Icatian Phalanx MTG Card
1994-11-01 - Number 11
1997-03-24 - Number 36
2008-09-22 - Number 16
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | Banding |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Bands
Even after the wall was breached in half a dozen places, the Phalanxes fought on, standing solidly against the onrushing raiders. Disciplined and dedicated, they held their ranks to the end, even in the face of tremendous losses.
Cards like Icatian Phalanx
The Icatian Phalanx is an intriguing example of a creature card that offers both a robust defense and the potential to boost your battlefield presence in MTG. Close comparisons can be drawn with cards like Benalish Hero, which also provides the banding ability, allowing grouped attacks or defenses with other creatures. However, Icatian Phalanx demands one more mana for a slightly higher toughness, representing a trade-off between cost and durability.
Celestial Crusader is another card that echoes the theme of group strength, giving all other white creatures you control a power and toughness boost. While it lacks banding, it compensates with a presence that benefits all your white creatures universally. Moreover, standing as a flying creature, it adds an extra layer of offensive and defensive capabilities compared to the ground-bound Icatian Phalanx.
All things considered, the Icatian Phalanx holds its ground among similar MTG cards by offering a unique blend of defensive versatility and the strategic advantage of banding, making it a card worth considering for decks capitalizing on creature synergies and cooperative tactics.
Cards similar to Icatian Phalanx by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Icatian Phalanx represents a valuable addition to a player’s board state by providing multiple creature bodies with only one card, effectively bolstering the player’s defenses with minimal resource use.
Resource Acceleration: By generating several creatures, the card aligns perfectly with strategies that benefit from numerous permanents on the battlefield, often accelerating the effectiveness of subsequent plays and synergies within the deck.
Instant Speed: The capability to deploy Icatian Phalanx at instant speed gives players the flexibility to surprise an opponent during combat or at the end of their turn, which can drastically alter the tide of a game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of Icatian Phalanx is that to fully utilize its potential, you might be required to discard cards to activate abilities or synergize with its mechanics. This could put you at a disadvantage by diminishing your hand and weakening your strategic options.
Specific Mana Cost: With Icatian Phalanx’s casting cost demanding a particular combination of mana, it could be challenging to seamlessly integrate into a deck. This requirement could restrict its playability to certain types of decks that focus on generating the necessary mana efficiently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When we look at its overall cost to get Icatian Phalanx onto the battlefield, it might be considered high in comparison to other creatures with similar stats or abilities. This can be especially true in formats where mana efficiency and quick tempo are crucial to securing a victory.
Reasons to Include Icatian Phalanx in Your Collection
Versatility: Icatian Phalanx is a card that provides defensive stability to your deck. It can be a solid addition to your white weenie or soldier deck, ready to hold the fort as you build your board presence.
Combo Potential: As part of a soldier tribal deck, this card can benefit from various synergies with other soldiers, potentially boosting its power and providing additional interaction with your army on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: With an ever-changing MTG landscape, having a card like Icatian Phalanx in your collection offers a strategic advantage against aggro decks that aim to win quickly. It can significantly slow down your opponents, giving you the upper hand in key matches.
How to beat
Icatian Phalanx is a niche creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that brings a touch of sturdy defense to player decks. The card can be tricky to handle, due to its ability that fortifies other creatures and its vigilance trait. To effectively counter this steadfast warrior, strategic play is essential. One effective technique is employing removal spells that bypass its protective abilities. Casting a Doom Blade or a Murder can sweep it off the board before its enhancement effects influence the battlefield substantially.
Another tactic involves using bounce spells such as Unsummon or Vapor Snag to return Icatian Phalanx to its owner’s hand. This not only delays your opponent’s plans but also consumes the mana they invested in casting it initially. For a more finesse approach, turn to control magic like Pacifism or Claustrophobia to neutralize the Phalanx without having to remove it entirely. Remember, timing and choosing the right moment to strike are critical when facing such an adversary on the board.
Ultimately, a combination of direct removal, clever spellwork, and strategic foresight can ensure that the Icatian Phalanx does not become an insurmountable obstacle in your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Icatian Phalanx MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fifth 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 Icatian Phalanx and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Icatian Phalanx Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Kaja Foglio.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-11-01 | Fallen Empires | FEM | 11 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio | |
| 2 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 36 | 1997 | Normal | White | Kaja Foglio | |
| 3 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 16 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Icatian Phalanx has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | 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 Icatian Phalanx 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. |