Barreling Attack MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	157
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ian Miller

Key Takeaways

Barreling Attack enables disruptive play by turning any creature into a formidable threat instantly.
Despite its power, the need to discard and specific mana can make it less versatile.
Its high impact makes it a valuable addition, especially in aggressive MTG strategies.

Text of card

Target creature gains trample until end of turn. That creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each creature that blocks it.

"The trollish game of push-fall inspired this impressive tactic." —Sidar Jabari

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Barreling Attack allows for powerful trample damage, often ensuring that damage goes through to your opponent and possibly taking out blockers. This can lead to a significant advantage on the board, as it disrupts your opponent’s plans and maintains pressure.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting resources, playing Barreling Attack can accelerate your game plan by clearing the way for other creatures to attack without being blocked. This can indirectly contribute to preserving your creatures and resources for continued aggression.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Barreling Attack can be deployed unexpectedly during combat, turning what appears to be a straightforward block into a devastating loss for your opponent. The flexibility of instant speed allows you to wait and assess the situation, potentially creating advantageous scenarios mid-combat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Barreling Attack requires the player to discard a card, which might deplete hand resources and reduce strategic options, particularly detrimental in decks that need to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana arrangement to cast, including red mana, which could potentially limit its compatibility and flexibility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to play Barreling Attack may be seen as steep in comparison to other options. Players might be deterred by the high cost when considering their deck’s curve and the impact this card will have on the board state relative to this cost.

Reasons to Include Barreling Attack in Your Collection

Versatility: Barreling Attack offers the flexibility to turn any creature into a significant threat for a turn, making it suitable for a variety of decks that prize aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card synchronizes well with creatures that have tap or damage-triggered abilities, as well as those that benefit from attacking, like renowned or exert creatures.

Meta-Relevance: As player decks evolve, control strategies may dominate. Barreling Attack can tip the scales, allowing your creatures to break through stalwart defenses and impact the board state significantly.

How to beat

Barreling Attack is a potent card within the MTG universe, offering players a dynamic means to amplify their creature’s prowess in the midst of combat. One key strategy to counter this card involves the timing and selection of your removal spells. Instant removal spells, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can be pivotal. By waiting until your opponent has committed Barreling Attack to a creature, you can respond with removal, thereby negating the attack and causing them to lose the card they invested in the action.

Another angle to consider is the use of counter spells. Countering Barreling Attack directly prevents the entire sequence from unfolding. Cards like Mana Leak or Dovin’s Veto can provide a clean and efficient solution, especially since Barreling Attack’s power hinges on combat situations. This approach demands a watchful eye on your mana and the ability to anticipate your adversary’s moves.

Lastly, if you’re more inclined to a defensive strategy, including creatures with the reach or deathtouch abilities can drastically diminish the efficacy of Barreling Attack. By establishing a board that is risky for your opponent to attack into, you can dissuade them from using such cards altogether, or at least significantly mitigate the damage done by their enhanced creatures.

Cards like Barreling Attack

Barreling Attack is an impactful card that offers aggressive MTG players the ability to amplify a creature’s strength momentarily. Its effect is somewhat mirrored in the powerful Giant Growth, a classic spell that also provides a temporary but smaller boost in power and toughness to a creature. Despite the lower bonus, Giant Growth compensates with a lower mana cost, elevating its efficiency in early game scenarios.

Comparatively, Rush of Adrenaline serves a similar function with its boost and trample granting ability. Although it offers a less significant power increment than Barreling Attack, the addition of trample can often be crucial, enabling crucial damage to get through to an opponent. Another notable card is Brute Strength. It offers a middle ground with a moderate increase in power and toughness, along with trample, but still doesn’t quite reach the sheer might of Barreling Attack’s power surge.

Summing up, while there are several spells in MTG that can enhance a creature’s combat capabilities, Barreling Attack’s significant power boost makes it a notable contender. It enables dramatic turns that can swing the game, especially for those looking to deliver a crushing blow in an instant.

Cards similar to Barreling Attack by color, type and mana cost

Hidetsugu's Second Rite - MTG Card versions

Parallectric Feedback - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Barreling Attack MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Barreling Attack and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Barreling Attack has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	Both the +1/+1 and trample last only until end of turn.
2012-05-01	Upon resolution, this gives the targeted creature trample and creates a delayed-triggered ability that will trigger when the creature becomes blocked. The creature will get +1/+1 for each creature blocking it as that ability resolves. This means that if Barreling Attack is cast after blockers are declared, the targeted creature will gain trample but won’t be able to get +1/+1 because it’s too late for the ability to trigger (unless there is another combat phase in the turn).