Combat Medic MTG Card

Combat Medic provides life stabilization, enabling longer play and strategy implementation. Its instant-speed ability offers vital reactive options during crucial game moments. Presence of discard and mana requirements constrains its use to specific deck builds.

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 1a

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 1d

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 1b

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 1c

Masters Edition II (ME2)
2008-09-22 - Number 9

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Cleric Soldier
Power	0
Toughness	2

Text of card

o1oo W Prevent 1 damage to any player or creature.

"Although Icatia's Combat Medics borrowed much of their knowledge from other societies, their skills were their own." —*Sarpadian Empires, vol. VI*

Cards like Combat Medic

The Combat Medic card presents an interesting dynamic in player health management in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to prevent damage falls in line with other cards like Samite Healer, which also offers a similar functional approach. The Combat Medic has a slight edge with its ability to prevent damage multiple times in a single turn if enough mana is available, differentiating itself from the one-use per turn limitation of the Samite Healer.

Looking towards more advanced options, there’s the Alabaster Mage. This card can also prevent damage but brings the added benefit of lifelink, potentially turning the tables in a game by not only defending but also bolstering your own health pool. However, Combat Medic’s flexible mana cost can be easier on a player’s resources, requiring no particular mana color which may suit a broader range of decks and strategies.

The utility of Combat Medic in the scope of MTG is notable for its defensive prowess. While it may not provide the potential growth that lifelink abilities offer, its mana efficiency and repeatable use make it a viable option for players seeking to uphold their life total while setting up their strategic plays.

Cards similar to Combat Medic by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Combat Medic offers consistent health recovery, which can effectively prolong your presence in the game. This subtle yet steady advantage allows you to maintain your life total while deploying other strategies, making it an invaluable asset over the course of a match.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly related to mana, the Combat Medic’s ability to preserve your creatures can be seen as a form of resource acceleration. By preventing damage to your other cards, it essentially saves the resources you would otherwise spend on casting new creatures, thereby keeping your board presence strong without additional mana investment.

Instant Speed: One of the key benefits of the Combat Medic is its capability to operate at instant speed. This feature gives players the flexibility to react to threats during the heat of combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn, thus optimizing the timing of life gain and maximizing its strategic effectiveness in the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Combat Medic card necessitates the removal of another card from your hand, which can be detrimental during critical phases when maintaining a full grip is essential.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost demands white mana, narrowing its compatibility to decks capable of producing or adapting to such color constraints.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that may be seen as steep for its effects, players often find themselves weighing the Combat Medic against other cards offering similar benefits for less investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Combat Medic offers a dual role as both a creature and a source of life gain, making it a flexible addition to a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those looking to bolster their defenses while maintaining board presence.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with strategies that capitalize on life gain triggers. Using Combat Medic in conjunction with cards that thrive off increased life totals can create powerful interactions and swing games in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where aggressive strategies are prevalent, having a card like Combat Medic that can consistently offset damage and prolong your survival can be a crucial tactical advantage.

How to beat

The Combat Medic card presents an intriguing twist to creature dynamics in MTG. It stands out with its unique ability to prevent a certain amount of damage to creatures or players, making it a versatile defensive tool in any match. To effectively counter it, players should prioritize eliminating this medic from the field. Tactics such as using spot removal spells prove highly effective, quickly disposing of the medic before its healing capabilities turn the tide of battle.

Similarly, players can also outrun its healing by ramping up the amount of damage dealt in a single turn. Overwhelm your opponent’s defenses with a horde of creatures or a combination of direct damage spells that exceed the amount of damage Combat Medic can negate. Be sure to consider the mana efficiency of your actions, as the card’s healing ability requires a proper mana payment, which might leave your opponent short on resources for other defenses.

Therefore, understanding the limits of the Combat Medic’s abilities allows players to craft a strategy that either removes it quickly from play or overpowers its defensive support, maintaining pressure and gaining the upper advantage in the duel.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Combat Medic MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fallen Empires, 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 Combat Medic and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Combat Medic Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	1a	1993	Normal	Black	Edward P. Beard, Jr.
2	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	1d	1993	Normal	Black	Liz Danforth
3	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	1b	1993	Normal	Black	Susan Van Camp
4	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	1c	1993	Normal	Black	Anson Maddocks
5	2008-09-22	Masters Edition II	ME2	9	1997	Normal	Black	Anson Maddocks

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Combat Medic has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal