Gideon's Battle Cry MTG Card


Gideon's Battle Cry - War of the Spark
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Released2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameWar of the Spark
Set codeWAR
Number267
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byZoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

  1. Gideon’s Battle Cry generates multiple creature tokens, multiplying tactical options for a path to victory.
  2. The card acts at instant speed, allowing for surprising moves and gaining battlefield momentum.
  3. Mana cost and card conditions can limit use but its board impact and versatility are often worth it.

Text of card

Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control. You may search your library and/or graveyard for a card named Gideon, the Oathsworn, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you search your library this way, shuffle.

"Break their formation! Thin their ranks! I'm right behind you!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gideon’s Battle Cry is an exceptional addition to any deck seeking to bolster its presence on the battlefield. When played, this powerful card has the potential to significantly impact your card advantage, allowing you to summon multiple creature tokens that mirror the might of Gideon himself. By increasing the number of creatures under your control, you enhance your tactical options and potential paths to victory.

Resource Acceleration: The card not only improves your strategic position through creature generation but also aids in resource acceleration. By deploying a formidable force in a single turn, you consolidate your resources, saving mana for subsequent turns. This efficient allocation of resources can prove to be a turning point, granting you the agility to react to your opponent’s moves or further develop your board state with additional spells.

Instant Speed: The swift nature of Gideon’s Battle Cry, which can be activated at instant speed, offers you the flexibility to catch your opponent off-guard. Deploying this card at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to their actions can shift the momentum of the match in your favor. This unpredictability is a strategic advantage, as it forces your opponent to consider the potential of Gideon’s appearance at any moment, influencing their play style and decisions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gideon’s Battle Cry necessitates that you have another card with a similar theme in your graveyard to maximize its effect, a condition that might not always be met, leading to reduced efficiency.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a combination of white mana and generic mana, potentially restricting its integration into multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is substantial for its effect, players might find it taxing on their mana resources, particularly in the early game where establishing board presence is crucial.


Reasons to Include Gideon’s Battle Cry in Your Collection

Versatility: Gideon’s Battle Cry adds strategic depth to decks centered around planeswalkers or soldier tokens. Its ability to pump up creatures and bring a planeswalker into play creates various tactical avenues in gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card opens up opportunities for synergy with Gideon planeswalkers and other cards that benefit from increased loyalty counters or wide battlefields packed with tokens.

Meta-Relevance: Given its supportive nature in creature-centric and planeswalker-specific decks, this card can stand up well in a variety of competitive environments. Against certain matchups, the swift board presence and loyalty boost can turn the tides of battle.


How to beat Gideon’s Battle Cry

Confronting the card Gideon’s Battle Cry in Magic: The Gathering can be a challenge, as it has the potential to quickly escalate the battlefield in favor of your opponent. This sorcery not only unexpectedly boosts their creatures but can also summon the formidable Gideon, a planeswalker known for his combat prowess. To effectively neutralize this threat, strategic removal spells that can clear multiple creatures at once, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, prove to be quite effective. Sweepers can reset the field, nullifying the advantage your opponent gains.

Hand disruption tools can also come into play, such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, allowing you to proactively remove Gideon’s Battle Cry from your opponent’s hand before they cast it. Counter magic remains a reliable solution; spells like Counterspell or Negate can stop the sorcery cold in its tracks. It’s crucial to maintain awareness of such moves and hold up mana accordingly when playing against a deck with Gideon’s Battle Cry onboard. Adaptability and foresight can turn the tides and help you keep command of the game.


Cards like Gideon's Battle Cry

Gideon’s Battle Cry is a standout card in Magic: The Gathering for those looking to enhance their creature-focused strategies. It stands in line with other noteworthy cards that bolster your creatures on the battlefield, such as Marshal’s Anthem. Marshal’s Anthem allows the return of creatures from your graveyard in addition to boosting your army, but Gideon’s Battle Cry pushes forward with its unique ability to create a substantial creature token that replicates Gideon’s strength.

Other cards that share a similar space include Inspired Charge, which offers a swift power and toughness boost to your creatures until the end of turn. While Gideon’s Battle Cry requires a more considerable mana investment, it compensates for that with the enduring presence of a Gideon Planeswalker token. Rally the Peasants is another comparable card with its potential for immediate impact, providing a boost during your turn or even unexpectedly during your opponent’s turn.

In weighing these options, Gideon’s Battle Cry secures its position as a powerful card. It not only empowers your creatures but also brings the commanding force of Gideon himself to the table, delivering persistent pressure on your opponents in MTG.

Marshal's Anthem - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Rally the Peasants - MTG Card versions
Marshal's Anthem - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Rally the Peasants - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gideon's Battle Cry by color, type and mana cost

Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Armageddon - MTG Card versions
Resurrection - MTG Card versions
Cleanse - MTG Card versions
Breath of Life - MTG Card versions
Path of Peace - MTG Card versions
Vengeance - MTG Card versions
False Defeat - MTG Card versions
Ravages of War - MTG Card versions
Replenish - MTG Card versions
Gerrard's Wisdom - MTG Card versions
Decree of Justice - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Presence of the Wise - MTG Card versions
Divine Congregation - MTG Card versions
Retether - MTG Card versions
Windborne Charge - MTG Card versions
Excoriate - MTG Card versions
Battle Screech - MTG Card versions
Cataclysm - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Armageddon - MTG Card versions
Resurrection - MTG Card versions
Cleanse - MTG Card versions
Breath of Life - MTG Card versions
Path of Peace - MTG Card versions
Vengeance - MTG Card versions
False Defeat - MTG Card versions
Ravages of War - MTG Card versions
Replenish - MTG Card versions
Gerrard's Wisdom - MTG Card versions
Decree of Justice - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Presence of the Wise - MTG Card versions
Divine Congregation - MTG Card versions
Retether - MTG Card versions
Windborne Charge - MTG Card versions
Excoriate - MTG Card versions
Battle Screech - MTG Card versions
Cataclysm - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gideon's Battle Cry MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Gideon's Battle Cry and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gideon's Battle Cry has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-05-03 You may cast Gideon’s Battle Cry while you control no creatures. You’ll still search for Gideon.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
See more decks