Makeshift Battalion MTG Card
2019-05-03 - Number 22
2020-07-03 - Number 26
2024-01-12 - Number 22
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Makeshift Battalion enhances board state by gaining +1/+1 counters through collaborative combat.
- Its mana cost and color specificity may limit integration in diverse deck strategies.
- While lacking instant speed, the card’s potential for growth makes it a dangerous asset.
Text of card
Whenever Makeshift Battalion and at least two other creatures attack, put a +1/+1 counter on Makeshift Battalion.
Their ranks are thin, their formation is improvised, their weapons are borrowed, and you'd best get out of their way.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Makeshift Battalion itself doesn’t draw cards directly, its ability to put a +1/+1 counter on itself whenever it attacks with at least two other creatures can effectively multiply your board presence. This incremental advantage can put you ahead, turning one card into a progressively larger threat every combat.
Resource Acceleration: Although not a traditional resource acceleration card, Makeshift Battalion can be considered an accelerator of creature resources on the battlefield. By steadily growing larger with each attack, it may save you from spending additional mana to play bigger creatures later in the game.
Instant Speed: Makeshift Battalion operates at sorcery speed as a creature, which emphasizes strategic timing during your attack phase. However, what it lacks in instant speed flexibility, it compensates with the potential to create an imposing board state that can react instantaneously to gaining counters during the declared attackers step.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Makeshift Battalion doesn’t demand an immediate discard, but it does require you to maintain a certain level of battlefield presence. This could indirectly press you to expend more cards than desired to trigger its ability.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost necessitates both generic and white mana, which may not fit seamlessly into multicolored or color-specific strategies where mana optimization is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Makeshift Battalion is competing with other three-drop creatures or spells that could provide more immediate impact on the game state or come with an intrinsic ability aside from the conditional power boost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Makeshift Battalion’s simplicity in its mechanic makes it a flexible addition to decks, especially those focused on wide strategies or creature synergies. Its ability to grow with successive attacks complements various white weenie and aggro builds.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with abilities that tap or untap creatures, or those that put counters on creatures, turning it from a mere foot soldier into a formidable force on the battle grid. This can create unexpected synergies and turn the tide in combat-centric matches.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence and creature-based strategies prevail, Makeshift Battalion can quickly become an undercosted threat. As games stretch to the mid-stages, multiple attacks can easily make it a key player against a range of opposing decks. It adapts well to shifts in playstyle and remains a steady choice for players needing reliable, incremental value.
How to beat
Makeshift Battalion is a card that strengthens its presence on the battlefield with every combat. Each time it’s involved in combat with two or more of your other creatures, Makeshift Battalion gets a +1/+1 counter, scaling up its power and toughness, and becoming a more formidable force to reckon with. To tackle it, players should focus on control strategies that either prevent it from attacking or remove it before it accumulates too many counters.
Removal spells are your best bet to handle the Makeshift Battalion swiftly. Instant-speed spells like Murder or Fatal Push can get rid of it before it grows out of control. Alternatively, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation ensure that it never reaches its full potential, reseting the battlefield to your advantage. If Makeshift Battalion does manage to get a few counters, keep in mind creature-based answers like Ravenous Chupacabra for targeted creature destruction, or cards that neutralize abilities like Frogify can change the tide. By being preemptive and prepared, keeping tight control over the state of the battlefield, players can effectively nullify the threat of the Makeshift Battalion.
Being strategic with your plays and understanding the best moments to take action against Makeshift Battalion will ensure its impact is minimal and your path to victory remains clear.
Cards like Makeshift Battalion
Makeshift Battalion is an intriguing creature card that adds depth to the gameplay in Magic: The Gathering. This card bears resemblance to other creatures that grow in strength, such as the renowned Benalish Marshal. However, unlike Benalish Marshal, which bolsters other creatures instantly with a steady buff, Makeshift Battalion requires the buildup of charge through several combat phases to become a formidable threat.
In the panorama of incrementally strengthening creatures, we also have Ajani’s Pridemate. Though operating on a different mechanic—gaining life—this creature similarly accumulates more power over time. Unlike Makeshift Battalion, each life gained translates immediately into additional strength for Ajani’s Pridemate, making every health point count. On the other hand, Strongarm Monk is a card that synergizes well with a strategy including Makeshift Battalion, offering boosts whenever a noncreature spell is cast, fostering a battalion of increasingly powerful creatures during combat.
Ultimately, Makeshift Battalion carves its niche as a card that rewards patience and strategic planning in player combat interactions. It stands out for its potential to become increasingly threatening, demanding an answer from opponents in creature-focused decks.
Cards similar to Makeshift Battalion by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Makeshift Battalion MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Core Set 2021, 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 Makeshift Battalion and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Printings
The Makeshift Battalion Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Zoltan Boros.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 22 | 2015 | normal | black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 2 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 26 | 2015 | normal | black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 3 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 22 | 2015 | normal | black | Zoltan Boros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Makeshift Battalion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Makeshift Battalion 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 | Makeshift Battalion and the other attacking creatures don't have to be attacking the same player or planeswalker. |
| 2019-05-03 | Once Makeshift Battalion's ability has triggered, it doesn't matter how many creatures are still attacking when that ability resolves. |
