Cirith Ungol Patrol MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 531
2023-06-23 - Number 80
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Orc Soldier |
| Abilities | Food |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
, , Sacrifice another creature: Draw a card, then create a Food token. (It's an artifact with ", , Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.")
"Spies feared on Stairs. Double vigilance. Patrol to head of Stairs." —Shagrat's orders
Cards like Cirith Ungol Patrol
The intricacies of deck building in Magic: The Gathering are highlighted by the utility of cards like Cirith Ungol Patrol. This card can be compared to other creatures such as Oreskos Swiftclaw. Both boast aggressive two mana value creatures, with Cirith Ungol Patrol offering a solid 2/1 body that rivals that of Oreskos Swiftclaw’s 3/1. The main distinction between them, however, is the kindred keyword which Cirith Ungol Patrol possesses – allowing it to grow stronger every time a player casts a spell that shares a creature type with it. This offers a potential for increased long-term value, depending on the deck’s synergy.
Another creature to consider is Keldon Marauders, which impacts the game immediately upon entering or leaving the battlefield due to its vanish mechanic. Yet, despite the immediate impact, Keldon Marauders doesn’t offer the same scalability as Cirith Ungol Patrol, which may evolve into a more imposing threat over several turns. Additionally, the patrol’s tactical advantage in decks focused on specific creature types is unmatchable by the likes of Keldon Marauders.
Comparatively, Cirith Ungol Patrol has a distinctive place within MTG creature cards, especially in decks designed around tribe synergies, setting the stage for cumulative power increases that may secure its prominence in particular strategies.
Cards similar to Cirith Ungol Patrol by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When employing the Cirith Ungol Patrol in your deck, you gain a strategic edge with its ability to quickly replace itself in your hand after fulfilling its blocking duties. This seamless transition ensures that your hand remains equipped with options, thus maintaining a strong defensive line without sacrificing card quantity.
Resource Acceleration: The card’s inherent mechanic not only serves as a formidable defensive asset but also potentially accelerates your resource pool. By controlling a card that can effectively block and then bolster your hand, you can sustain your momentum in resource management, arguably a pivotal aspect of gameplay that can determine the outcome of a match.
Instant Speed: The true potential of Cirith Ungol Patrol is unlocked with its ability to act at instant speed, opening a realm of tactical gameplay. With this card, you are empowered to adapt swiftly to the evolving battlefield, ensuring that your strategies remain fluid and responsive to the threats posed by your adversary’s moves. This adaptability is pivotal in seizing the upper hand and navigating the game towards a favorable conclusion.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Cirith Ungol Patrol requires you to discard another card, which can be a drawback when your hand is already depleted, potentially putting you at a disadvantage against opponents with fuller hands.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s cost necessitates black mana, which confines it to decks that include black or have a mana base capable of producing multiple colors, thus limiting its flexibility in deck construction.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost, there exists a debate whether the card’s abilities justify its inclusion over other more cost-efficient options in the same mana range, potentially crowding out staple cards in competitive play.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Cirith Ungol Patrol offers a flexible option for decks focused on aggressive strategies. Its ability to grow stronger each turn makes it a consistent threat that adapts to various in-game situations.
Combo Potential: With its scaling power, this card synergizes well with equipment and aura spells that boost its attack, making it a formidable component in a combo-centric deck.
Meta-Relevance: Given its cost-effective nature and increasing attack potential, it can serve as an effective tool against control decks, pressuring opponents and forcing them to respond quickly.
How to beat
Cirith Ungol Patrol brings a simplistic yet strategic element to creature play in Magic: The Gathering. As a card that strengthens its own forces, players are often seeking methods to circumvent its growth in power. Despite its potential, the card is manageable with a well-crafted strategy. Isolating Cirith Ungol Patrol using single-target removal spells before it gains counters is a prudent move, as timing is essential in preempting its escalation.
Board clear spells also stand out as an effective solution, offering a reset button against not only Cirith Ungol Patrol but also other creatures that might be consolidating the opponent’s board presence. Additionally, utilizing cards that prevent counter placement or sap the strength of a creature is another avenue, effectively negating the patrol’s capacity to become a substantial threat. Remember, the key is to maintain control and respond to the patrol before it transforms into an indomitable force on the battleground.
Ultimately, when players anticipate and prepare for potential growth threats like Cirith Ungol Patrol, maintaining dominance on the playfield becomes significantly easier. Hence, employing timely removal and control techniques is the approach to ensure it doesn’t overrun your defenses.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cirith Ungol Patrol MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Cirith Ungol Patrol and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Cirith Ungol Patrol Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Bruno Biazotto.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 531 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bruno Biazotto | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 80 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bruno Biazotto |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cirith Ungol Patrol has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cirith Ungol Patrol card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | Do not eat the delicious cards. No, not even for second breakfast. |
| 2023-06-16 | Food is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some creatures in other sets, it's never a creature type. |
| 2023-06-16 | If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Lembas, an artifact card with the Food subtype, to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony. |
| 2023-06-16 | Some spells and abilities that create Food tokens may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't create any Food tokens. |
| 2023-06-16 | You can't sacrifice a Food token to pay multiple costs. For example, you can't sacrifice a Food token to activate its own ability and also to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony. |