Ballista Charger MTG Card

The Charger’s attack triggers deal damage, aiding in board control and life total reduction. It demands a card discard, potentially impacting hand advantage at critical moments. Charger fits well in artifact-synergistic decks and versatile combat strategies.

Kaladesh (KLD)
2016-09-30 - Number 196

Ballista Charger - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)

Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
2020-11-12 - Number 221

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact — Vehicle
Abilities	Crew
Power	6
Toughness	6

Text of card

Whenever Ballista Charger attacks, it deals 1 damage to target creature or player. Crew 3 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 3 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)

Cards like Ballista Charger

Ballista Charger holds a unique place in MTG as an artifact vehicle that stands out with its ability to deal damage upon attacking. This functionality recalls the likes of Triskelion, a creature that brings versatility with its ability to distribute damage upon removal of +1/+1 counters. However, the Charger has the added advantage of being crewed to become an attacker, also triggering its damage ability purely upon attacking.

Analogous to Ballista Charger is Reckless Fireweaver which rewards players whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control, causing it to deal damage to each opponent. While Reckless Fireweaver has less initial impact than the Charger, over time and with numerous artifacts, it can potentially deal more cumulative damage. Conversely, Ghirapur AEther Grid takes a different approach by allowing tapping of two artifacts to ping any target, offering strategic control at the cost of restraining your artifacts from committing to other actions.

In summary, while MTG abounds with cards capable of inflicting direct damage, Ballista Charger’s blend of crewing capability and combat-triggered damage can be a potent mix in artifact-centric or vehicle decks, providing a repeatable damage source each turn it’s active.

Cards similar to Ballista Charger by color, type and mana cost

The Deck of Many Things - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Ballista Charger creates value each time it attacks by dealing one damage to any target. This direct damage strategy can efficiently chip away at opponents’ life totals or clear the board of pesky creatures, all while keeping your hand steady.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to resource acceleration, the Ballista Charger can apply consistent pressure, forcing opponents to divert resources to deal with it. This implicit acceleration can put you ahead as your opponent allocates resources you can later take advantage of.

Instant Speed: Although the Ballista Charger itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability to deal damage upon attacking pairs well with instants that untap creatures or alter combat dynamics. The synergy amplifies combat tricks, making the Charger more versatile in battle.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must be aware that using Ballista Charger often necessitates pitching another card from their hand, which could be detrimental during crucial moments when maintaining hand advantage is key.

Specific Mana Cost: The Charger’s casting cost includes colored mana, which might not align with every strategy, particularly in decks that strive for mana base consistency across more colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a multitude of options available in the game, the Charger’s higher mana requirement might deter players when considering its inclusion versus other vehicles or creatures with similar or greater impact on the game for the same or less mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ballista Charger fits well in decks that exploit artifact synergies or those requiring consistent damage output. Its ability to deal damage when attacking provides a reliable way to whittle down opponents or manage creature threats.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that untap creatures, the Ballista Charger can become a repeating source of damage, enabling it to take a more central role in both offensive and defensive strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where small creatures play a prominent role, the Ballista Charger can serve as an effective deterrent, influencing board states simply by its presence and potential to deal damage each turn.

How to beat

Ballista Charger stands out in MTG as an artifact creature with the ability to deal damage to an opponent or planeswalker when it becomes tapped. This can create various tactical advantages, as you’re able to weave in extra damage while simultaneously executing other strategic plays. Comparable to other tap-to-damage cards, Ballista Charger has the added utility of crewing up, where it becomes activated by other creatures you control.

To effectively counter it, consider removal spells that can handle artifacts. Efficient removal like Abrade or Disenchant can dispatch the Charger before your opponent gets too much value. Additionally, creature control cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile could be used if the Charger has been crewed and is now a creature. If your strategy includes counterspells, be ready when your opponent attempts to cast it; keeping mana open for a timely Negate or Counterspell can save you the damage and hassle it brings to the battlefield.

Ultimately, recognizing when to remove the Ballista Charger or disrupt its synergy with other vehicles or creatures is key. By prioritizing it as a target for removal, you can protect your planeswalkers and life total, keeping the control of the game firmly in your hands.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ballista Charger MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Ballista Charger and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ballista Charger Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Sung Choi.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-09-30	Kaladesh	KLD		196	2015	Normal	Black	Sung Choi
2	2020-11-12	Kaladesh Remastered	KLR		221	2015	Normal	Black	Sung Choi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ballista Charger has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ballista Charger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2016-09-20	Ballista Charger's triggered ability resolves before blockers are chosen. A creature dealt lethal damage this way won't be around to block.
2017-09-29	Any untapped creature you control can be tapped to pay a crew cost, even one that just came under your control.
2017-09-29	Creatures that crew a Vehicle aren't attached to it or related in any other way. Effects that affect the Vehicle, such as by destroying it or giving it a +1/+1 counter, don't affect the creatures that crewed it.
2017-09-29	Each Vehicle is printed with a power and toughness, but it's not a creature. If it becomes a creature (most likely through its crew ability), it will have that power and toughness.
2017-09-29	For a Vehicle to be able to attack, it must be a creature as the declare attackers step begins, so the latest you can activate its crew ability to attack with it is during the beginning of combat step. For a Vehicle to be able to block, it must be a creature as the declare blockers step begins, so the latest you can activate its crew ability to block with it is during the declare attackers step. In either case, players may take actions after the crew ability resolves but before the Vehicle has been declared as an attacking or blocking creature.
2017-09-29	If a permanent becomes a copy of a Vehicle, the copy won't be a creature, even if the Vehicle it's copying has become an artifact creature.
2017-09-29	If an effect causes a Vehicle to become an artifact creature with a specified power and toughness, that effect overwrites the Vehicle's printed power and toughness.
2017-09-29	Once a Vehicle becomes a creature, it behaves exactly like any other artifact creature. It can't attack unless you've controlled it continuously since your turn began, it can block if it's untapped, it can be tapped to pay a Vehicle's crew cost, and so on.
2017-09-29	Once a player announces that they are activating a crew ability, no player may take other actions until the ability has been paid for. Notably, players can't try to stop the ability by changing a creature's power or by removing or tapping a creature.
2017-09-29	Vehicle is an artifact type, not a creature type. A Vehicle that's crewed won't normally have any creature type.
2017-09-29	When a Vehicle becomes a creature, that doesn't count as having a creature enter the battlefield. The permanent was already on the battlefield; it only changed its types. Abilities that trigger whenever a creature enters the battlefield won't trigger.
2017-09-29	You may activate a crew ability of a Vehicle even if it's already an artifact creature. Doing so has no effect on the Vehicle. It doesn't change its power and toughness.
2017-09-29	You may tap more creatures than necessary to activate a crew ability.