Strength in Numbers MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Card advantage from Strength in Numbers turns a crowded battlefield into a massive power boost.
  2. Instant speed allows tactical surprises and combative flexibility during crucial gameplay moments.
  3. While powerful, the card’s discard requirement and specific green mana cost can limit versatility.

Text of card

Until end of turn, target creature gains trample and gets +X/+X, where X is the number of attacking creatures.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Strength in Numbers offers the potential to swing the game in your favor by turning a populated battlefield into a massive card advantage. With each creature you control potentially adding substantial power to your attacking creature, every token and every low-power creature becomes a valuable asset. This synergy can drastically increase the value of your cards on the board.

Resource Acceleration: By boosting a single creature’s power for each other creature you control, Strength in Numbers can rapidly accelerate your resources on the field. This can transform a modest army into a torrent of power, overwhelming defenses without the need to commit additional mana for separate buffs—freeing up resources for further strategic plays.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Strength in Numbers provides significant tactical flexibility. It can be deployed mid-combat, surprising an opponent during their calculations and potentially turning a sure defeat into a victorious strike. The ability to use it after declaring attackers allows you to adapt to your opponent’s responses, keeping them guessing and giving you the upper hand.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Strength in Numbers card demands players to discard another card as part of its casting cost. This prerequisite can lead to strategic setbacks, especially when players have a minimal hand and must forgo a potentially crucial card to enable the effect of Strength in Numbers.

Specific Mana Cost: Exclusive to green mana in its casting cost, Strength in Numbers may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that might struggle with mana consistency. This limitation can make it challenging for players to utilize the card’s full potential outside of monogreen or green-heavy decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana cost at the higher end of the curve for its effect, Strength in Numbers competes with other buff spells that can be more cost-effective. In competitive play, the mana investment could potentially be better allocated towards spells with immediate board impact or versatility.


Reasons to Include Strength in Numbers in Your Collection

Versatility: Strength in Numbers fits seamlessly into a multitude of green decks that focus on creature swarming. Its instant speed allows it to be a game-changer during combat, increasing the threat level of even the most unassuming token creatures.

Combo Potential: This card has the potential to work wonderfully with decks that are able to generate a large quantity of creatures. It synergizes with token generators and other effects that capitalize on having multiple creatures on the board, turning a wide board state into overwhelming power.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive and creature-focused decks prevail, Strength in Numbers can serve as an unexpected and cost-effective finisher. It thrives in games where board presence equates to victory and ensures that such a strategy pays off with an impactful punch.


How to Beat

Strength in Numbers is a card that speaks to the power of unity in Magic: The Gathering, amplifying the might of your creatures as your army grows. The impact it has on the battlefield can turn even the smallest creature into a colossal threat, making it a key card for those running a creature-heavy deck.

But every strategy has a counter, and dealing with Strength in Numbers is all about managing the creatures that could benefit from it. Board control spells like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act can sweep the field clean, nullifying the effectiveness of the card by removing targets for its buff. Efficient removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can also help by taking out key creatures before they can be pumped. Moreover, limiting the number of creatures your opponent has means Strength in Numbers loses its potency, shifting the tide of battle in your favor.

Remember that proactive defense is as important as retaliation. Cards that prevent creatures from attacking or blocking, such as Ensnaring Bridge or Ghostly Prison, can keep the swarms at bay, making Strength in Numbers a dead card in your opponent’s hand. Properly timing these defenses can be crucial in ensuring that your opponent’s numbers don’t become their strength.


Cards like Strength in Numbers

Strength in Numbers is a card that offers an explosive potential boost in power for creature-based decks within Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to Overrun, as both increase the power and toughness of creatures. However, Strength in Numbers provides more flexibility as it depends on the number of creatures attacking, essentially turning each creature into an additional force amplifier.

Cards like Giant Growth also provide a temporary power surge with a lower mana cost, but they lack the scaling potential of Strength in Numbers. Whereas Giant Growth affects a single creature, Strength in Numbers can impact the entire battlefield, offering the possibility for a game-ending strike. Similarly, other cards in this sphere include Titan’s Strength and Brute Force, which grant substantial power boosts but do not match Strength in Numbers in its ability to turn a sizeable army into an overwhelming force.

When evaluating the strategic advantages of attack synergies in Magic: The Gathering, Strength in Numbers is particularly impactful in decks that rapidly deploy a multitude of creatures, aligning well with swarm strategies and making it a formidable spell in the right context.

Overrun - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Titan's Strength - MTG Card versions
Brute Force - MTG Card versions
Overrun - Tempest (TMP)
Giant Growth - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Titan's Strength - Theros (THS)
Brute Force - Planar Chaos (PLC)

Cards similar to Strength in Numbers by color, type and mana cost

Tranquil Domain - MTG Card versions
Resuscitate - MTG Card versions
Heavy Fog - MTG Card versions
Aggressive Urge - MTG Card versions
Tangle - MTG Card versions
Krosan Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Seedtime - MTG Card versions
Nourish - MTG Card versions
Wear Away - MTG Card versions
Vital Surge - MTG Card versions
Predator's Strike - MTG Card versions
Might of the Nephilim - MTG Card versions
Resize - MTG Card versions
Squall Line - MTG Card versions
Regenerate - MTG Card versions
Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Defiance - MTG Card versions
Tribute to the Wild - MTG Card versions
Plummet - MTG Card versions
Titanic Growth - MTG Card versions
Tranquil Domain - Mirage (MIR)
Resuscitate - Exodus (EXO)
Heavy Fog - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Aggressive Urge - Jumpstart (JMP)
Tangle - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Krosan Reclamation - Judgment (JUD)
Seedtime - Judgment (JUD)
Nourish - Darksteel (DST)
Wear Away - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Vital Surge - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Predator's Strike - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Might of the Nephilim - Dissension (DIS)
Resize - Coldsnap (CSP)
Squall Line - Time Spiral (TSP)
Regenerate - Magic 2010 (M10)
Naturalize - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Tel-Jilad Defiance - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Tribute to the Wild - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Plummet - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Titanic Growth - Wilds of Eldraine (WOE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Strength in Numbers MTG card by a specific set like Salvat 2005 and Salvat 2005, 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 Strength in Numbers and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Strength in Numbers Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2005-08-22 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL J522003normalwhiteRon Spencer
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL J422003normalwhiteRon Spencer
32005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL J532003normalwhiteRon Spencer
42006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 2242003normalblackRon Spencer
52016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1932015normalblackRon Spencer
62017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1382015normalblackRon Spencer
72019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 13432015normalblackRon Spencer
82020-09-26The ListPLST MM3-1382015normalblackRon Spencer
92021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 2332015normalblackRon Spencer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Strength in Numbers has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-03-19 The value of X is determined only as Strength in Numbers resolves. It won’t change later in the turn if the number of attacking creatures changes.

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