Warcry Phoenix MTG Card

Provides card advantage by rising from the graveyard, circumventing conventional draw limitations. Efficient for aggressive decks, adding continuous pressure with its recurring nature. Demands thoughtful play, pairing well with instant spells for surprise combat tactics.

Dominaria (DOM)
2018-04-27 - Number 150

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 621

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Phoenix
Abilities	Flying,Haste
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

Flying, haste Whenever you attack with three or more creatures, you may pay . If you do, return Warcry Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped and attacking.

War begins with one red ember.

Cards like Warcry Phoenix

Warcry Phoenix offers a dynamic play for enthusiasts of recurring creature strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarity to cards like Rekindling Phoenix, another fiery flyer known for its resilience. Rekindling Phoenix, however, brings a stronger presence with its 4/3 stats compared to Warcry’s 2/2. Plus, Rekindling effortlessly returns to the battlefield with a token mechanic, unlike Warcry Phoenix which requires an attack with three other creatures to rise from the graveyard.

Ashcloud Phoenix also shares the Phoenix tribal and flying abilities, but it’s unique in morphing. While Warcry requires tactical play, Ashcloud brings adaptability with its morph cost affecting board state perception. Chandra’s Phoenix is slightly more straightforward, returning to hand when an opponent is dealt damage by a player’s spell or ability, providing a reliable means of retrieval.

Evaluating these birds of flame, Warcry Phoenix finds its edge in aggressive strategies that reward wide battlefields, ensuring it can return turn after turn to maintain pressure. Each Phoenix card varies in its revival mechanism fitting different gameplay styles, but Warcry Phoenix stands out for those commanding multiple creatures, presenting recurring aerial threats.

Cards similar to Warcry Phoenix by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Warcry Phoenix, players can achieve an edge by reusing the card from the graveyard, effectively bypassing traditional draw limits. This Phoenix offers repeated opportunities to pressure the opponent with a resilient flying threat.

Resource Acceleration: Warcry Phoenix may not directly produce mana or treasure tokens, but it serves an aggressive strategy that puts resources—in the form of pressure and recurring threats—into a player’s arsenal. Efficient mana cost paired with its recurrent nature makes it a resourceful addition to a fast-paced deck.

Instant Speed: Although Warcry Phoenix itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes well with instant speed spells. Its ability to return from the graveyard during combat when you attack with three or more creatures requires strategic planning, making it an ideal fit for decks that thrive on the surprise factor and complex combat scenarios.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Warcry Phoenix’s strength relies on its ability to return to the battlefield. However, this ability comes at the cost of discarding a card. This requirement can be a serious drawback during gameplay, especially if you’re already facing a shortage of cards in hand and need to maintain resources for strategic plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Warcry Phoenix requires a specific combination of mana to be played effectively. Costing both red mana and generic mana, it necessitates a focused mana base. This can restrict the card’s utility primarily to red or red-centric decks, reducing its versatility in a broader range of strategies that feature multiple colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature of its size, Warcry Phoenix comes with a steep mana requirement. Its casting cost combined with the expense of its resurrection ability means that you may find yourself allocating precious mana to recycle Warcry Phoenix when other cards could offer greater impact or control for the same or less investment.

Reasons to Include Warcry Phoenix in Your Collection

Versatility: Warcry Phoenix brings flexibility to the battlefield by fitting neatly into various Red-based aggressive decks. Its ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield ensures that it remains a constant threat, applying pressure in each stage of the game.

Combo Potential: This fiery bird can be a key component in strategies that manipulate the graveyard. Its recurring nature pairs well with sacrifice outlets or effects that care about creature entry or death, making it a synergistic piece in complex combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where the meta favors resilient creatures, Warcry Phoenix shines due to its capability to evade permanent removal. As players navigate a field full of removal spells, the phoenix promises to rise time and again, making it a persistent menace and a valuable asset in tempo-driven matchups.

How to beat Warcry Phoenix

Warcry Phoenix is a challenging creature to overcome in MTG due to its inherent resilience and recurring threat during combat. Adequate removal is key; board wipes like Wrath of God can be effective, as they bypass Warcry Phoenix’s return to play mechanic. Additionally, pinpoint removal spells that exile, such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, prevent the phoenix from rising from the graveyard again.

Counteracting Warcry Phoenix also entails controlling your own battlefield presence. Since it hinges on attacking with three or more creatures to come back, limiting your opponent’s creature count can stifle its effectiveness. Opt for versatile creature removal spells or those that can manage multiple threats at once to maintain a clear board.

Finally, graveyard disruption is a potent strategy to permanently remove Warcry Phoenix and other similar threats. Employing cards like Relic of Progenitus or Scavenging Ooze can keep the phoenix at bay, ensuring that it doesn’t provide consistent value for your opponent. Vigilance in maintaining graveyard control alongside strategic creature removal will give you a solid defense against Warcry Phoenix and contribute to your victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Warcry Phoenix MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Warcry Phoenix and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Warcry Phoenix Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Daarken.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2018-04-27	Dominaria	DOM		150	2015	Normal	Black	Daarken
2	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22		621	2015	Normal	Black	Daarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Warcry Phoenix has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2018-04-27	As Warcry Phoenix returns to the battlefield because of its triggered ability, you choose which opponent or opposing planeswalker it’s attacking. It doesn’t have to attack the same opponent or opposing planeswalker as your other attacking creatures.
2018-04-27	If Warcry Phoenix enters the battlefield attacking, it wasn’t declared as an attacking creature that turn. Abilities that trigger when a creature attacks won’t trigger.