Icatian Infantry MTG Card

Icatian Infantry’s low cost supports maintaining battlefield control without exhausting resources. While not powerful in current meta, it adds nostalgic and strategic value to decks. Comparatively, there are more impactful creatures, but it retains casual play appeal.

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 7b

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 7a

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 7d

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 7c

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Power	1
Toughness	1

Text of card

o1: Bands until end of turn o1: First strike until end of turn

Although they had long been concerned about the Order of the Ebon Hand, the Icatians faced an even greater threat from Goblin and Orcish raiders.

Cards like Icatian Infantry

Icatian Infantry stands out as an interesting card within the wide range of creature spells in Magic: The Gathering. This card reminds seasoned players of classic cards like Savannah Lions which, although it doesn’t have the banding or first strike abilities, comes out as a robust 2/1 creature for the same low cost. Both cards are valued for their early game board presence and aggressive play style.

Moreover, Benalish Hero shares a kinship with Icatian Infantry due to the banding ability. While it doesn’t possess the first strike ability and has a lower power and toughness, the inclusion of banding allows for strategic defense plays. Another similar card, Elite Inquisitor, offers a strong comparison with first strike, but also boasts vigilance and protection from vampires, werewolves, and zombies, reflecting a more modern approach to creature abilities in the game.

Each card provides unique advantages depending on the tactical needs of the deck and player strategy. While Icatian Infantry might not be the strongest contender in terms of raw power or versatility, its blend of abilities provides players with a range of tactical options, making it an engaging choice for enthusiasts of strategic gameplay in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Icatian Infantry by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Icatian Infantry itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its straightforward casting cost makes it a reliable play. When you’re deploying your strategy, having easily accessible units like the Icatian Infantry can help maintain a solid presence on the battlefield without depleting your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Icatian Infantry won’t directly ramp up your mana reserves, but it’s an efficient addition to your army. Its low-cost investment can preserve your mana for casting more significant spells or activating abilities that could turn the tide of the game.

Instant Speed: Instant speed isn’t an attribute of the Icatian Infantry, as it’s a creature. However, this card represents a quick deployment that meshes well with an MTG player’s strategy that values swift and decisive troop placement. Generating an early creature advantage can pressure your opponent and disrupt their plans right from the get-go.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Icatian Infantry forces players to discard a specific card type to activate its abilities. Such a prerequisite can deplete a player’s hand and lessen strategic flexibility, making it a potentially inconvenient card in situations where card availability is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring white mana to deploy, Icatian Infantry is naturally a better fit for mono-white or two-color decks. Its inclusion in multicolor decks could be challenging as it narrows down mana flexibility, possibly leading to it sitting idle in hand while you’re waiting for the right mana to play it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the stats and abilities it provides, the mana cost of Icatian Infantry might be seen as steep. Considering the evolving dynamics of the game, other creatures with similar or lower cost may offer superior stat or ability benefits, which reduces the appeal of Icatian Infantry in many deck constructions.

Reasons to Include Icatian Infantry in Your Collection

Versatility: Icatian Infantry is a flexible card that can slip into various deck types without hassle. Its capability to act both offensively and defensively makes it a match for players who appreciate adaptive strategies within their game plans.

Combo Potential: Banding, the key ability of Icatian Infantry, may seem quaint but it opens up numerous possibilities for strategic combat engagement. It pairs well with abilities or spells that tweak blocking or attack phases, leading to unexpectedly powerful combinations on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: While the MTG landscape continuously evolves, certain cards find their niche against the prevalent trends. Icatian Infantry, with its unique combat manipulation, can become a tactical asset especially in environments where combat tricks and precise creature control play crucial roles.

How to beat

The card Icatian Infantry is a lesser-known soldier from Magic: The Gathering’s historical Fallen Empires set. Typically found in casual or thematic decks, this card holds some nostalgic value but isn’t a standout in competitive play. Its main traits are vigilance and banding, which can be leveraged in combination with other creatures to create a stronger defense, but compared to modern power levels, it’s a straightforward card to outpace.

To gain the upper hand over Icatian Infantry, players might prioritize removal spells that can handle multiple creatures at once, clearing the path of both the Infantry and its banded allies. Spells such as Pyroclasm or Wrath of God can effectively disrupt banding strategies. Additionally, utilizing creatures with flying or other types of evasion ensures that your attackers can bypass the Infantry’s defensive positioning. If the goal is to overpower it in combat, stronger and more cost-effective creatures are widely available in MTG, rendering the Infantry obsolete in most situations.

Understanding how to adapt your strategy to outmatch older cards like Icatian Infantry could prove beneficial for players learning the ins and outs of creature-based interactions in the game. Optimal deck construction and knowledge of the current meta will generally steer players away from relying on cards with lower impact such as this.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Icatian Infantry MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fallen Empires, 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 Icatian Infantry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Icatian Infantry Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 1994-11-01. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	7b	1993	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
2	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	7a	1993	Normal	Black	Edward P. Beard, Jr.
3	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	7d	1993	Normal	Black	Drew Tucker
4	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	7c	1993	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Icatian Infantry has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2008-10-01	A maximum of one nonbanding creature can join an attacking band no matter how many creatures with banding are in it.
2008-10-01	Creatures in the same band must all attack the same player or planeswalker.
2008-10-01	If a creature with banding attacks, it can team up with any number of other attacking creatures with banding (and up to one nonbanding creature) and attack as a unit called a “band.” The band can be blocked by any creature that could block a single creature in the band. Blocking any creature in a band blocks the entire band. If a creature with banding is blocked, the attacking player chooses how the blockers’ damage is assigned.
2009-10-01	If a creature in combat has banding, its controller assigns damage for creatures blocking or blocked by it. That player can ignore the damage assignment order when making this assignment.