Battle Rampart MTG Card
1999-10-04 - Number 173
2010-04-23 - Number 135
2018-06-08 - Number 165
2019-11-07 - Number 850
2020-09-26 - Number BBD-165
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Wall |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Battle Rampart enhances gameplay with its ability for untapping creatures and granting haste.
- Its specific mana requirements and discard cost can potentially limit deck integration.
- Despite alternatives, it provides a unique blend of defense and swift aggression.
Text of card
(Walls can't attack.) oc T: Target creature gains haste until end of turn. (That creature may attack and oc T the turn it comes under your control.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Battle Rampart offers strategic depth to your deck by giving you the ability to swiftly change the tide of a game. By being able to untap a creature, it potentially allows you to activate abilities or utilize the creature for both attacking and blocking within the same turn cycle, keeping your hand filled with more options.
Resource Acceleration: This sturdy wall assists in ramping up your game by enabling your heavy hitters to make an immediate impact. By giving a recently played creature haste through its ability, it accelerates the pace at which you can deploy threats and execute your game plan.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Battle Rampart can offer some of the benefits instant cards do. Its ability to be activated anytime you could cast an instant means you can surprise opponents by untapping your creatures on their turn, prepping them for unexpected blocks or enabling them for abilities that could be used during your opponent’s end step.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Battle Rampart demands a card discard from the player, potentially diminishing your hand and weakening your position, especially when your resources are already stretched thin.
Specific Mana Cost: This defender requires a particular blend of mana, including red, to be played, which may not easily slot into multicolored or non-red themed decks, potentially limiting its versatility in play.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost to summon that’s on the upper end for creatures of its type, Battle Rampart faces stiff competition from other cards that could provide greater value or lower-cost alternatives for your deck’s defensive strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Battle Rampart offers a unique ability to give creatures hast, which is beneficial in a variety of decks aiming for a quick and aggressive strategy, enabling them to swing into action without waiting a turn.
Combo Potential: This wall can be an instrumental part of combos, engaging in strategies where giving a specific creature hast could lead to an immediate impact on the game, such as unleashing a pivotal ability or attacking with a massive creature the moment it hits the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where speed is key, and the element of surprise plays a huge role, Battle Rampart can give your deck that extra edge it needs to outpace opponents by catching them off guard with unexpected, rapid attacks.
How to beat
Battle Rampart is a unique defender in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, providing the strategic advantage of granting haste to another target creature. Unlike other defensive cards, it pivots the gameplay by enabling a swift attack. To triumph over Battle Rampart, consider leveraging removal spells that can bypass its beefy blocker status. Direct damage spells or creature destruction cards can efficiently clear the path and dismantle your opponent’s tempo.
A good strategy is to keep mana open for instant-speed removal when your opponent attempts to utilize the haste ability. In this way, they commit a creature to the board, hoping for an immediate impact, but are met with a timely response. Additionally, understanding the decks that employ Battle Rampart can anchor your strategy, preparing you to handle the fast-paced threats it presents alongside other synergy pieces. By aiming for precision over brute force, you can maneuver around the swift tide Battle Rampart can summon, ensuring it crumbles before impacting the battlefield significantly.
In summary, with the right removal tactics and anticipation of your opponent’s moves, you can effectively neuter the surprise element that Battle Rampart introduces, keeping the game’s pace in your favor.
Cards like Battle Rampart
Battle Rampart brings a unique twist to creature dynamics in the world of MTG. Akin to other creatures that gift haste, such as Fervor and Hammer of Purphoros, Battle Rampart enables your other creatures to attack swiftly, potentially catching opponents off guard. Yet, it differentiates itself by selectively granting haste rather than universally applying it—allowing for strategic plays.
When considering walls with utility, Wall of Stolen Identity stands out by not only being an obstruction but also confusing the battlefield by copying other creatures. Contrary to Battle Rampart, Wall of Stolen Identity focuses on deception and versatility. In addition, the comparison wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Anger, a creature that, once in the graveyard, gives all your creatures haste as long as you control a mountain. While not a direct substitute, its enduring effect even after leaving the battlefield contrasts with Battle Rampart’s ongoing board presence requirement.
Examining the range of options, Battle Rampart may not be the most aggressive or flexible haste enabler in MTG, but it offers a unique combination of defensive prowess and offensive acceleration that can be pivotal in any game where timing and strategy are key.
Cards similar to Battle Rampart by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Battle Rampart MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Battle Rampart 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 Magic products
Printings
The Battle Rampart Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-10-04 | Mercadian Masques | MMQ | 173 | 1997 | normal | black | Ron Spencer | |
| 2 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 135 | 2003 | normal | black | Steve Prescott | |
| 3 | 2018-06-08 | Battlebond | BBD | 165 | 2015 | normal | black | Steve Prescott | |
| 4 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 850 | 2015 | normal | black | Steve Prescott | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | BBD-165 | 2015 | normal | black | Steve Prescott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Battle Rampart has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
