The War Games MTG Card
2023-10-13 - Number 635
2023-10-13 - Number 30
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment — Saga |
| Abilities | Goad |
Text of card
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after IV.) I — Each player creates three tapped 1/1 white Warrior creature tokens. The tokens are goaded for as long as The War Games remains on the battlefield. II, III — Put a +1/+1 counter on each Warrior creature. IV — You may exile a nontoken creature you control. When you do, exile all Warriors.
Cards like The War Games
The War Games is a strategic play in the vast repertoire of Magic: The Gathering booster tactics. Like The War Games, the card War’s Toll offers players a tactic that disrupts the opponent’s battle strategy. Though differing in abilities, both cards hone in on manipulating the tempo of the game. The War Games allows a choice to either propel or impede players by affecting the anticipation of spells, a unique angle not shared by War’s Toll, which focuses on land and combat restrictions.
Master Warcraft is another card that deals with tactical combat control. Similar to the control aspect of The War Games, it grants players command over combat outcomes but does so by dictating combat participants. Conversely, The War Games’ leverages the ability to reveal cards, an insight that can shift a game’s course swiftly. Master Warcraft lacks this reconnaissance advantage that The War Games provides, showcasing the latter’s dual-faceted purpose in both information-gathering and manipulation.
When it comes to giving players a competitive edge through gameplay intelligence and tactical advantages, The War Games stands out. It engenders not just raw control but also a psychological advantage, underscoring its strength in the right deck and matchup within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to The War Games by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The War Games ensures you stay ahead by offering multiple options, either disrupting your adversary or progressing your own board state, leading to a significant gain in resources.
Resource Acceleration: This card cleverly manipulates the battlefield, potentially untapping lands at critical moments, giving you the upper hand in the mana game and allowing you to cast more spells or bigger threats earlier in the match.
Instant Speed: The swiftness of The War Games cannot be overstated. Its instant nature means you can adapt to the game’s flow, making strategic plays in response to your opponents’ moves, outmaneuvering them and creating opportunities to tip the scales in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The War Games card demands players discard as part of its activation, which might deplete your hand when you need options the most.
Specific Mana Cost: With a specific alignment required for casting, the utility of The War Games is limited to decks that run red mana, potentially restricting deck-building flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to bring The War Games into play is considerable when compared to other cards with similar effects, which might make it a less attractive option during crucial game moments.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The War Games can seamlessly integrate into various deck styles that capitalize on instant-speed interaction. Whether used in control setups to disrupt opponents or in aggressive builds to swing games, its flexibility is unmatched.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, The War Games can work wonders. It can amplify strategies that revolve around casting numerous spells in a single turn or bolster effects that trigger upon casting instants or sorceries.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that heavily leans on stack-based interactions or where games are decided in the trenches of combat phases, The War Games provides a significant advantage, ensuring you’re always one move ahead of your adversaries.
How to beat
The War Games is a strategic piece in the arsenal of MTG buffs, enabling folks to shift the tide of battle by controlling combat phases. When assessing strategies to trump this card, it’s wise to consider disruption tactics. Utilizing instant spells that can either counter it before it hits the board or remove it directly from play is key. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant are essential tools, allowing players to swiftly dismantle the enchantment before its effect can compound.
Similarly, strategies include a preemptive approach. Leveraging discard effects from cards like Thoughtseize or Duress can ensure The War Games never sees the light of day. It’s also beneficial to maintain a board presence that dampens the impact of altered combat phases. Playing creatures with tap abilities or those created to benefit regardless of who is attacking can mitigate the advantage The War Games provides.
The crux of the matter is awareness and preparedness. Understanding the ways in which The War Games alters game dynamics and having a response at the ready can mean the difference between succumbing to its war tactics or outmaneuvering an opponent’s strategic plays to maintain dominance on the MTG battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase The War Games MTG card by a specific set like Doctor Who and Doctor Who, 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 The War Games and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
Printings
The The War Games Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-10-13 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by Bartek Fedyczak.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 635 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bartek Fedyczak | |
| 2 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 30 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bartek Fedyczak |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where The War Games has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |