Forge Armor MTG Card


Forge Armor excels at enhancing creatures, offering a significant board advantage with added counters. Synergy with artifact strategies makes it a powerful accelerator, impacting the game early on. Instant speed utility allows for strategic play, disrupting opponents and protecting assets effectively.
Forge Armor - Mirrodin
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameMirrodin
Set codeMRD
Number92
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTony Szczudlo

Text of card

As an additional cost to play Forge Armor, sacrifice an artifact. Put X +1/+1 counters on target creature, where X is the sacrificed artifact's converted mana cost.


Cards like Forge Armor

Forge Armor stands as an intriguing aspect of creature enhancement within Magic: The Gathering, akin to other equipment-based spells. It bears a resemblance to cards like Armory Automaton, which also revolves around the theme of armoring up creatures for battle. What makes Forge Armor distinct is its focus on bolstering a single creature’s toughness, providing a more targeted defensive strategy compared to the broader armoring capabilities of Armory Automaton.

When it comes to enhancing resilience, Built to Last is another card that comes to mind. Built to Last can give a creature a temporary bump in toughness, similar to the enduring boost from Forge Armor. Though Built to Last is more transient, it has the advantage of being an instant, allowing for surprise plays. On the flip side, Forge Armor’s effect is a permanent upgrade to a creature’s toughness, setting a sturdy line of defense for future battles.

Examining these comparisons helps to understand the utility that Forge Armor can bring to the table. Its potential to turn a fragile creature into a formidable blocker can be game-changing, marking its place among Magic: The Gathering’s noteworthy protective spells.

Armory Automaton - MTG Card versions
Built to Last - MTG Card versions
Armory Automaton - MTG Card versions
Built to Last - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Forge Armor by color, type and mana cost

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Act of Aggression - MTG Card versions
Fissure - MTG Card versions
Melee - MTG Card versions
Omen of Fire - MTG Card versions
Cinder Cloud - MTG Card versions
Lava Storm - MTG Card versions
Brawl - MTG Card versions
Thermal Blast - MTG Card versions
Radiate - MTG Card versions
Invoke Calamity - MTG Card versions
Pinpoint Avalanche - MTG Card versions
Savage Beating - MTG Card versions
Rain of Rust - MTG Card versions
Feedback Bolt - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Destruction - MTG Card versions
Devouring Rage - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Beam - MTG Card versions
Word of Seizing - MTG Card versions
Riddle of Lightning - MTG Card versions
Chaotic Backlash - MTG Card versions
Act of Aggression - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Forge Armor can provide a substantial boost by increasing the number of counters on a single creature, leading to a stronger board presence and potential card advantage as your enhanced creature can take down multiple opponents’ threats.

Resource Acceleration: An often overlooked aspect of Forge Armor is its ability to synergize with artifact strategies, effectively serving as a resource accelerator by making your artifact creatures more formidable and applying more pressure on the opponent earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Forge Armor is a key tactical advantage. It allows you to adapt to the state of the game, using it to surprise opponents during combat or in response to their spells, potentially disrupting their strategies and preserving your own assets.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Integrating Forge Armor into your gameplay can deplete your hand since you must let go of another card to benefit from its ability. This trade-off can hinder your strategy, particularly when your options are already few.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a precise blend of mana, Forge Armor demands both generic and colored mana. This can be cumbersome to manage, especially in decks that celebrate a wider color identity or depend on a swift mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the steeper end, Forge Armor may lag behind in the race against other cards that provide similar or better board presence or protection for less. Budgeting your mana to include this card could possibly slow down your momentum in critical turns of the game.


Reasons to Include Forge Armor in Your Collection

Versatility: Forge Armor shines in a multitude of deck archetypes, playing a critical role in builds focusing on artifact synergy or those looking to fortify creatures for combat superiority.

Combo Potential: This card can become a keystone in intricate combos, particularly in decks utilizing artifact recursion or equipped creature triggers, offering a repeatable source of toughness-increasing effects.

Meta-Relevance: Due to its ability to turn creatures into formidable blockers or attackers, its inclusion is a strategic advantage in metas that lean towards aggressive strategies or creature-heavy decks.


How to beat

Forge Armor stands as a robust card in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tides of battle by enhancing creatures’ strength and toughness. This card can prove to be a threatening force if left unchecked on the battlefield. To combat this, it’s essential to interrupt the card’s momentum.

One effective strategy is to target the card before its effect becomes substantial. Instant-speed removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize allow you to destroy Forge Armor before your opponent gets the chance to utilize its benefits extensively. Additionally, countering Forge Armor as it is cast with spells like Negate ensures that its potential is never realized on the field.

Another approach involves minimizing the impact of the card’s ability by reducing the number of creatures it can affect. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict can clear the board, rendering Forge Armor’s ability irrelevant by leaving it without a viable target. Moreover, employing removal spells such as Path to Exile on key creatures can severely limit the card’s utility and impact.

In conclusion, defeating Forge Armor requires foresight and timely responses. By handling this card with proactive measures or minimizing its targets, you can negate its advantages and maintain control over the game state.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Forge Armor MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Forge Armor and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Forge Armor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal