Signal the Clans MTG Card


Signal the Clans allows for unpredictable yet strategic creature card advantage, is resourceful and playable at instant speed. It requires precise mana and offers less control, which may affect its deck compatibility and comparability to other tutors. Despite its randomness, this card’s combo potential and adaptability make it relevant in diverse MTG strategic scenarios.
Signal the Clans - Gatecrash
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Released2013-02-01
Set symbol
Set nameGatecrash
Set codeGTC
Number194
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDave Kendall

Text of card

Search your library for three creature cards and reveal them. If you reveal three cards with different names, choose one of them at random and put that card into your hand. Shuffle the rest into your library.

Gruul clanfolk obey few rules, but all feel bound to answer the call of the horn.


Cards like Signal the Clans

Signal the Clans is a unique instant within Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to search their library for three creature cards, reveal them, then shuffle and put one into their hand at random. A card like Worldly Tutor also searches for creatures but with more precision, as it lets you pick the exact creature you need, placing it on top of your library ready for your next draw. Glittering Wish presents a different approach, fetching a multicolored card from outside the game but with full visibility and choice for the player.

Compared to Congregation at Dawn, which is a more specific tutor allowing for the arrangement of the top three cards of your library, Signal the Clans trades certainty for speed and unpredictability, all at a lower mana cost. Another card in this space is Gamble, which involves randomness much like Signal the Clans but encompasses any card type and brings the risk of discarding the searched card.

Each of these alternatives offer strategic depth to a deck in their own way, although Signal the Clans distinguishes itself as a swift and unexpected game-changer at critical junctures for creature-based decks in the complex strategic environment of Magic: The Gathering.

Worldly Tutor - MTG Card versions
Glittering Wish - MTG Card versions
Congregation at Dawn - MTG Card versions
Gamble - MTG Card versions
Worldly Tutor - MTG Card versions
Glittering Wish - MTG Card versions
Congregation at Dawn - MTG Card versions
Gamble - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Signal the Clans by color, type and mana cost

Surge of Strength - MTG Card versions
Simoon - MTG Card versions
Artifact Mutation - MTG Card versions
Ancient Grudge - MTG Card versions
Manamorphose - MTG Card versions
Colossal Might - MTG Card versions
Gruul Charm - MTG Card versions
Pit Fight - MTG Card versions
Destructive Revelry - MTG Card versions
Atarka's Command - MTG Card versions
Colossal Growth - MTG Card versions
Friendly Rivalry - MTG Card versions
Questing Druid // Seek the Beast - MTG Card versions
Surge of Strength - MTG Card versions
Simoon - MTG Card versions
Artifact Mutation - MTG Card versions
Ancient Grudge - MTG Card versions
Manamorphose - MTG Card versions
Colossal Might - MTG Card versions
Gruul Charm - MTG Card versions
Pit Fight - MTG Card versions
Destructive Revelry - MTG Card versions
Atarka's Command - MTG Card versions
Colossal Growth - MTG Card versions
Friendly Rivalry - MTG Card versions
Questing Druid // Seek the Beast - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Signal the Clans. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Five-color ComboFive-color Combo LegacyPainterCharlotte Legacy League Season 2 Week 1

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Signal the Clans offers a unique approach to maintaining card advantage. By searching your library for three creature cards and randomly putting one into your hand, you not only thin your deck but also keep your opponents guessing about which creature you’ve drawn. This can be key in tactical plays and ensuring a steady flow of threats.

Resource Acceleration: Although not direct acceleration, Signal the Clans enables resource acceleration by fetching a creature card that may have mana acceleration abilities. It helps you get the necessary piece for your resource engine, supporting your game plan and potentially leading to a faster victory.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Signal the Clans at instant speed adds an extra level of versatility to your play. It allows you to react at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to actions that could disrupt your strategy. This flexibility ensures you’re always able to make optimal use of your mana and keep up the momentum in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Signal the Clans doesn’t ask for a card discard outright, it does force you to choose one card from among three revealed and shuffle the rest back into your library, potentially leading to the loss of key cards you may have preferred to draw naturally.

Specific Mana Cost: Signal the Clans is restricted by its GRu mana cost, making it exclusively viable in multicolor decks that can produce both green and red mana, thus narrowing its deck compatibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given that Signal the Clans requires three mana, including both red and green, it can be considered costly for its effect, especially when you compare it to lower-cost tutors or card-drawing alternatives that may offer more control over the outcome or come with additional benefits.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Signal the Clans is known for its ability to search your deck for not one, but three creature cards, potentially fitting into a wide array of strategies that prioritize creature-based synergies or need specific combo pieces.

Combo Potential: This card is a remarkable enabler for both known and experimental combo decks. Its unique mechanic allows players to keep their adversaries guessing while sculpting the perfect hand to execute their winning strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where toolbox strategies can adapt to various opponents, Signal the Clans maintains relevance by fetching creatures that can answer current meta threats or capitalize on weaknesses in prevailing deck archetypes.


How to beat

Overcoming Signal the Clans in MTG can be quite simple with the right strategy. This card allows a player to search their library for three creature cards and then randomly puts one of them into their hand. Since you know your opponent is likely seeking their most powerful creatures, prepare removal spells or effects that can neutralize threats the moment they hit the battlefield. Direct damage spells, exile effects, or even counterspells if the creature is particularly problematic are good choices.

Hand disruption is another effective tactic against Signal the Clans. By using spells like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, you can pluck key creatures from your opponent’s hand before they have a chance to play them. Remember, the element of surprise works to your advantage. If your opponent doesn’t know what’s coming, they might not fetch the most optimized creature for the situation at hand.

It’s also worth noting that graveyard manipulation can render Signal the Clans less effective. With cards like Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace, you can remove the other two creatures that were searched for but not chosen, diminishing your opponent’s future options. By addressing these potential threats early and keeping a watchful eye on the game state, you’ll stand a much better chance at diminishing the value Signal the Clans can provide.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players looking to enhance their gameplay with versatile and surprising elements should consider Signal the Clans. This card’s ability to fetch key creature cards while keeping opponents in the dark makes it a dynamic addition to any deck. By integrating Signal the Clans into your strategy, you can adapt to various battlefield scenarios, increase your deck’s consistency, and have the creatures you need when you need them. Ready to take your MTG deck to the next level? Dive into our comprehensive resources and let us guide you in optimizing your play with Signal the Clans and other strategic cards.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Signal the Clans MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Signal the Clans and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Signal the Clans has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-01-24 All players will see the card you put into your hand, if any.
2013-01-24 If you don’t reveal three creature cards with different names, you’ll simply shuffle your library (including any cards you revealed).