Alliance of Arms MTG Card

Commander 2011 (CMD)
2011-06-17 - Number 4

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number CMD-4

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Join forces

Key Takeaways

In multiplayer, Alliance of Arms can snowball into substantial card advantage with potential to summon a vast army.
While not a mana accelerator, the tokens created can significantly aid creature-based strategies and increase your board presence.
Its join forces mechanic introduces a communal casting cost that can either synergize with or be exploited by opponents.

Text of card

Join forces — Starting with you, each player may pay any amount of mana. Each player puts X 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield, where X is the total amount of mana paid this way.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Alliance of Arms offers a unique way to flood the battlefield with creatures. In multiplayer games, the potential for massive card advantage is significant, as each player’s investment can lead to a personal army for you, depending on the number of participants.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly creating mana, each token generated through Alliance of Arms can be pivotal for strategies that benefit from having numerous creatures on the field, essentially accelerating your resource presence by increasing your creature count.

Instant Speed: Although Alliance of Arms is a sorcery, its ability to rapidly change the state of the board can parallel the impact of instant speed spells. Deploying numerous tokens before your turn can deter attacks or set up for combative surprises, especially in conjunction with cards that grant instant speed buffs or abilities.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Alliance of Arms doesn’t directly oblige players to discard, the “join forces” mechanic can indirectly pressure players into depleting their hand. The political nature of the card may force you to invest more, resulting in a smaller hand size to maintain a beneficial board state.

Specific Mana Cost: Alliance of Arms requires white mana specifically, which can sometimes be restrictive. Decks not heavily invested in white may struggle to accommodate this card without affecting their mana base consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a starting mana cost of one white plus three generic mana, the card can be costly, especially since the final effect is dependent on players’ willingness to contribute mana. In situations where opponents opt not to participate, you might end up paying a steep cost for a modest gain in creature tokens.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Alliance of Arms is an exceptional card that complements a variety of decks, particularly those built around creature count or where the strategy revolves around bolstering your side of the battlefield with numerous creatures.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with effects that benefit from having many creatures in play, such as those that amplify life gain, use creatures as a resource, or enhance attack damage.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where the board state can quickly escalate with a multitude of creatures, Alliance of Arms plays a significant role. It adjusts well to Commander games, increasing the dynamics and intricacy of the multiplayer format.

How to beat

Alliance of Arms is an intriguing card that invites players to expand their armies by creating any number of 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens. Such a card can quickly change the dynamic of a match, especially in multiplayer games. To effectively counter this onslaught, you’ll want strategies that either prevent the tokens from being created or remove them en masse once they’ve hit the battlefield.

Board-clearing spells such as Wrath of God or Damnation are ideal for wiping clean any advantage gained from Alliance of Arms. Alternatively, you may opt for cards with the “settle the wreckage” effect to exile attacking creatures and remove potential threats swiftly. If you’re looking to prevent the tokens from being created in the first place, countermagic like Counterspell or Disallow could keep Alliance of Arms from resolving. Running cards that limit token generation, such as Illness in the Ranks or Cursed Totem, may be another way to reduce the efficacy of such strategies.

Remember, while Alliance of Arms can lead to a daunting army, with the right plan in place, you can turn your opponent’s strength into their downfall and maintain control over the game.

Cards like Alliance of Arms

Alliance of Arms is a unique multiplayer-focused card that invites all players into the fray, offering a twist on token generation in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives are cards like Sylvan Offering, which follows a similar pattern of giving each player a bounty of creature tokens — but with the flexibility to choose between Elf Warriors and Treefolk. Unlike Alliance of Arms, Sylvan Offering allows players to dictate the creature type and number, but does not incorporate the shared casting cost mechanic of Join Forces.

Another card to consider is Tempt with Vengeance, which, though it doesn’t allow opponents the option to benefit, offers the caster customizable firepower through X elementals with haste. It’s an enticing offer to increase one’s board presence rapidly. The absence of the scaling communal aspect from Alliance of Arms makes it a more selfish, yet potentially more predictable option. Meanwhile, Collective Voyage, a card cut from the same mechanics cloth, lets all players ramp up by searching for basic lands. It shares the cooperative feel but affects the mana base rather than the battlefield directly.

Ultimately, Alliance of Arms stands out within the Join Forces ensemble of MTG by providing an open invitation to all players to expand their armies, setting the stage for potentially game-altering strategies and plays.

Tempt with Vengeance - MTG Card versions

Tempt with Vengeance - Commander 2013 (C13)

Collective Voyage - Commander 2011 (CMD)

Cards similar to Alliance of Arms by color, type and mana cost

Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions

Ritual of Restoration - MTG Card versions

Benediction of Moons - MTG Card versions

Wake the Reflections - MTG Card versions

Festival of Trokin - Portal Second Age (P02)

Empty City Ruse - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Peach Garden Oath - Masters Edition III (ME3)

Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)

Steelshaper's Gift - Commander Masters (CMM)

Launch the Fleet - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)

Chaplain's Blessing - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Alliance of Arms MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2011 and The List, 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 Alliance of Arms and other MTG cards: