Invoke the Ancients MTG Card
2022-02-18 - Number 390
2022-02-18 - Number 193p
2022-02-18 - Number 193
2022-02-18 - Number 474
2022-02-18 - Number 193s
2002-06-24 - Number 98039
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Create two 4/5 green Spirit creature tokens. For each of them, put your choice of a vigilance counter, a reach counter, or a trample counter on it.
Cards like Invoke the Ancients
Invoke the Ancients is a unique magic spell in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to summon multiple massive defenders to the battlefield. When assessing its role, it is often paralleled with cards such as Call the Gatewatch. Both are powerful in their own right, but Invoke the Ancients produces tangible creature threats, whereas Call the Gatewatch searches a planeswalker, shaping future plays with strategic depth.
Looking at other creature-generating cards, Serra’s Emissary shares the thematic element of creating impactful board presence. While Serra’s Emissary offers protection and versatility upon a singular, substantial body, Invoke the Ancients can overwhelm your opponent with quantity, providing numerous blockers or eventual attackers. Rise from the Tides also surfaces as a comparison, generating a horde of tokens, which could outnumber those from Invoke the Ancients, albeit without the individual strength of the ancient defenders.
Ultimately, Invoke the Ancients finds its standing among MTG spells that change the tide of battle with a powerful troop deployment. Its ability to manifest multiple creatures with notable toughness positions it distinctly among similar MTG cards, setting a firm defensive line or preparing for a considerable assault.
Cards similar to Invoke the Ancients by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Invoke the Ancients. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Green Aggro | Standard | Mono-Green Aggro | Standard League 2024-02-08 |
 | Mono-Green Stompy | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | |
 | Mono-Green Ramp | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Invoke the Ancients is a robust spell that can put two 4/5 white Spirit creature tokens with flying onto the battlefield. These sizable tokens not only bolster your defenses but also become significant threats that your opponents must deal with. Summoning multiple creatures with a single card gives you the upper hand as you expand your presence on the board, outpacing your opponent in terms of valuable assets.
Resource Acceleration: Although Invoke the Ancients itself does not directly ramp your mana, the substantial creatures it introduces can quickly change the pace of the game. By applying pressure and demanding responses from your opponents, you pave the way for more potent plays in subsequent turns. Deploying threats that require an answer can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by affecting the flow of the game and the decisions your opponent is forced to make.
Instant Speed: The real power of Invoke the Ancients lies in its ability to be cast at instant speed. This versatility allows you to keep mana available for other interactions or bluff having counterplay during your opponent’s turn. If no immediate threats arise, you can end their turn by summoning powerful creatures ready to swing the momentum in your favor during your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the downsides of Invoke the Ancients is the necessity of having a 4-power creature to discard. This requirement can pose a challenge, especially in the early game when your hand might be full of essential spells rather than disposable creatures.
Specific Mana Cost: Invoke the Ancients comes with a color-restrictive mana cost, needing two green mana. This makes it less flexible and can be hard to cast in multicolored decks that may not consistently have the necessary green sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana, Invoke the Ancients may not always be the most mana-efficient play. While it does bring two 4/4 green Spirit creature tokens with reach to the battlefield, there are scenarios where this high investment may not provide the impact needed when considering other spells or creatures that could be played for the same or less mana.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Invoke the Ancients provides a unique angle for decks that aim to harness the power of giants or spells that put multiple creatures on the battlefield. It slots into various strategies, increasing deck diversity and innovation.
Combo Potential: This card expands the landscape of synergistic possibilities, especially in decks that capitalize on the ‘power matters’ theme. It can be a catalyst for combos that revolve around creature size or quantity, opening up explosive gameplay avenues.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where board presence can be pivotal, Invoke the Ancients offers the ability to sway the battlefield dynamics in your favor by presenting multiple large threats at once, which could be pivotal for tempo and controlling scenarios.
How to beat
Invoke the Ancients is a unique card that can be a potential game-changer in MTG, especially if you’re facing a deck that leverages its potent ability to create formidable 4/4 green Spirit creature tokens. Overcoming this card requires strategic play and the right counters. Direct removal spells are your best friend here. Cards like Doom Blade or Murder can swiftly deal with the individual tokens, keeping the board clear and manageable.
Mass removal spells also serve as excellent counters to Invoke the Ancients. Wrath of God and Damnation not only take care of the tokens but reset the board entirely, nullifying any momentum your opponent may have built up. Lastly, countering Invoke the Ancients with a spell like Negate or Cancel before it takes effect saves you the trouble of dealing with the tokens altogether, ensuring you maintain control of the game’s pace.
Understanding how to dismantle your opponent’s strategy is crucial in MTG. With Invoke the Ancients, the primary tactics revolve around preventing its activation or efficiently dealing with the aftermath. Prepare your deck with these counters, and you’ll greatly increase your chances of coming out on top when facing this mighty card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Invoke the Ancients MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Invoke the Ancients 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 Invoke the Ancients Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-02-18 and 2022-02-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 98039 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan | ||
| 2 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | NEO | 390 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nablange | |
| 3 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Promos | PNEO | 193p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan | |
| 4 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | NEO | 193 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan | |
| 5 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | NEO | 474 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan | |
| 6 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Promos | PNEO | 193s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Invoke the Ancients has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Invoke the Ancients card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-02-18 | If a replacement effect causes you to create more than two tokens, you will make that choice for each of those tokens individually. For example, if you resolve Invoke the Ancients while you control Parallel Lives, you will choose a type of counter for each of the four resulting tokens. |
| 2022-02-18 | You choose the type of counter that each of the two green Spirit creature tokens will get separately. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.