Gerrard's Battle Cry MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts creature power instantly, potentially altering the outcome of battles and enhancing your board’s threat level.
  2. Enhances the value of your creatures, allowing mana resources to be redirected and maximizing battlefield efficiency.
  3. Demands specific mana combinations, which could limit deck-building options and strategic flexibility.

Text of card

o W: All creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.

Gerrard grinned and drew his sword. "This won't be a fair fight," he called to his crew. "They should have brought a second ship!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gerrard’s Battle Cry provides an impressive tactical edge as it has the potential to pump your entire team. With the ability to repeatedly boost creature power, you enhance the threat level of your board, allowing you to pressure your opponent more effectively and possibly sway the tide of the match in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Gerrard’s Battle Cry doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the way a mana ramp card would, its repeated use can be considered a form of resource acceleration by continually increasing the efficiency of your existing creatures. This in turn may allow you to allocate mana resources elsewhere, having already established a formidable presence on the field.

Instant Speed: The activation of Gerrard’s Battle Cry can be executed at instant speed, which is a significant strategic advantage. This means you can wait until the most opportune moment during the combat phase to surprise your opponent, effectively utilizing your mana each turn and keeping them guessing about your next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging in the power of Gerrard’s Battle Cry requires a trade-off, as it entails discarding a card which could be counterproductive when card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Gerrard’s Battle Cry has a unique mana cost that necessitates a specific mana combination, restricting its integration into multi-colored decks and possibly hindering your strategic breadth.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating mana efficiency, it’s important to acknowledge that Gerrard’s Battle Cry comes with a higher investment which might overshadow its benefits when considering alternative options with lower mana demands.


Reasons to Include Gerrard’s Battle Cry in Your Collection

Versatility: Gerrard’s Battle Cry adds a flexible enhancement to creatures you control, boosting their power for significant battle phases or simply being a deterrent on the board.

Combo Potential: This card works as a force multiplier, synergizing with strategies that capitalize on swarming tactics or those that reward you for having buffed soldiers on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting dynamics of the game, Gerrard’s Battle Cry can be a game-changer in formats where bolstering your board state quickly is key to outpacing opponents’ strategies.


How to Beat Gerrard’s Battle Cry

Gerrard’s Battle Cry is a white enchantment card that can turn the tide with its ability to repeatedly bolster your creatures’ strength. Rising to the challenge when facing such a card involves a strategy that disrupts either the enchantment itself or the creatures it aims to empower. Suitable removal spells or abilities can effectively neutralize this threat. Cards that destroy or exile enchantments, such as Disenchant or Oblivion Ring, can directly handle Gerrard’s Battle Cry, eliminating its influence on the battlefield.

Additionally, board wipes like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict sweep away boosted creatures regardless of their size, nullifying the card’s benefits. Anticipating when your opponent may activate Gerrard’s powerful anthem effect and responding proactively can keep you in control. Targeted creature removal that deals with key threats before they become too powerful is also prudent. By keeping your opponent’s battlefield clear, Gerrard’s Battle Cry loses its potential, ensuring that your path to victory remains unimpeded by hordes of buffed adversaries.


Cards like Gerrard's Battle Cry

Gerrard’s Battle Cry is a unique card that offers a solid boost to your creatures with its tap ability. This ability is akin to the effects of cards such as Glorious Anthem, which also gives your creatures a permanent +1/+1 bonus. However, unlike Glorious Anthem’s static effect, Gerrard’s Battle Cry requires activation and thus provides a more flexible approach to enhancing your creatures’ strength, especially during combat phases.

Marshalling Cry presents itself as an alternative with cycling, allowing for extra draw while also offering a temporary boost with vigilance. But Gerrard’s Battle Cry stands out with its repeatability, giving it a persistent presence on the battlefield. Another comparable card is Rally the Forces, giving a similar combat-centric edge but focuses on boosting attacking creatures for a single turn only. Whereas Gerrard’s Battle Cry allows for long-term strategizing by potentially strengthening your forces over several turns, amplifying the threat of your creature army in a prolonged game.

Evaluating the versatility and potential for turn-over-turn advantage, Gerrard’s Battle Cry proves to be a formidable spell in player’s decks, combining immediate impact with enduring tactical benefits.

Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Rally the Forces - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - Urza's Saga (USG)
Rally the Forces - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Cards similar to Gerrard's Battle Cry by color, type and mana cost

White Ward - MTG Card versions
Green Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Strength - MTG Card versions
Lance - MTG Card versions
Consecrate Land - MTG Card versions
Animate Wall - MTG Card versions
Black Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Armor - MTG Card versions
Blue Ward - MTG Card versions
Land Tax - MTG Card versions
Brainwash - MTG Card versions
Green Scarab - MTG Card versions
Blue Scarab - MTG Card versions
Spirit Link - MTG Card versions
Armor of Faith - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Armor - MTG Card versions
Flickering Ward - MTG Card versions
Limited Resources - MTG Card versions
Mask of Law and Grace - MTG Card versions
Shield of Duty and Reason - MTG Card versions
White Ward - Revised Edition (3ED)
Green Ward - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Holy Strength - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Lance - Revised Edition (3ED)
Consecrate Land - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Animate Wall - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Black Ward - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Holy Armor - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Blue Ward - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Land Tax - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Brainwash - The Dark (DRK)
Green Scarab - Ice Age (ICE)
Blue Scarab - Ice Age (ICE)
Spirit Link - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Armor of Faith - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Kithkin Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Flickering Ward - Tempest (TMP)
Limited Resources - Exodus (EXO)
Mask of Law and Grace - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Shield of Duty and Reason - Apocalypse (APC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gerrard's Battle Cry MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Vintage Masters, 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 Gerrard's Battle Cry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gerrard's Battle Cry Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Val Mayerik.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 211997normalblackVal Mayerik
22014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 282015normalblackVal Mayerik
32015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 152015normalblackVal Mayerik

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gerrard's Battle Cry has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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