soft spot is."
-Guttor, flesh-warper

Incite

Instant

Target creature becomes red until end of turn and attacks this turn if able.

The veneer of rationality peeled from the mage, revealing the spite and rage beneath.

Lightning Bolt

Instant

Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature or player.

Hornet Sting

Instant

Hornet Sting deals 1 damage to target creature or player.

It was only then-to his infinite sorrow-that Gork realized hornets don't make honey.

Harm's Way

Instant

The next 2 damage that a source of your choice would deal to you and/or permanents you control this turn is dealt to target creature or player instead.

Even when fate is already written, there's always time to change the names.