Total War MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Total War encourages strategic deck-building by turning each creature’s attack into a potential source of card advantage. By forcing opponents to tap their creatures, you create opportunities for your own creatures to advance uncontested, potentially leading to direct card gains by removing blockers.

Resource Acceleration: The card synergizes well with effects that benefit from attacking, such as landfall or raid, leading to an acceleration in resource development. This can drastically tip the scales in your favor by increasing the efficiency and frequency of your plays.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Total War at instant speed gives you the upper hand by allowing you to wait for the most opportune moment during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn. This flexibility ensures you maintain momentum and keeps your opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Total War enforces a discard clause upon casting, potentially stripping you of vital hand assets at crucial game junctures. This might hinder your flexibility and strategic options in the long run, especially if you’re already contending with a dwindling hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation hinges on a precise mana arrangement, requiring both red and additional variegated mana. This necessity could prove challenging in multi-colored or less mana-flexible decks, potentially stalling your gameplay or limiting the card’s inclusivity across diverse deck architectures.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a notable mana investment relative to its battlefield impact, Total War’s mana demands may delay its deployment. This can disadvantageously position you against opponents who are utilizing lower-cost strategies to rapidly advance their field presence or disrupt yours, potentially undermining your tempo.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Total War card is a powerful inclusion for any collection due to its ability to shift game dynamics. This card can adapt to various strategies, acting as a potent disruptor in many different deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: With its sweeping effect of forcing each player to sacrifice all their lands, creatures, and artifacts, Total War can be a lynchpin in combo decks designed to capitalize on board resets. It lays the groundwork for numerous creative and game-ending synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where players heavily invest in complex board states, Total War serves as an equalizer. Its relevance rises in meta-games that favor gradual buildup, making it a crucial reset button to turn the tide of the match.

How to beat

Total War is a unique card that can turn the tides when facing creature-heavy decks in Magic: The Gathering. Hailing from the older sets, it presents a significant challenge due to its ability to force all creatures to attack each turn if able. To outmaneuver this card, strategic planning is essential. One effective method is to utilize control decks that focus on spell-based removal or board wipes. Cards like Wrath of God or Doomskar come in handy by clearing the field before Total War can have a lasting impact. Another tactic is to limit the number of creatures you play, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the forced aggression.

In addition, leveraging creatures with vigilance or those that benefit from attacking such as those with the battalion or exert mechanics can turn the tables to your advantage. If you have access to counter spells, keeping one handy for when your opponent casts Total War can save you from its grasp. Remember, adaptability is crucial, so maintain a flexible strategy when Total War makes an appearance on the battlefield. With these strategies in mind, you can prevent Total War from overwhelming your side and guide your deck to victory.