War Report MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2011-05-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | New Phyrexia |
| Set code | NPH |
| Number | 26 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mike Bierek |
Text of card
You gain life equal to the number of creatures on the battlefield plus the number of artifacts on the battlefield.
Underling Ethu's 263rd report read simply "Yes, my lord. Overwhelmingly, my lord." This marked the end of the Mirran-Phyrexian War.
Cards like War Report
War Report is an interesting piece in the arsenal of life-gain and token-generation cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Sylvan Offering, which also gives you a choice – create tokens or distribute them among you and an opponent. While Sylvan Offering leans towards political play in multiplayer scenarios, War Report is more inwardly focused, concentrated purely on boosting your own defenses with an influx of life points, contingent on the number of creatures and artifacts you control.
Another kindred card is Bright Reprisal, which stands out with its ability to both destroy an attacking creature and draw a card, providing an excellent reactive play. In contrast, War Report does not offer removal, but it can give you a considerable life buffer that could be a game changer in prolonged battles. Then we observe Luminate Primordial, presenting a more aggressive solution. It can exile multiple creatures and grant you life points for each creature affected, offering both board presence and life, but at a significantly higher mana cost.
All things considered, War Report finds its niche within MTG’s array of strategies, striking a balance between defensive sustenance and swarm support, cementing its value in decks that thrive on abundant permanents.
Cards similar to War Report by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: War Report can contribute to card advantage by providing a significant gain in life total. This increase can create a buffer, allowing you to comfortably draw additional cards with effects that cost life without jeopardizing your position in the game.
Resource Acceleration: This card calculates the total number of creatures and artifacts you control, translating to an impressive amount of life gained. This can effectively accelerate your resources since a higher life total gives you more room to make aggressive plays or utilize cards with life payments.
Instant Speed: Flexibility is king in MTG, and War Report being an instant means you can deploy it at the most opportune moment. Whether that’s the end of your opponent’s turn, in response to an attack, or before you make a crucial play, you have the power to use it reactively or as a strategic ace up your sleeve.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: War Report may require you to discard a card, creating a potential setback if your hand is already depleting.
Specific Mana Cost: With its colored mana prerequisites, War Report necessitates a precise mana base, which can restrict its compatibility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering War Report’s mana value, there may be alternative cards that can yield similar or improved effects with a more economical mana investment.
Reasons to Include War Report in Your Collection
Versatility: War Report offers a unique versatility to any deck built around life gain or artifact strategies. It can provide a significant boost in life total, which can be a game-changer in matches where stabilizing your health is crucial.
Combo Potential: This card has great synergy with decks that capitalize on the number of creatures and artifacts in play. Its ability to count both and reward you with life points makes it an excellent combo enabler for strategies that involve mass artifact or token generation.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence is key to victory, War Report can serve as a powerful countermeasure. It fits well into decks that face opponents aiming to overwhelm with a multitude of permanents, as it turns the tide in your favor by leveraging their strategy against them.
How to Beat
War Report is a noteworthy card within Magic: The Gathering that emulates a mini game of endurance. Crucial in decks leveraging numerous artifacts and creatures, War Report can potentially skyrocket a player’s life total, significantly tipping the scales in a prolonged match. Therein lies its strength, as it counts both artifacts and creatures. Though potent, it’s susceptible to common stack interaction strategies. To neutralize War Report’s impact, timing is everything.
Playing against War Report calls for preemptive disruption. Counter spells are your first line of defense, halting the life gain before it even starts. Artifact control cards are valuable as well, stripping the battlefield of the objects War Report relies on. Creature removal employed right before its resolution diminishes its effectiveness, too. Lastly, enchantments that limit life gain can be a thorn in the side for an opponent depending on War Report as a lifeline. Strategic implementation of these elements can thwart War Report’s potential, ensuring it doesn’t provide the game-altering resurgence it’s designed to achieve.
Ultimately, understanding and anticipating your opponent’s strategies when War Report is at play, allows for calculated counteractions, ensuring that this card doesn’t shift the tide against you in the heat of battle.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase War Report MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 War Report 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 War Report has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering War Report card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-06-01 | Each artifact creature on the battlefield is counted twice. |