Uphill Battle MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1999-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mercadian Masques |
| Set code | MMQ |
| Number | 222 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Pete Venters |
Text of card
Creatures your opponents play come into play tapped.
Cho-Manno knew he had no choice but to ally with Gerrard. If that's what it took to free his people, he'd pay the price.
Cards like Uphill Battle
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Uphill Battle offers an unusual tweak to the classic control tools. Its ability to force newly controlled creatures to enter the battlefield tapped places it into a unique position when looking at similar cards. Akin to Frozen Aether, which applies the same tapped condition not just to creatures but also to lands, artifacts, and enchantments, Uphill Battle narrows its focus on creatures exclusively, offering a more targeted approach for player strategies.
Another comparative card is Kismet, an older card with a parallel function to Frozen Aether, bringing every opposing nonland permanent into play tapped. While Kismet impacts the board more broadly, Uphill Battle positions itself as a more creature-centric alternative, useful in metas where creature-based strategies prevail. Then, there’s Authority of the Consuls, a card that combines part of Uphill Battle’s effect with gaining life, providing a dual benefit at a lower mana cost but limited only to creature control.
Each card offers distinct advantages for controlling the pace of the game, but Uphill Battle sits comfortably in a niche that appeals to those aiming to deter combat-focused opponents, proving its worth in specific gameplay scenarios within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Uphill Battle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Playing Uphill Battle can significantly disrupt your opponent’s momentum, potentially leading to a card advantage. By forcing their creatures to enter the battlefield tapped, you gain extra time to develop your board and draw into more useful cards, pressuring your opponent to answer your threats.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or tokens, Uphill Battle can be a form of indirect resource acceleration. Slowing down your opponent’s aggressive strategies allows you to effectively ‘accelerate’ by making uninterrupted plays towards your win condition without the immediate pressure of responding to threats.
Instant Speed: Uphill Battle, while not an instant itself, synergizes well with instant-speed spells in your deck. This card sets up a defensive environment where your spells at instant speed become more impactful. With your adversaries’ creatures entering the battlefield already tapped, your instant-speed removal or bounce spells have a clearer field to control the tempo of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Necessitates relinquishing a card from your hand, which could be a strategic setback when you’re contending with a dwindling hand size.
Specific Mana Cost: Commanding both red and green mana, Uphill Battle may not fit smoothly into decks that don’t regularly encompass these colors, thereby restricting its versatility across varied deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a demand for three mana including one green and one red, it stands on the steeper side compared to other cards that might activate similar effects or provide greater value at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Uphill Battle has the flexibility to disrupt various opponent strategies, making it a compelling sideboard option for decks that aim to hinder the tempo of creature-based plays.
Combo Potential: This card can be effectively combined with other control elements to significantly hamper an opponent’s board development, aligning particularly well with strategies that capitalize on summoning sickness.
Meta-Relevance: In a play environment heavy with creatures that look to activate their abilities immediately or exploit hasty attacks, Uphill Battle could serve as an efficient countermeasure to slow those decks down, altering the course of the game significantly.
How to beat
Uphill Battle is a notable card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique challenge with its ability to put tapped creatures onto the battlefield. This creates a strategic obstacle, requiring opponents to wait an additional turn before their creatures are ready for action. To overcome Uphill Battle, one effective strategy is to focus on utilizing creatures with haste. These creatures are unaffected by Uphill Battle’s tap condition, allowing them to attack and use tap abilities immediately.
Another tactic is to employ spells and abilities that can untap your creatures. This approach bypasses the issue by effectively negating the card’s impact on your board state. Artifact and enchantment removal spells also play a crucial role, offering a direct solution by allowing players to eliminate Uphill Battle from the game entirely. Additionally, choosing to play more instant-speed spells can allow players to maintain momentum and apply pressure without being hindered by tapped creatures.
In essence, by adapting your playstyle and incorporating specific countermeasures, it’s entirely possible to mitigate the effects of Uphill Battle and maintain an advantage during gameplay.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Uphill Battle MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Uphill Battle 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Uphill Battle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |