Crossbow Ambush MTG Card


Increases creature counts instantly, subtly tilting battles in your favor and strengthening board control. Instant speed utility provides flexibility to disrupt opponents’ strategies at crucial gameplay moments. Demands careful consideration of mana and card resources due to specific costs and discard requirement.
Crossbow Ambush - Stronghold
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released1998-03-02
Set symbol
Set nameStronghold
Set codeSTH
Number105
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKev Walker

Text of card

All creatures you control can block creatures with flying until end of turn.

There is no drake that flies faster than a crossbow bolt. —Vec saying


Cards like Crossbow Ambush

Crossbow Ambush finds its unique role in the pantheon of creature boosting tricks in Magic: The Gathering. It shares the stage with cards like Inspired Charge which also grants a temporary power and toughness increase to your creatures. Crossbow Ambush, however, is more focused, offering only +1/+0 but with the added advantage of being able to target only untapped creatures you control. This selective boost can be advantageous in maintaining a defensive stance while still increasing damage output on your turn.

In a similar category, Rush of Adrenaline not only gives a single creature a temporary +2/+1 push but also provides it with trample, enabling the creature to potentially deal excess combat damage to the opponent. While Rush of Adrenaline’s effects are more concentrated on one creature, Crossbow Ambush lends itself to a wider strategy, affecting multiple creatures and offering a stronger collective impact on the game state.

Another card that draws parallels is Make a Stand, which gives your creatures +1/+0 and indestructibility until end of turn. The protection factor of Make a Stand arguably eclipses the purely offensive nature of Crossbow Ambush. Still, the latter’s lower mana cost can be an effective tool for a strategically timed offensive maneuver. In essence, Crossbow Ambush serves as a cost-effective way to bolster your army’s strength in a pinch, a characteristic that is valuably considered in deck building in MTG.

Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Rush of Adrenaline - MTG Card versions
Make a Stand - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Rush of Adrenaline - MTG Card versions
Make a Stand - MTG Card versions

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Berserk - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Lifelace - MTG Card versions
Crumble - MTG Card versions
Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Seedling Charm - MTG Card versions
Shrink - MTG Card versions
Choking Vines - MTG Card versions
Crop Rotation - MTG Card versions
Worldly Tutor - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Might - MTG Card versions
Reclaim - MTG Card versions
Serene Sunset - MTG Card versions
Sprout - MTG Card versions
Gather Courage - MTG Card versions
Nature's Claim - MTG Card versions
Prey's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Autumn's Veil - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Crossbow Ambush enables you to muster additional creatures during a battle, subtly tilting the numbers in your favor and giving you an edge in maintaining board presence.

Resource Acceleration: This card can swiftly bolster your offensive capabilities by generating a surge of creature tokens, which can be pivotal for overwhelming opponents or fortifying defenses on the fly.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Crossbow Ambush lies in its instant speed, which offers the tactical flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy at a crucial moment, making it a versatile addition to any deck that values surprise and adaptability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect to consider with Crossbow Ambush is the discard requirement it imposes on the player. This could lead to a strategic disadvantage, as it might necessitate the forfeiting of valuable cards in hand, detracting from your ability to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Crossbow Ambush demands a specific arrangement of mana to cast. This particular mana cost can sometimes hinder its inclusion in multicolor decks that may struggle to consistently provide the right color combinations, potentially causing delays or even preventing you from playing the card when it’s most needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Players should be aware of Crossbow Ambush’s mana demands relative to its impact on the game. With a mana cost that could be considered steep for its effect, it’s important to weigh it against other available options in the same cost bracket which might provide a higher value or more versatile utility.


Reasons to Include Crossbow Ambush in Your Collection

Versatility: Crossbow Ambush provides a unique tactical advantage as it can be slotted into various deck types. It shines in decks that aim to control the board by pegging off threats or bolstering defenses subtly.

Combo Potential: This card excels in creating unexpected synergies, particularly with creatures that benefit from tap or untap triggers. It can transform seemingly passive creatures into sudden blockers or attackers, disrupting your opponent’s combat strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board states can shift rapidly, having a card like Crossbow Ambush can be crucial. It offers immediate influence on the battlefield, potentially swinging the momentum in your favor in a meta that values creature interactions and combat tricks.


How to beat

Crossbow Ambush is an intriguing card that can catch many players off guard in MTG. In the right circumstances, it can significantly bolster the strength of your creature line-up, especially in decks that are centered around ranged attackers or those that benefit from instant-speed combat tricks. To effectively counter this card, one must be prepared with instant-speed removals or damage prevention strategies. Understanding the pivotal moment when a player is likely to cast Crossbow Ambush is crucial. You’ll aim to disrupt their carefully laid plans by removing their key creatures in response or using spells that neutralize the combat trick. It’s important to maintain card advantage and board control to mitigate the impact that Crossbow Ambush may have in a given match-up.

Flexibility with countermeasures is also vital. For example, employing cards with flash allows you to respond during your opponent’s turn, potentially neutralizing the effects of Crossbow Ambush before they can become a threat. Also, boards wipes or damage mitigation spells after blocks are declared can ensure the surprise factor of Crossbow Ambush loses its potency. By staying one step ahead and having these responses ready, the strategic advantage shifts back to you, diminishing the impact of this unique card in your games.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crossbow Ambush MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold, 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 Crossbow Ambush and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crossbow Ambush has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crossbow Ambush card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2008-04-01 This card now uses the Reach keyword ability to enable the blocking of flying creatures. This works because a creature with flying can only be blocked by creatures with flying or reach.