Battlefield Promotion MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants creatures instant combat advantages, crucial during tight encounters and unexpected defensive maneuvers.
  2. With mana requirements and single-use impact, it poses deck-building challenges and demands tactical resource allocation.
  3. Its combo potential and meta-relevance make it a valuable addition to decks focused on counter and lifelink synergy.

Text of card

Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. That creature gains first strike until end of turn. You gain 2 life.

"Welcome to the Legion. You saved a district—now let's go save the world."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Battlefield Promotion offers an immediate boost to your creatures, effectively serving as a versatile tool to enhance your board state. While it doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, the benefit of the ‘put a +1/+1 counter’ on a creature can turn the tides by beefing up your offense or defense.

Resource Acceleration: Although Battlefield Promotion doesn’t produce additional mana or tokens, it accelerates your in-game resources by buffing your creatures, which can lead to a quicker victory and reduce the need for further card investment to achieve board dominance.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast this spell at instant speed cannot be understated. This flexibility allows you to surprise your opponent during combat or at the end of their turn, making your tactical decisions more complex and less predictable, thus improving your position in the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Battlefield Promotion does not specifically require a discard, it’s important to note in gameplay that any card you choose to play comes at the opportunity cost of not using another. Choosing to play Battlefield Promotion means one less card available for other strategic plays or defenses.

Specific Mana Cost: Battlefield Promotion demands a precise mana mix—one white along with one mana of any color. This can impose restrictions on deck-building and may hinder your ability to play this card in multicolored decks that aren’t heavily white-focused or in situations where you’re mana-scarce.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though its cost is not significantly high, Battlefield Promotion’s two mana for a single-target, one-time effect can be considered inefficient compared to other buffs or combat tricks available in MTG. Players often prefer cards that impact the game more broadly or offer additional value for the mana expended.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Battlefield Promotion offers a flexible boost to your creatures not only by providing a +1/+1 counter but also by granting them first strike for the turn. It’s a solid addition to decks that look to strengthen their creatures on the fly, be it in limited play or in a more focused counter-based strategy.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that benefit from counters or life gain, Battlefield Promotion can act as a pivotal play. Teaming it with proliferate mechanics or cards that have lifelink can turn the tide of the game to your favor swiftly.

Meta-Relevance: As the game’s environment often revolves around creature-focused strategies, the instant boost and life gain can be a game changer in tight combat scenarios. Having Battlefield Promotion in your toolkit means being prepared for aggressive metas where combat tricks and life total management are keys to victory.


How to beat Battlefield Promotion

Battlefield Promotion is a notable instant card that can shift the tide of battle in Magic: The Gathering by bolstering a creature’s power and durability while providing a lifeline through lifelink. To successfully navigate against this card, one must be strategic in the timing of removal spells. A swift Shock or Fatal Push can preemptively remove a creature before Battlefield Promotion can be cast, thereby nullifying the potential benefits your opponent would gain.

Counter spells also serve as a solid line of defense. Holding up a Mana Leak or Negate during your opponent’s combat phase allows you to intercept and counteract Battlefield Promotion. Additionally, deploying creatures with the hexproof ability can stifle your opponent’s attempts to enhance their creatures, as Battlefield Promotion requires a valid target to be effective.

Compared to similar combat trick cards, Battlefield Promotion’s strength is in its versatility during the combat phase. However, by prioritizing removal spells, utilizing counters, and employing hexproof creatures, players can negate the advantages Battlefield Promotion provides, keeping the battlefield under their control.


Cards like Battlefield Promotion

Battlefield Promotion finds its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a part of the suite of combat tricks and buff spells. It shares similarities with cards like Fortify, which also grants creatures a temporary boost in power and toughness. Where Battlefield Promotion stands out is in its additional benefit of giving a creature a +1/+1 counter and lifelink until end of turn, offering not just an immediate battle advantage but also lasting effects and a potential for health gain.

Much like Righteousness, another card that bolsters a creature during battle, Battlefield Promotion can turn the tides when defending. While Righteousness provides a more significant boost to toughness, it doesn’t provide the lifelink or a counter. Another parallel can be drawn to Inspiring Roar, which provides a +1/+1 counter to multiple creatures, but unlike Battlefield Promotion, it does not have the lifelink bonus nor is it at instant speed, making timing and surprise elements exclusive to Battlefield Promotion.

Ultimately, Battlefield Promotion is a versatile card, blending the creature enhancement with a touch of life gain to improve both board presence and player longevity. Its place in decks that want to surprise opponents while gaining lasting benefits is quite secure, demonstrating its unique utility in MTG.

Fortify - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Inspiring Roar - MTG Card versions
Fortify - Time Spiral (TSP)
Righteousness - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Inspiring Roar - Aether Revolt (AER)

Cards similar to Battlefield Promotion by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blow - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - MTG Card versions
Invulnerability - MTG Card versions
Remedy - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Shield - MTG Card versions
Samite Ministration - MTG Card versions
Shield Wall - MTG Card versions
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Bathe in Light - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Graceful Reprieve - MTG Card versions
Last Breath - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Lightning Blow - Ice Age (ICE)
Divine Offering - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Alabaster Potion - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Invulnerability - Tempest (TMP)
Remedy - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Rhystic Shield - Prophecy (PCY)
Samite Ministration - Invasion (INV)
Shield Wall - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Life Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Shelter - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Equal Treatment - Torment (TOR)
Aura Extraction - Onslaught (ONS)
Raise the Alarm - Mirrodin (MRD)
Test of Faith - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Echoing Calm - Darksteel (DST)
Bathe in Light - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Dawn Charm - Commander Legends (CMR)
Graceful Reprieve - Morningtide (MOR)
Last Breath - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Battlefield Promotion MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Jumpstart, 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 Battlefield Promotion and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Battlefield Promotion Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Scott Murphy.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 52015normalblackScott Murphy
22020-07-17JumpstartJMP 912015normalblackScott Murphy
32022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 72015normalblackScott Murphy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Battlefield Promotion has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-05-03 If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Battlefield Promotion tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You don’t gain 2 life.

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