Triangle of War MTG Card

Visions (VIS)
1997-02-03 - Number 158

Vintage Masters (VMA)
2014-06-16 - Number 288

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Abilities	Fight

Key Takeaways

Provides combat control by swapping creatures, a tactic for navigating complex board states.
Demands card and specific mana sacrifices, challenging deck-building and in-game strategy.
Instant speed activation allows surprise interactions, offering opportunity for disruptive plays.

Text of card

, Sacrifice Triangle of War: Choose target creature you control and target creature an opponent controls. Each creature deals an amount of damage equal to its power to the other.

The Zhalfirin war triangle represents a trinity of might, faith, and guile.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Triangle of War presents a unique opportunity to swap out creatures, effectively providing a way to outmaneuver an opponent’s defenses or removing a threat, thereby gaining an advantage on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, Triangle of War can accelerate your game plan by efficiently dealing with opposing creatures, allowing your own strategies to proceed with less resistance.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Triangle of War at instant speed offers significant strategic flexibility. You can alter combat outcomes, disguise your true intentions until the last possible moment, and interact on your opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Triangle of War demands that players discard a card to activate its ability, presenting a potential setback when hand advantage is pivotal.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of Triangle of War is color-specific, necessitating at least one red mana and potentially hindering its inclusion in multicolored or colorless decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of three mana, one being red, to bring Triangle of War into play, along with the additional discard cost, it’s considered pricey for its ability to force creatures to fight, especially when compared to other, more mana-efficient options available in MTG.

Reasons to Include Triangle of War in Your Collection

Versatility: Triangle of War offers a unique ability to swap creatures in combat, making it adaptable to various play styles. It’s an unexpected way to utilize your creatures or disrupt opponent strategies in numerous deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: The artifact thrives in setups that benefit from creature swapping, enabling players to turn the tides of battle or capitalize on end-of-combat triggers. Its potential to be a game-changer in the right combo is immense.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment shifts, control of combat becomes increasingly critical. Triangle of War has the capacity to break the symmetry of creature stalemates and can be a silver bullet against creature-heavy decks dominating the scene.

How to beat

Triangle of War weaves into the tapestry of MTG’s vast array of artifacts with its unique ability to change the flow of combat. This artifact stands out by offering the power to swap one of your creatures with an attacking or blocking creature an opponent controls. It’s akin to surprising swaps seen with cards like Conjured Currency but focuses on the heat of battle.

Defeating this strategy involves anticipation and timing. Like Domineering Will, which also manipulates creatures during combat – but requires a more significant mana investment – Triangle of War demands tactful play. Tackling this card is about prioritizing the removal of key targets and maintaining control over the battlefield’s ebb and flow. Cards that offer creature hexproof or shroud, like Blossoming Defense or the classic Lightning Greaves, can safeguard your important pieces from being dragged into an unwanted clash.

Ultimately, while Triangle of War can turn the tides of combat, its power is not insurmountable. Knowing when and which creatures to protect, or employing instant speed removal at a critical juncture, can effectively neutralize the surprise factor and keep your game plan on course.

Cards like Triangle of War

Within the intricate and strategic world of Magic: The Gathering, Triangle of War presents itself as a unique artifact. Its ability resembles effects found on cards like Shuriken, which allow for creatures to deal damage to one another. Triangle of War, however, imparts a versatile one-time use, enabling any creature to battle another creature, despite not being in combat. This can be pivotal during a game when tactically removing a threat on the board.

Comparably, Arena is another card that facilitates creatures to fight outside of combat steps. Unlike Triangle of War, Arena is a land that can be used repeatedly, albeit restricted to once per turn. This provides a sustainable advantage although it lacks the surprise element Triangle of War offers due to its status as a land that must be untapped. Conversely, Ulvenwald Tracker provides similar functionality yet embodies it within a creature, offering continued utility should the creature stay on the battlefield.

The strategic implications of Triangle of War in the meta cannot be understated. As an artifact with a single use, it provides players the opportunity to shift the tide of battle unexpectedly. Its peers offer variations on this theme but require different conditions or trade-offs to be used effectively. Hence, Triangle of War occupies a distinctive niche in player’s toolbox for creature interaction and board control.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Triangle of War MTG card by a specific set like Visions 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 Triangle of War and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Triangle of War Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-02-03 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by Ian Miller.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-02-03	Visions	VIS		158	1997	Normal	Black	Ian Miller
2	2014-06-16	Vintage Masters	VMA		288	2015	Normal	Black	Ian Miller

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Triangle of War has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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