Total War MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Ice Age
Set code	ICE
Number	221
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Drew Tucker

Key Takeaways

Total War leverages attack phases for card advantage and strategic battlefield control.
Instant speed play offers flexibility and can catch opponents off-guard during combat.
Demands careful hand management due to its discard requirement upon casting.

Text of card

Whenever any player declares an attack, destroy all untapped non-wall creatures that player controls that don't attack. Do not destroy creatures the player did not control at the beginning of the turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Total War encourages strategic deck-building by turning each creature’s attack into a potential source of card advantage. By forcing opponents to tap their creatures, you create opportunities for your own creatures to advance uncontested, potentially leading to direct card gains by removing blockers.

Resource Acceleration: The card synergizes well with effects that benefit from attacking, such as landfall or raid, leading to an acceleration in resource development. This can drastically tip the scales in your favor by increasing the efficiency and frequency of your plays.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Total War at instant speed gives you the upper hand by allowing you to wait for the most opportune moment during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn. This flexibility ensures you maintain momentum and keeps your opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Total War enforces a discard clause upon casting, potentially stripping you of vital hand assets at crucial game junctures. This might hinder your flexibility and strategic options in the long run, especially if you’re already contending with a dwindling hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation hinges on a precise mana arrangement, requiring both red and additional variegated mana. This necessity could prove challenging in multi-colored or less mana-flexible decks, potentially stalling your gameplay or limiting the card’s inclusivity across diverse deck architectures.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a notable mana investment relative to its battlefield impact, Total War’s mana demands may delay its deployment. This can disadvantageously position you against opponents who are utilizing lower-cost strategies to rapidly advance their field presence or disrupt yours, potentially undermining your tempo.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Total War card is a powerful inclusion for any collection due to its ability to shift game dynamics. This card can adapt to various strategies, acting as a potent disruptor in many different deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: With its sweeping effect of forcing each player to sacrifice all their lands, creatures, and artifacts, Total War can be a lynchpin in combo decks designed to capitalize on board resets. It lays the groundwork for numerous creative and game-ending synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where players heavily invest in complex board states, Total War serves as an equalizer. Its relevance rises in meta-games that favor gradual buildup, making it a crucial reset button to turn the tide of the match.

How to beat

Total War is a unique card that can turn the tides when facing creature-heavy decks in Magic: The Gathering. Hailing from the older sets, it presents a significant challenge due to its ability to force all creatures to attack each turn if able. To outmaneuver this card, strategic planning is essential. One effective method is to utilize control decks that focus on spell-based removal or board wipes. Cards like Wrath of God or Doomskar come in handy by clearing the field before Total War can have a lasting impact. Another tactic is to limit the number of creatures you play, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the forced aggression.

In addition, leveraging creatures with vigilance or those that benefit from attacking such as those with the battalion or exert mechanics can turn the tables to your advantage. If you have access to counter spells, keeping one handy for when your opponent casts Total War can save you from its grasp. Remember, adaptability is crucial, so maintain a flexible strategy when Total War makes an appearance on the battlefield. With these strategies in mind, you can prevent Total War from overwhelming your side and guide your deck to victory.

Cards like Total War

Total War, a notable card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, has a unique place among cards that disrupt opponents’ plans. It shares conceptual space with cards like Winter Orb, as both hinder an opponent’s board state. Winter Orb aims at mana bases specifically, locking down lands unless untapped. Total War, meanwhile, forces a different type of constraint, pushing opponents to dismantle their defenses every time they attack you, leaving their assets vulnerable.

In terms of forcing engagement, it also aligns with cards like War’s Toll, which pressures opponents into total commitment during their attack phases or when tapping lands. However, Total War uniquely binds the conditional destruction of creatures to combat. Comparatively, War’s Toll offers no immediate punishment for the opponent’s aggression but creates a near-impassable resource deadlock.

When examining Total War and its peers, one can appreciate its distinctive strategy of turning an opponent’s offense against them. It stands out among disruption-based cards in Magic: The Gathering by offering players a tactical advantage, repurposing the usual downsides of combat for creative and potentially game-swinging interactions.

Cards similar to Total War by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Total War MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Total War and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Total War has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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