Crusade MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 16
1993-10-04 - Number 17
1993-12-01 - Number 17
1993-12-10 - Number 17
1993-12-10 - Number 17
1994-04-01 - Number 15
1994-04-01 - Number 15
1994-06-21 - Number 15
1995-04-01 - Number 20
1995-04-01 - Number 20
1997-03-24 - Number 22
1999-04-21 - Number 13
1999-12-01 - Number 4
2007-09-10 - Number 6
2002-06-24 - Number 35926
| Card sets | Released in 15 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
All white creatures gain +1/+1.
Cards like Crusade
Crusade is a classic enchantment that stirs the battlefield in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Equated with other cards that boost creature power, such as Glorious Anthem, Crusade also provides a permanent power and toughness increase to your creatures. What sets Crusade apart is its exclusive buff to white creatures, directly impacting White Weenie strategies and reinforcing mono-white armies.
Another enchantment, Honor of the Pure, shares this white-centric enhancement, giving a similar edge to white creatures. Yet, it gets ahead by not augmenting the opponent’s white creatures, unlike Crusade. Then there’s Always Watching, a nonpareil addition offering not only a power lift but vigilance too, thus endowing white creatures with a stout defensive stance in addition to offensive prowess.
Pondering the synergy and the potential each card brings to the table, Crusade proudly stands in the archive of Magic: The Gathering as a flagbearer of mono-white builds, even as new spells offer nuanced advantages that tailor to evolving playstyles and deck architectures.
Cards similar to Crusade by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Crusade. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Five-color Combo | Premodern | $1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:30 am | |
| Five-color Midrange | Premodern | $1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:30 am | |
 | Mono-White Midrange | Premodern | Misty Premodern Winter Finals |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crusade grants a persistent buff to all white creatures you control, effectively increasing the value of each creature and strengthening your board presence without the need to play additional spells.
Resource Acceleration: While Crusade does not directly provide mana or tokens, it acts as a force multiplier by making each creature more impactful. This allows you to benefit from a more powerful army without investing additional resources into playing more creatures.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, the boost provided by Crusade can be a powerful advantage during surprise combat situations, especially since it enhances creatures the moment they enter the battlefield, thereby catching opponents off guard and potentially turning the tides of battle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike other enchantments that you can play without further detriment, Crusade requires a strict devotion to white creatures in your deck. This can be restrictive and does not advantage players with a diversified palette of creatures from various colors.
Specific Mana Cost: Crusade’s casting cost demands two white mana, which can be a challenge in multicolored decks where mana fixing is crucial. This necessity can pose a problem during the early game, where casting a non-white spell could be more critical.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the cost of Crusade is not excessively high, in an environment where efficiency is key, the two white mana could represent a significant early-game investment, especially when you could be developing your board presence with creatures or setting up other defenses.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Crusade is a card that finds its place in decks that are centered around White creatures, pumping their power and toughness globally and turning even the smallest of creatures into significant threats.
Combo Potential: In combination with cards that generate a large number of creature tokens, Crusade can quickly escalate the power of your army, making for overwhelming board states that can overpower opponents.
Meta-Relevance: With a meta that favors creature-based strategies, Crusade enhances your board presence, making it harder for opponents to stabilize and keep up with boosted forces.
How to Beat
The Crusade card has long been recognized for its potency in buffing white creatures within Magic: The Gathering. As an enchantment providing a flat power and toughness increase to each white creature you control, overcoming a board bolstered by Crusade requires a strategic approach. A common tactic is leveraging removal spells that can clear multiple creatures, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, to reset the playing field. Dismantling the synergy by targeting the enchantment itself with cards like Disenchant or Naturalize can also tilt the scales back in your favor.
Furthermore, consider employing board control strategies that alter creature stats or negate their abilities. Cards like Humility can be tremendous equalizers against a Crusade-augmented army. Exploit the inherent weakness of mono-colored decks by making the opponent overextend their resources, then capitalize with a well-timed sweeper. Always stay aware of the potential for a Crusade when playing against white weenie or token decks, and plan your removal and counterplay accordingly. Key is maintaining control and not allowing the Crusade to establish dominance on the battlefield.
Ultimately, possessing a combination of adaptive strategies and versatile responses is essential in overcoming the challenge posed by a Crusade-enhanced opponent in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crusade MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Crusade and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Crusade Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 16 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 17 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 17 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 17 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 17 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 15 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 15 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 15 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 20 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 20 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 22 | 1997 | Normal | White | D. Alexander Gregory | |
| 12 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 13 | 1997 | Normal | White | D. Alexander Gregory | |
| 13 | 1999-12-01 | Junior Super Series | PSUS | 4 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 14 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35926 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | ||
| 15 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 6 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crusade has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Banned |
| Legacy | Banned |
| Oathbreaker | Banned |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Banned |
| Duel | Banned |
| Predh | Banned |