Guerrilla Tactics MTG Card
1996-06-10 - Number 74b
1996-06-10 - Number 74a
2001-12-01 - Number 13a
2001-12-01 - Number 13b
2003-07-28 - Number 192
2003-07-28 - Number 192★
2005-07-29 - Number 196★
2005-07-29 - Number 196
2007-07-13 - Number 211
2020-03-08 - Number 53
2020-09-26 - Number 10E-211
| Card sets | Released in 11 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Guerrilla Tactics deals 2 damage to target creature or player. If a spell or effect controlled by an opponent causes you to discard Guerrilla Tactics from your hand, reveal Guerrilla Tactics to all players, and it deals 4 damage to target creature or player.
Cards like Guerrilla Tactics
In the pantheon of direct damage spells in Magic: The Gathering, Guerrilla Tactics finds a spot with its unique ability to deal both creature and player damage. It’s often compared to cards like Shock, which also deliver 2 damage, but Guerrilla Tactics shines with its additional clout against discard strategies, doling out 4 damage when it’s discarded from your hand by an opponent’s action.
The card ranks among others such as Incinerate, which like Guerrilla Tactics, deal 3 damage, but Incinerate prevents regeneration, giving it a tactical edge in certain matchups. There’s also Lightning Bolt, the quintessential one-mana spell dealing 3 damage, favored for its lower cost and immediate impact. However, it doesn’t boast the punitive anti-discard feature of Guerrilla Tactics.
When we gauge the versatility and situational advantages, Guerrilla Tactics not only deals a fair amount of damage for its cost but also acts as a safeguard against unwanted discards, setting it apart in a niche role within the suite of red direct damage spells in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Guerrilla Tactics by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Guerrilla Tactics shines by providing unexpected card draw. Specifically, when targeted by an opponent’s spell or ability, it allows you to draw two cards, giving you a significant boost in hand resources and options to outmaneuver your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, but the potential for card draw can lead to acquiring more land cards or other resources much more quickly, indirectly speeding up your gameplay.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Guerrilla Tactics is a tactical game-changer. It lets you react swiftly to your opponent’s actions, maintaining the element of surprise and allowing for strategic plays that can disrupt their plans at critical moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Guerrilla Tactics demands that an opponent makes you discard it, which can be a hurdle since it depends on your opponent’s actions, reducing the card’s consistency.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a red mana commitment, constraining its integration into multicolored decks that may not focus on red mana symbols or have abundant red mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana and needing an opponent’s intervention to unleash its full potential, there might be more proactive and versatile options available for a deck builder looking to optimize damage output.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Guerrilla Tactics offers flexibility as both a direct damage spell and a means of deterring opponents from targeting your hand. It fits well into decks that aim to disrupt opponent strategies while keeping their own hand safe.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as an effective piece in decks focused on spell-slinging synergies. When combined with cards that replicate or return spells from the graveyard, Guerrilla Tactics’ impact amplifies, potentially leading to a powerful damage output.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to respond to targeted discard effects that are prevalent in many gaming circles, including Guerrilla Tactics in your collection ensures you have a reactive tool against popular hand disruption strategies.
How to beat
Guerrilla Tactics poses a unique challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering, especially for those unfamiliar with its reactive power. Often found in sideboards, this card shines against opponents relying heavily on discard strategies. While on the surface it may seem like just another burn spell, it dishes out damage not only once, but potentially twice if forced out of a player’s hand.
Defeating this card requires a careful approach. One method is avoiding forcing discards from your opponent’s hand, thereby not triggering its additional damage clause. This can be challenging when your strategy is discard-focused, but it’s crucial to track your opponent’s hand and play around Guerrilla Tactics accordingly. Moreover, instant-speed removal or counterspells are effective means to handle creatures that the opponent might target with the Tactics, mitigating its impact when they’re casting it regularly.
Ultimately, respecting the potential of Guerrilla Tactics is key in any matchup. By anticipating its use, planning strategic plays, and wisely choosing when to trigger discards, you can mitigate the damage it brings to your game plan and maintain control of the duel.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Guerrilla Tactics MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Alliances, 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 Guerrilla Tactics 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
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Printings
The Guerrilla Tactics Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2020-03-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 74b | 1993 | Normal | Black | Randy Asplund-Faith | |
| 2 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 74a | 1993 | Normal | Black | Randy Asplund-Faith | |
| 3 | 2001-12-01 | Deckmasters | DKM | 13a | 1997 | Normal | White | Randy Asplund-Faith | |
| 4 | 2001-12-01 | Deckmasters | DKM | 13b | 1997 | Normal | White | Randy Asplund-Faith | |
| 5 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 192 | 2003 | Normal | White | Ron Spencer | |
| 6 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 192★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | |
| 7 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 196★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | |
| 8 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 196 | 2003 | Normal | White | Ron Spencer | |
| 9 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 211 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dave Dorman | |
| 10 | 2020-03-08 | Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils | FMB1 | 53 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dave Dorman | |
| 11 | The List | PLST | 10E-211 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dave Dorman |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Guerrilla Tactics has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Guerrilla Tactics card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Discarding as a cost to cast a spell will not trigger the ability. Only discarding as an effect will trigger the ability. |
| 2004-10-04 | If it is discarded, the damage done by it is done by this card due to an ability and not by a spell. |
| 2004-10-04 | The second ability will trigger even on an optional discard caused by an opponent. |