Returned Phalanx MTG Card

Returned Phalanx offers early game defense with a high toughness relative to its cost. Its ability to attack at instant speed provides flexibility and strategic advantage. Activation requirements may not align seamlessly with all deck strategies.

Theros (THS)
2013-09-27 - Number 104

Masters 25 (A25)
2018-03-16 - Number 106

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie Soldier
Abilities	Defender
Power	3
Toughness	3

Text of card

Defender : Returned Phalanx can attack this turn as though it didn't have defender.

They lived in different nations and fought in different eras, but as the Returned, they link arms as one.

Cards like Returned Phalanx

Returned Phalanx holds its ground in the realm of two-mana creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When looking at its peers, Returned Phalanx shares similarities with cards such as Walking Corpse. Both cards offer a 3/3 body for a minimal cost, providing solid defense early in the game. Yet, Returned Phalanx has an ace up its sleeve – for the additional cost of one blue mana, it can be untapped, giving it a subtle edge in versatility over the simple Walking Corpse.

Moving forward, cards like Khenra Eternal also come into the fray. While it offers one less toughness point compared to Returned Phalanx, it brings aggression to the table with its afflict mechanic, ensuring some damage passes through regardless of block outcomes. However, Khenra Eternal doesn’t have the same resilience or potential for reactive plays.

To summarize, Returned Phalanx stands out among two-drop creatures thanks to its balance between a strong defensive stance and the potential for tactical untaps. It’s a card that aligns well with strategies that favor a sturdy defense while maintaining the ability to adapt to the evolving battlefield.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Returned Phalanx doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its efficient cost to toughness ratio makes it a persistent blocker that can help maintain board state without depleting your hand.

Resource Acceleration: The ability to pay mana and enable Returned Phalanx to attack helps manage resources efficiently. It gives you flexibility, allowing you to enhance your offensive capabilities without committing to a high-cost creature.

Instant Speed: Returned Phalanx may not be an instant itself, but its activated ability can be used at instant speed, offering strategic advantage during the combat phase or as a surprise blocker. This can force opponents to rethink their attacks, preserving your life total and other valuable resources on the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although the Returned Phalanx doesn’t impose a discard directly, its activation for offensive capabilities requires access to another color, potentially costing you a card to fix your mana.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific black mana to play, which might not seamlessly fit into all deck strategies, particularly those that are color-intensive in other hues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costed at two mana for a 3/3, Returned Phalanx has a defensive stature, but its aggressiveness is gated behind an additional blue mana. In some cases, players might prefer creatures that are offensively potent without such costs.

Reasons to Include Returned Phalanx in Your Collection

Versatility: Returned Phalanx offers a durable defensive option for decks that benefit from a robust early blocker. Its ability to also become an attacker presents dual utility, adapting to both aggressive and controlling playstyles with ease.

Combo Potential: With a simple activation cost, this card can easily slot into strategies that leverage both its defensive and offensive capabilities. In addition, its Zombie type aligns with numerous tribal synergies, potentially unlocking new strategic layers.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment punctuated by aggressive decks, Returned Phalanx stands as an affordable countermeasure. Its dependable presence on the battlefield can thwart numerous early-game threats, maintaining its relevance regardless of shifting metas.

How to beat

Returned Phalanx comes to the table as a defensive stalwart in Magic: The Gathering. As a formidable blocker with its 3/3 stats and a two mana casting cost, it offers players a stable early game presence. Its simple mechanic—paying one blue mana to enable attacking—is both a strength and a vulnerability. This feature presents players with an opening for strategy.

Overcoming Returned Phalanx relies on planning and opportunism. The key is in forcing the owner to make difficult decisions about mana allocation. If your opponent opts to keep mana open for attacking, take advantage of their reduced defensive capabilities. Cards that push through damage regardless of blockers, such as trample-enablers or those with unblockable characteristics, can sidestep the Phalanx’s strength. Alternatively, removal spells are effective if casting them doesn’t set you back tempo-wise. Understanding when to force the issue and when to hold back is the crux of outmaneuvering a card like Returned Phalanx.

Ultimately, the card’s inherent need for blue mana to switch from defense to offense hints at the strategy to suppress it. By disrupting your opponent’s mana base or through the clever timing of spells, the strength of Returned Phalanx can be turned into a manageable facet of your opponent’s game plan.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Returned Phalanx MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Masters 25, 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 Returned Phalanx and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Returned Phalanx Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2018-03-16. Illustrated by Seb McKinnon.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2013-09-27	Theros	THS		104	2003	Normal	Black	Seb McKinnon
2	2018-03-16	Masters 25	A25		106	2015	Normal	Black	Seb McKinnon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Returned Phalanx has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal