Flanking Troops MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Released | 1999-05-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Portal Three Kingdoms |
| Set code | PTK |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 5 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | White |
| Illustred by | Li Wang |
Key Takeaways
- Flanking Troops can help you gain a strategic upper hand by making it harder for opponents to block effectively.
- The card shines in white or soldier-themed decks, boosting offense and enabling powerful combos.
- Understanding its strengths and weaknesses is key to maximizing its potential in various gameplay scenarios.
Text of card
When Flanking Troops attacks, you may tap any one creature. (Tapped creatures can't block.)
Following the battle of Redcliffs, both Liu Bei and Sun Quan coveted the province of Jingzhou. After Sun Quan's troops failed to capture it, Liu Bei's succeeded.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Flanking Troops provides an edge by potentially removing defenders from the equation, making it easier to deal damage and maintain control over the game’s pace.
Resource Acceleration: By giving the opportunity to eliminate key blockers, Flanking Troops can indirectly accelerate your resources. Their removal can translate into more damage dealt and less need for spending mana on other removal spells.
Instant Speed: Although the Flanking Troops card itself may not be cast at instant speed, it synergizes well with other instant speed spells and abilities. The flanking mechanic works whenever the creature attacks, leveraging surprise attacks, and benefiting flanked creatures from any combat tricks you perform during the battle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Flanking Troops comes with a built-in disadvantage that can sometimes be a double-edged sword. The inclusion of this card in your deck necessitates a strategy that either mitigates or capitalizes on its discard condition to optimize its potential impact during gameplay. Without such a strategy, it could inadvertently deplete your hand, leaving you with fewer options moving forward.
Specific Mana Cost: The requirement of a specific mana composition to cast Flanking Troops might constrain its integration into a diverse array of decks. As a card that needs a particular color combination, it demands a tailored mana base, which may not always align with a player’s broader deck-building goals and can restrict its utility to niche strategies or mono-colored builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side for its class of effects, Flanking Troops asks for a significant resource commitment. When matched against other cards that might serve a similar role in a deck, Flanking Troops may emerge as a less tempting choice due to the availability of other cards that achieve comparable results or add more value for the same, or even a lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Flanking Troops can be seamlessly integrated into various white- or soldier-themed decks. Its ability to provide an offensive edge lends flexibility to both aggressive and control strategies.
Combo Potential: With the right synergies, such as cards that benefit from soldier tokens or increase combat damage, Flanking Troops can become a pivotal part of an effective combo, leveraging its flanking ability for maximum impact.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment that values creature combat, Flanking Troops’ ability to undermine opponent blockers can prove crucial, making it a timely inclusion in decks tailored to outmaneuver the current meta.
How to beat
Dealing with Flanking Troops on the battlefield requires strategic planning and understanding the mechanics of this keyword. Flanking provides a significant advantage in combat situations, as it reduces the blocking creature’s power and toughness. However, overcoming these troops is not an insurmountable task. To effectively beat Flanking Troops, consider using non-combat strategies such as direct removal spells, which can bypass the flanking mechanic altogether by removing the creatures before they have a chance to engage in battle.
Ideally, utilizing sweepers or spells that affect multiple creatures can also prove fruitful, as these can clear out several Flanking Troops simultaneously, diminishing your opponent’s board presence. Alternatively, leveraging creatures with high toughness or those that possess abilities negating combat damage allows you to withstand the reduced power from flanking and maintain a solid defense.
Understanding your deck and its capabilities is crucial when confronting such tactics. Be mindful of the resources at your disposal, ensuring you have an answer to the distinctive challenge posed by Flanking Troops. Utilizing this approach, you can safeguard your board and maintain control of the game, even against the resilience of a flanking army.
Cards like Flanking Troops
Flanking Troops holds a unique position within Magic: The Gathering’s array of creature cards. Its namesake ability, flanking, is somewhat similar to the mechanics seen in cards like Knight of the Mists, who also diminish the power of blocking creatures. Yet, Flanking Troops stands out by having the potential to affect multiple blockers due to its group flanking ability, impacting the battlefield more broadly compared to the singular effect of Knight of the Mists.
Side by side with Zhalfirin Commander, a card that empowers others with flanking, Flanking Troops shines in an environment that supports soldier synergy. While Zhalfirin Commander bolsters your forces, Flanking Troops act as an enforcer on the attack, making each block costlier for your opponent. Benalish Cavalry is another card worth mentioning. A more straightforward creature with flanking, it offers a similar challenge to opponents but lacks the group effect of Flanking Troops.
To sum up, Flanking Troops offers a strategic advantage in MTG, bringing an edge to the battlefield that can sway the tide of combat not just with its ability but also through the collective strength it lends to other soldiers.
Cards similar to Flanking Troops by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flanking 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 Flanking Troops and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Flanking Troops has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
