Arbor Armament MTG Card

Instant speed allows Arbor Armament to serve as a flexible combat trick or reactionary spell. Enabling reach with a +1/+1 counter can turn the tide in aerial combat scenarios. While it has utility, the card requires creature presence and specific mana, limiting versatility.

Dominaria (DOM)
2018-04-27 - Number 155

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 1123

Jumpstart (JMP)
2020-07-17 - Number 376

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-155

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Text of card

Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. That creature gains reach until end of turn.

"Llanowar's boughs are ever ready To unleash an autumn of steel leaves." —"Song of Freyalise"

Cards like Arbor Armament

Arbor Armament is an intriguing option for players looking to beef up their creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When put side by side with other instant speed green buffs, Arbor Armament offers a unique twist by granting a +1/+1 counter and the added utility of putting flying blockers in the path of aerial threats. Cards like Giant Growth are often the go-to for their cost-effectiveness, giving a more significant temporary boost of +3/+3 until end of turn without the reach advantage.

Comparatively, cards like Blossoming Defense provide not only a +2/+2 increase but also the crucial ability to protect a creature from spells or abilities that target it. While lacking the counter permanence and reach provided by Arbor Armament, the added layer of protection can be a game changer. Then there’s Ranger’s Guile, a card that offers a smaller +1/+1 increase similar to Arbor Armament but includes hexproof to secure creatures from targeted spells or abilities for the turn.

Although each card presents distinct advantages, Arbor Armament carves out its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a combat trick that can create surprise blockers and endure beyond the current turn, which could be pivotal in games that hinge on persistent board presence.

Cards similar to Arbor Armament by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arbor Armament doesn’t specifically induce card draw but offers a clever way to protect a key creature on the battlefield. By bolstering your creature’s strength and resilience, the card ensures that your critical cards can withstand potential removals, indirectly maintaining your board advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct mana accelerator, Arbor Armament can be a formidable, low-cost strategy to quickly strengthen your creatures. For just one green mana, this spell provides an immediate boost, ensuring that your mana investment reaps timely and efficient results, potentially leading to earlier and more impactful offensive capabilities.

Instant Speed: The instant speed aspect of Arbor Armament is one of its strongest qualities. It provides the flexibility to adapt to the unfolding game, enabling you to either preemptively enhance a creature during your turn or defensively bolster it during your opponent’s turn in response to an attack or targeted spell.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Arbor Armament requires you to have a creature in play to make use of its buff, which can be detrimental in a creature-light deck or scenarios where the board is clear.

Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a green mana to cast. Decks that don’t rely heavily on green might find it challenging to accommodate such a specific mana requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing one green mana for simply a +1/+1 counter and reach can be considered inefficient, especially when there are alternatives that may provide more value or versatility for a similar or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Arbor Armament is a useful tool for green-based decks that focus on creature growth and resilience. The instant speed allows for unexpected combat tricks or bolstering a creature’s defense on the fly.

Combo Potential: With its ability to put a +1/+1 counter on a creature, Arbor Armament works seamlessly within counter-centric strategies. It can synergize with cards that benefit from counters or those that proliferate to enhance overall board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In metas with a prevalence of flying threats, Arbor Armament’s provision of reach can be a low-cost solution to stave off airborne assaults, making it a situational, yet potent, sideboard option.

How to beat

Arbor Armament is a versatile green instant in Magic: The Gathering that can catch opponents off guard by boosting a creature’s power and toughness and adding reach as a defensive or offensive play. It’s not uncommon to encounter players who use Arbor Armament to either defend against flying threats or to strengthen their own airborne assaults.

When strategizing against Arbor Armament, consider spells or abilities that negate the targeted buff, such as countering it directly with a “Negate” or removing the creature from play in response with an instant-speed removal spell like “Fatal Push”. Alternatively, adjusting your play to anticipate the temporary boost can minimize its impact. This could involve not attacking with valuable flying creatures when your opponent has mana available to play Arbor Armament.

In essence, understanding your opponent’s potential to use surprise tactics like Arbor Armament and planning around it is key. Whether through direct counters, preemptive strikes, or calculated risks, managing the risks this card presents is crucial to maintaining control on the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arbor Armament MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Mystery Booster, 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 Arbor Armament and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Arbor Armament Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Bayard Wu.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2018-04-27	Dominaria	DOM	155	2015	Normal	Black	Bayard Wu
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	1123	2015	Normal	Black	Bayard Wu
3	2020-07-17	Jumpstart	JMP	376	2015	Normal	Black	Bayard Wu
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	DOM-155	2015	Normal	Black	Bayard Wu

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arbor Armament has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal