Charge Across the Araba MTG Card

Charge Across the Araba - Saviors of Kamigawa

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant — Arcane
Abilities	Sweep
Released	2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Saviors of Kamigawa
Set code	SOK
Number	4
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Dany Orizio

Key Takeaways

Offers a strategic edge by maximizing the power of your creature investments during combat phases.
Enhances your army’s potency at instant speed, enabling unexpected game-changing moves.
Demanding in its mana cost and type, potentially constraining its play to certain deck archetypes.

Text of card

Sweep Return any number of Plains you control to their owner's hand. Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn for each Plains returned this way.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Charge Across the Araba provides a significant boost in strategy by potentially turning each creature you control into a formidable threat. While not directly providing card draw, it maximizes the value of your creatures on the board, effectively turning your current resources into powerful assets.

Resource Acceleration: This card plays a pivotal role in resource acceleration, especially in decks that capitalize on the number of creatures in play. By amplifying the impact of your creature swarm, it accelerates your board state’s potency, potentially leading to an overwhelming advantage.

Instant Speed: Its ability to be cast at instant speed gives you the tactical edge, allowing you to surprise your opponent during combat or at the end of their turn. This versatility can disrupt the opponent’s calculations and turn the tide of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Charge Across the Araba requires the player to return a white creature they control to their hand. While this can be strategically advantageous in some instances, it can also be a setback by reducing battlefield presence and potentially wasting a turn’s development.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s specific mana cost demands a solid white mana base. This can restrict its inclusion to mono-white or heavily white-focused decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a diverse metagame.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a somewhat steep casting cost for its sweeping effect, Charge Across the Araba may come into play too late, particularly against fast-paced aggressive decks that could capitalize on the earlier turns.

Reasons to Include Charge Across the Araba in Your Collection

Versatility: Charge Across the Araba can be a dynamic addition to any deck that leverages the power of creatures. Its ability to bolster an entire creature lineup temporarily can turn the tide of a game, making it a flexible tool for various in-game situations.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that are designed around creature synergies and combat strategies. With its sweep ability, it can exponentially increase the impact of creatures that have abilities triggering upon dealing combat damage or when they attack.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating landscape of competitive play, Charge Across the Araba holds its ground by offering a surprise factor against opponents who may not anticipate a sudden surge in power across your battlefield, proving its utility in various metas.

How to beat

Charge Across the Araba is a sweep spell present in several MTG decks due to its potency in empowering creatures across the battlefield. This card allows players to rebound their creatures, making them more formidable during each attack. To counter this strategic move, one must rely on strategies that neutralize the boosted creatures or remove them from play altogether.

Among the viable tactics, instant-speed removals such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can disrupt your opponent’s plan mid-combat. Board wipe spells like Wrath of God or Damnation are equally effective, clearing the field of the enhanced creatures before they can inflict massive damage. Another method involves countering Charge Across the Araba with spells like Counterspell, ensuring the threat never manifests on the battlefield.

Safeguarding one’s board position necessitates quick responses and a keen sense of timing, especially when fending off the sweeping power of Charge Across the Araba. By preparing appropriate countermeasures within your deck, you can effectively mitigate the impact of this potent spell and maintain control of the game.

Cards like Charge Across the Araba

Charge Across the Araba stands out in the realm of sweep buffs in Magic: The Gathering, much like the surge behind a communal battle cry. This card echoes the mechanics of other mass pump spells, such as Overrun, which also confers a boost and trample to your creatures. Still, Charge Across the Araba differentiates itself with the Sweep ability, allowing you to return any number of Plains you control to your hand and grant +1/+1 to your creatures for each Plains returned this way. Overrun, for its part, affects the battlefield once with a static increase in power and toughness.

Looking at cards like Glorious Anthem, we see a permanent stat increase for your creatures, not just a swift, temporary surge like Charge Across the Araba offers. Glorious Anthem sticks around, consistently buffing your army. Conversely, Charge Across the Araba is a one-time event, yet it can create a dramatic and game-ending swing in your favor, especially when timed correctly.

Comparing and weighing these strategies, Charge Across the Araba shines as a unique option for players looking to turn the tide of battle in a single, powerful wave, adding a flexible and potentially overwhelming strength to their arsenal.

Cards similar to Charge Across the Araba by color, type and mana cost

Scars of the Veteran - MTG Card versions

Scars of the Veteran - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Miraculous Recovery - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)

Swell of Courage - Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret (DDF)

Arrow Volley Trap - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)

Banishment Decree - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Roil's Retribution - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Charge Across the Araba MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Charge Across the Araba and other MTG cards: