Fortified Area MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 14
1995-04-01 - Number 26
1995-04-01 - Number 26
1995-08-01 - Number 11
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
All your walls gain +1/+0 and banding.
Cards like Fortified Area
Fortified Area is an intriguing enchantment that offers a strategic defensive advantage in Magic: The Gathering. It serves a similar purpose to cards like Castle, which also provides a boost to defending creatures. While Castle only fortifies your untapped creatures, Fortified Area takes a more encompassing approach by strengthening all creatures you control that are declared as blockers during combat.
Analogous to Fortified Area, High Ground enhances the defensive capabilities of all your blocking creatures by allowing them each to block an additional attacker. Its broader applicability comes with a lighter mana investment, which can be crucial during early-game setup. Conversely, Fortified Area focuses on bolstering the toughness of your blockers, a boon in prolonged engagements against heavy-hitting adversaries. Then there is Brave the Sands, offering vigilance alongside the ability to block additional creatures — an attribute that maintains offensive pressure while still providing a staunch defense.
In the realm of defensive enchantments, Fortified Area holds a respectable position. It shines best in decks designed to withstand aggressive strategies, protecting your life total by upholding a formidable line of defense.
Cards similar to Fortified Area by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Fortified Area offers a layer of protection for multiple creatures, effectively countering strategies that target individual creatures and saving resources that might have been spent on multiple protective spells.
Resource Acceleration: While this enchantment does not directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly contribute to your mana efficiency by allowing you to invest in board development rather than individual creature protection.
Instant Speed: Although Fortified Area is traditionally cast at sorcery speed, its enduring effect on the board state means your creatures are safeguarded when it matters most, such as during an opponent’s attack phase or in response to a board wipe.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When dealing with Fortified Area, there’s a drawback of needing to discard a card that not all players can accommodate. This drawback is especially poignant during the late game when your hand might already be running on empty.
Specific Mana Cost: The power of Fortified Area comes at the cost of specific mana requirements, which may not blend smoothly with more diversified or color-fluid decks. Players with multicolor strategies might find it challenging to summon this card at the right moment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing in Fortified Area means allocating a significant amount of mana for its effect. For the same expenditure, you might access other cards that provide immediate board presence or game-changing interactions, positioning Fortified Area as a costlier option for your defensive lineup.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Fortified Area offers a unique benefit to deck builders, excelling in strategies where defending is critical. Its enhancement of wall creatures makes it a staple in any defensive-oriented deck.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with effects that generate or benefit from having a multitude of tough defenders. It can significantly boost an already established board presence, making your walls nearly insurmountable.
Meta-Relevance: In a playing environment where creature-based strategies dominate, Fortified Area can provide an unexpectedly stout line of defense, potentially stalling opponents and tilting the game in your favor.
How to Beat
Fortified Area sets a solid defense for control players, presenting a shield that benefits all Walls under your command. To undermine its stronghold, the key is to deploy non-combat strategies that bypass the fortified lines. You might consider using direct damage spells or abilities that can target creatures or players, decreasing the relevance of a defense-heavy board. Another effective tactic involves removal spells that don’t rely on the power of the attacker, such as board wipes, which can reset the field to your advantage.
Enchantment removal is especially significant in this scenario. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize offer a clean solution to dismantle the defenses by directly targeting and destroying Fortified Area. Additionally, leveraging flying or unblockable creatures can soar over the walls, rendering the Fortified Area’s effect inconsequential. Lastly, don’t overlook the power of counter spells which can prevent cards like Fortified Area from even entering the battlefield, ensuring your attackers face no enhanced defenses.
Tackling a deck with Fortified Area requires adaptive strategies, focusing on indirect forms of damage and board control. By integrating these elements into your gameplay, you can neutralize the defenses and lead your forces to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fortified Area MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fourth Edition, 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 Fortified Area and other MTG cards:
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- 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 Fortified Area Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 1995-08-01. Illustrated by Randy Asplund-Faith.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 14 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Randy Asplund-Faith | |
| 2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 26 | 1993 | Normal | White | Randy Asplund-Faith | |
| 3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 26 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Randy Asplund-Faith | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 11 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Randy Asplund-Faith |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fortified Area has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |