Barbed Battlegear MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip
Released	2010-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Scars of Mirrodin
Set code	SOM
Number	139
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Steve Argyle

Key Takeaways

Improves creature power, enabling more aggressive gameplay and potentially advantageous trades on the battlefield.
Can equip at instant speed with certain cards, providing unexpected combat interaction and momentum shifts.
Though it has downsides, its combat benefits and utility in creature-focused decks make it a considerable asset.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +4/-1. Equip

"One need only look at the inhabitants of this world to see that they are forged halfway to perfection. All they need is a whisper of the Glorious Word." —Urabrask the Hidden

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Barbed Battlegear itself doesn’t directly contribute to card draw, it provides a considerable boost to a creature’s offensive capabilities. This value may not come from additional cards in hand, but from the quality and threat of the equipped creature on the battlefield, often demanding answers from opponents and potentially leading to advantageous exchanges.

Resource Acceleration: Barbed Battlegear shines in situations where resource acceleration is valuable. By equipping a creature for a modest cost, you significantly increase your board presence. This can be seen as a form of resource acceleration by enhancing your creatures’ ability to deal damage without needing to cast additional spells, which can be an effective and efficient use of mana.

Instant Speed: Barbed Battlegear is not an instant, but the ability to attach it at instant speed with the assistance of cards that untap artifacts or creatures, like Voltaic Key or Vizier of Tumbling Sands, can offer surprise combat tricks or interaction on an opponent’s turn, potentially shifting the momentum in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Barbed Battlegear doesn’t require a discard to play, it can be a liability when you’re forced to drop cards due to an opponent’s spell or ability. This can be especially painful if Barbed Battlegear is your only card in hand, leaving you without any benefit from its effect.

Specific Mana Cost: Barbed Battlegear demands three generic mana, which, while flexible, still represents a noticeable investment in your mana curve. This cost can be a hindrance in early game development when mana can be better spent on establishing board presence or casting more impactful spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, other equipment cards might offer additional abilities or provide a more significant power boost to your creatures. This can make Barbed Battlegear a less attractive option in formats or decks that prioritize mana efficiency and impactful early game plays.

Reasons to Include Barbed Battlegear in Your Collection

Versatility: Barbed Battlegear brings flexibility to the table. As an equipment card that boosts a creature’s power significantly, it can be a game-changer in any deck that aims to win through creature-based combat. Its equip cost is manageable, allowing it to be moved between creatures as the board state changes.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with creatures that have abilities triggering from dealing damage or having increased power. It’s not just a standalone piece but a cog in an intricate machine that can amplify your board’s threat level or even enable an instant kill with the right creature in play.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where high power is king, Barbed Battlegear becomes a mighty tool. It’s particularly effective when the meta shifts towards smaller creatures, allowing yours to dominate in combat or when the field is clear of potent removals, letting you swing in for substantial damage with fewer risks.

How to beat

Barbed Battlegear is an intriguing equipment artifact that can turn even the smallest creature into a significant threat on the battlefield. It grants a hefty power boost at the cost of decreased toughness, making equipped creatures more vulnerable. It’s this balance shift that you can exploit when strategizing against an opponent who uses Barbed Battlegear.

To overcome a creature outfitted with this artifact, consider using spells or abilities that deal damage or reduce toughness directly. Since Barbed Battlegear makes the equipped creature less sturdy, even a minor point of damage can be lethal. Tactics that don’t rely on combat can bypass the increased power, negating the Battlegear’s advantage. Enchantment removal or artifact destruction can also be highly effective, unbinding the creature from its powerful yet risky enhancement, leaving it easier to neutralize.

Utilizing these strategies, you can turn the opponent’s strength into their weakness. And remember, timing is everything. Disabling the Barbed Battlegear before a key combat or in response to the equip action can severely disrupt your adversary’s game plan.

Cards like Barbed Battlegear

Barbed Battlegear finds itself in a unique position among artifact equipment in Magic: The Gathering. Much like its contemporary, Vulshok Battlegear, it offers a significant power boost to creatures. However, where Barbed Battlegear excels is in its power increase, buffing a creature by +4/+0, overshadowing Vulshok’s increase of +3/+3. This substantial augmentation can turn even the most unassuming creature into a substantial threat.

Looking toward other equipment, Trusty Machete is also worthy of comparison. Although it provides a smaller boost of +2/+1, it has the advantage of a lower equip cost, making it a more streamlined option for early game aggression. Meanwhile, Barbed Battlegear’s equip cost is steeper, but it compensates with a more aggressive power boost suited for decisive late-game plays.

In essence, Magic: The Gathering veterans often weigh the balance between cost and impact. Barbed Battlegear’s aggressive power boost often justifies its equip cost, finding a niche among players aiming to quickly amplify their creature’s offensive capabilities. It demonstrates that in the right deck context, the equipment can outshine others with its ability to turn creatures into potent attackers swiftly.

Cards similar to Barbed Battlegear by color, type and mana cost

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Barbed Battlegear MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Barbed Battlegear and other MTG cards: