Arms Race MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2022-11-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Brothers' War |
| Set code | BRO |
| Number | 126 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Leesha Hannigan |
Key Takeaways
- Arms Race provides card advantage and hinders opponents by forcing discards while bolstering your hand.
- It accelerates access to resources, enabling faster deployment of game-winning strategies.
- Instant speed and versatility make Arms Race a dynamic addition to numerous deck types.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arms Race MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Arms Race and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Text of card
: You may put an artifact card from your hand onto the battlefield. That artifact gains haste. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.
"You want it good, fast, or cheap? You can't have all three."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Arms Race shines by letting you boost your arsenal while hindering your opponent’s. By forcing a discard while also adding to your hand, you maintain a formidable card advantage throughout the duel.
Resource Acceleration: This spell propels your game forward by potentially offering high-quality cards that accelerate your access to crucial resources. The cards obtained can lead to an unexpected ramp, propelling your strategy at a pace your adversary may find difficult to match.
Instant Speed: The swift nature of Arms Race means it can be deployed on the fly, reacting to the evolving battlefield with precision. This instant speed play keeps opponents guessing and allows for strategic depth, ensuring your gameplay remains as dynamic as the ever-changing tides of MTG.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Arms Race demands a card be discarded as part of its casting cost. While this can synergize with certain strategies, it can also deplete your hand, putting you at a disadvantage, especially if your deck relies on maintaining card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is particularly color-weighted, requiring two red mana. This limits its inclusion to decks that can reliably generate red mana, potentially excluding it from more versatile or multicolored strategies that can’t afford such a heavy color commitment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of four mana, including two color-specific mana, Arms Race can be a costly endeavor. Considering the card’s effect, its place in your deck may need to be critically evaluated against other options that could provide similar or better utility for a lower or more flexible mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Arms Race can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of decks that seek to escalate the power on the board rapidly. Its ability to potentially enhance numerous creatures simultaneously makes it a flexible choice for aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: As a card that buffs multiple creatures, Arms Race opens up possibilities for synergies with cards that capitalize on creature strength or the number of creatures you control. These synergies can lead to explosive turns and overwhelming board states.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based decks are prevalent, Arms Race can serve as a key piece in outpacing opponents. By instantly boosting your forces, it can tilt the scales in your favor, making it a pertinent inclusion in many decks aiming to dominate the current meta.
How to Beat Arms Race
Arms Race belongs to a unique group of enchantments that can escalate the pace of the game swiftly. It allows players to upgrade their creatures by attaching equipment each turn without paying the equipment costs. To counter this enchantment, one must consider strategies that can mitigate or negate its advantages effectively.
One tactic is to introduce enchantment removal into your deck. Spells like Disenchant or Naturalize are accessible options that can eliminate Arms Race directly, ending its influence on the battlefield. Another angle of approach is to control the creatures being equipped. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or spot removal spells like Doom Blade can take care of the equipped creatures, thereby nullifying the impact of Arms Race.
Alternatively, you could adopt a strategy to outpace the opponent. Aggressive decks can often race against the value generated by Arms Race by consistently applying pressure and reducing the opponent’s life total before their equipments can turn the tide. In summary, while Arms Race can be a formidable card, there are multiple pathways to effectively challenge its dominance on the board.
Cards like Arms Race
Arms Race shines in its niche within the strategic depth of MTG’s arsenal. It echoes thematic similarities to other proliferate cards like Steady Progress, which also embellishes your board by adding additional counters. Steady Progress, however, is limited to instant speed and does not equip creatures with any bonus abilities. Arms Race diverges by potentially fortifying a creature each turn, assuming you have relics to boost.
Comparably, Tezzeret’s Gambit serves as another proliferate option, offering the player a chance to draw cards in addition to spreading counters. Yet, while it contributes to hand advantage, it lacks the recurring element of board enhancement found in Arms Race. Then there’s Contentious Plan, which is leaner with a lower mana investment and the card draw perk but, similar to Tezzeret’s Gambit, it’s a one-off event without the ongoing tactical advantage provided by Arms Race.
Understanding these dynamics, Arms Race is uniquely positioned in MTG for players who seek a continuous edge in counter manipulation and creature development, differentiating itself with the potential for consistent, turn-by-turn augmentation of your forces on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Arms Race by color, type and mana cost
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arms Race has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arms Race card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-14 | You sacrifice the artifact only if you still control it at the beginning of the next end step. If that artifact has left the battlefield, even if it later came back, you don't sacrifice it. |