Marshaling the Troops MTG Card


It provides card advantage by filling your hand and multiplying battlefield presence. Resource acceleration is achieved by deploying multiple creatures swiftly. Instant speed allows for surprise strategies and pivotal game shifts.
Marshaling the Troops - Portal Three Kingdoms
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Released1999-05-01
Set symbol
Set namePortal Three Kingdoms
Set codePTK
Number141
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderWhite
Illustred byLiu Shangying

Text of card

Tap any number of your creatures. You gain 4 life for each creature tapped this way. (Tapped creatures can't block.)


Cards like Marshaling the Troops

Marshaling the Troops is an intriguing utility card within Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of creature support spells. If we compare it to other cards like Mobilize or Call to Arms, we notice similarities and differences that cater to distinct gameplay strategies. For example, both Marshaling the Troops and Mobilize allow you to untap all creatures under your command. However, Marshaling the Troops offers the flexibility to be played at instant speed, providing a tactical advantage allowing for surprise blocks or enabling a sudden onslaught during your opponent’s turn.

Call to Arms is another card that can change battlefield dynamics, granting your creatures +1/+0 until end of turn. While it doesn’t untap creatures, this bonus can result in a decisive surge in power during combat. Unlike Marshaling the Troops, which is more focused on flexibility and maneuvering, Call to Arms is about immediate power boost.

Overall, Marshaling the Troops has a unique role, especially in decks that seek to maximize the potential of creature-based strategies. It stands out for its instant-speed action, making it a versatile choice for players who aim to maintain momentum and apply constant pressure in a game of Magic: The Gathering.

Mobilize - MTG Card versions
Call to Arms - MTG Card versions
Mobilize - MTG Card versions
Call to Arms - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Marshaling the Troops by color, type and mana cost

Regrowth - MTG Card versions
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Broken Bond - MTG Card versions
Aggressive Instinct - MTG Card versions
Regrowth - MTG Card versions
Superior Numbers - MTG Card versions
Summer Bloom - MTG Card versions
Rampant Growth - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Blessing - MTG Card versions
Monstrous Growth - MTG Card versions
Nostalgic Dreams - MTG Card versions
Nylea's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Scrying - MTG Card versions
Revive - MTG Card versions
Weird Harvest - MTG Card versions
Farseek - MTG Card versions
Channel - MTG Card versions
Explore - MTG Card versions
Nature's Spiral - MTG Card versions
Savage Punch - MTG Card versions
Mulch - MTG Card versions
Thunderherd Migration - MTG Card versions
Broken Bond - MTG Card versions
Aggressive Instinct - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Marshaling the Troops offers a unique take on card advantage. It enables you to not only recruit more creatures onto the battlefield but also to potentially reuse enter-the-battlefield effects. This multiplicative potential keeps your hand full and your presence on the board increasingly threatening.

Resource Acceleration: When it comes to bolstering your resources, this card stands out. By deploying multiple creatures in one go, you effectively fast-track your board state. What could usually take several turns can be achieved in a single, well-planned maneuver, giving you an essential edge in resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed plays cannot be overstated. With Marshaling the Troops, you can wait until the end of your opponent’s turn to surprise them with an increased army. This savvy timing can disrupt opponents’ strategy, especially if they’ve committed to an attack or played spells assuming a certain board state. Instant speed allows for clever timing and strategic depth that can pivot the tide of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Activating Marshaling the Troops’ ability requires a card to be discarded, which means parting with a potentially valuable resource and could hamper your hand advantage during the game.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is restrictive as it includes two white mana symbols, potentially making it less versatile and harder to cast in multicolored decks that may not consistently produce the necessary white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that’s higher than some alternatives, investing in Marshaling the Troops might not always be the most mana-efficient play, especially when other cards could provide a broader impact on the board for a similar or even lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Marshaling the Troops is a dynamic card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes, particularly those that call for incrementally building an army or influencing the battlefield with a sheer number of creatures.

Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous combo avenues. Its ability can synergize with strategies capitalizing on creature count, such as those that benefit from ‘enter the battlefield’ triggers or ‘tap an untapped creature you control’ abilities.

Meta-Relevance: Marshaling the Troops holds its weight in the shifting tides of the meta. In a game state that favors decks with potent board presence, this card’s ability to muster forces quickly can give players the upper hand against the opposition.


How to beat

Marshaling the Troops is one of those niche MTG cards that can have a profound impact on the game by flooding the battlefield with creature tokens. The key strategy in handling a card like this is to limit the opponent’s ability to accumulate a large number of tokens. Effective counters could include board wipes like Wrath of God or timely spot removal to keep the pressure low. It’s also crucial to disrupt any synergies that enhance the value of individual tokens, such as anthems or cards like Intangible Virtue. In some cases, employing tactics that grant you life for every creature that enters the battlefield can help counteract the swarm strategy Marshaling the Troops leans towards. Keeping your board state flexible and your options open for response are essential steps in outmaneuvering the token tide that Marshaling the Troops can unleash.

Additionally, consider aggressive strategies that outrun the token buildup or go wide approaches of your own to match the oncoming horde. Cards with the “overrun” effect or those that grant your creatures trample can often tip the scales back in your favor, allowing you to bypass the army of tokens and push through for the win. By striking a balance between control and aggression, you can dismantle the strategy behind Marshaling the Troops and ensure your position in the game remains strong.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Marshaling the Troops MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms, 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 Marshaling the Troops and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Marshaling the Troops has restrictions

FormatLegality
PredhLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal