Crescendo of War MTG Card
2011-06-17 - Number 12
2014-06-16 - Number 21
2020-09-26 - Number CMD-12
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
At the beginning of each upkeep, put a strife counter on Crescendo of War. Attacking creatures get +1/+0 for each strife counter on Crescendo of War. Blocking creatures you control get +1/+0 for each strife counter on Crescendo of War.
Cards like Crescendo of War
Crescendo of War not only buffs attacking creatures but also stands out for escalating combat stakes each and every upkeep. Comparable cards include Cathars’ Crusade, which grants +1/+1 counters to creatures whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control. While Cathars’ Crusade offers permanent stat increases, Crescendo of War boosts power only during combat and for all players, adding a dynamic layer to multiplayer games.
Akin to Crescendo of War, Rage Reflection offers double strike to your creatures, doubling the offensive potential but lacking the group-wide effect and the escalating mechanic. On the other hand, Crescendo of War provides both an offensive boost with additional attack benefits and a defensive downside with increased vulnerability of blocking creatures over time. Another related card is Dictate of the Twin Gods, which has a similar risk-reward profile by doubling damage for all players but does not specifically increase power or influence combat phases directly.
When considering Crescendo of War’s position among war-themed enchantments, it is unique in its ability to change the battlefield each turn, impacting all players’ strategies and making it an intriguing choice for group games and commander matches.
Cards similar to Crescendo of War by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crescendo of War is a powerhouse in long drawn-out battles, as the enchantment accumulates charge counters at each of your upkeeps, boosting the offensive capabilities of your creatures. As turns progress, it can contribute to an overwhelming board state, granting you a significant tactical advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although Crescendo of War itself does not directly provide mana or tokens, its escalating buffs to attacking creatures can quickly turn the tide of war, effectively accelerating your path to victory. By making each creature a bigger threat, you force opponents to deal with them more urgently, potentially leading to resource misallocation on their part.
Instant Speed: This particular enchantment operates continuously from the moment it’s played, affecting each combat phase, including your opponents’. It’s not an instant-speed spell, but its persistent and cumulative effect on the game can be just as disruptive as a well-timed instant by imposing a growing threat each turn—your adversaries must react swiftly, often at instant speed, to address the escalating menace.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Crescendo of War requires constant creature engagement to maintain its benefits. If you’re unable to sustain a board presence with creatures to attack each turn, this enchantment quickly loses its value.
Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a specific color alignment: it needs one white and three other mana to cast. Decks that are not heavily focusing on white may struggle to consistently meet the color requirement, potentially limiting its inclusion to certain archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Crescendo of War can be considered a steep investment in the early to mid-game. It competes with other impactful four-mana spells and must prove its worth by enhancing your battlefield presence significantly to justify its place in your deck.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Crescendo of War is a dynamic card, capable of elevating various deck builds. It fits snugly into aggressive strategies and equally enhances more defensively-oriented decks, adjusting its role to the current board state.
Combo Potential: Its ability to increase attack power each turn can synergize with cards that reward you for dealing high amounts of damage, or with strategies that capitalize on creature size, creating opportunities for powerful interactions.
Meta-Relevance: In environments dominated by combat-centric decks, Crescendo of War can tip the scales massively in your favor, turning even the most modest creature into a significant threat each turn.
How to beat
The Crescendo of War is an impactful card that can sway the tide of a game in MTG, building up power and aggression over time. To tackle this card, strategic removal is key. Given that Crescendo of War bolsters the combat capabilities of all creatures on the field for each counter it gains, removing it before it accumulates too much benefit is essential. Cards with direct enchantment destructibility such as Disenchant or Naturalize can be pivotal.
Board control also becomes crucial when faced with an opposing Crescendo of War. Utilizing sweepers like Supreme Verdict or Wrath of God to clear the board can nullify the advantage it provides. This prevention stops opponents from exploiting the power boost during their combat phase. Counter spells are equally effective when dealing with Crescendo of War. By countering it upon its cast, you avoid the impending incremental threat altogether.
Ultimately, staying ahead of the Crescendo of War by prioritizing enchantment removal, leveraging board wipes, or deploying counter spells ensures that it doesn’t overwhelm you. Keep these tactics in mind to maintain control of the battlefield and emerge victorious even as tensions rise.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crescendo of War MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2011 and Vintage Masters, 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 Crescendo of War and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- Card Market
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Printings
The Crescendo of War Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-06-17 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by Daarken.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 12 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
| 2 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 21 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | CMD-12 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daarken |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crescendo of War has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crescendo of War card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-09-22 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, the first ability triggers once during each team’s upkeep. |