Rally the Ancestors MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Rally the Ancestors brings back many creatures instantly to shift game dynamics in your favor.
  2. It demands specific mana types and can be mana-intensive, restricting deck compatibility.
  3. Despite potential exile drawbacks, it offers strategic depth and strong combo plays.

Text of card

Return each creature card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. Exile those creatures at the beginning of your next upkeep. Exile Rally the Ancestors.

"The family is a tree, and in times of need, every branch can be a weapon." —Daghatar the Adamant


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rally the Ancestors offers a unique type of card advantage by returning multiple creatures from your graveyard to the battlefield. This can lead to overwhelming board presence and turn games around almost instantaneously.

Resource Acceleration: By bringing creatures back for just one turn, it accelerates resources that can contribute to triggering various abilities or enhancing your attack. It effectively bypasses the traditional casting cost of creatures, providing more utility for less mana.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Rally the Ancestors at instant speed provides tremendous flexibility. It allows players to wait until the most opportune moment, such as at the end of an opponent’s turn, to surprise an opponent and create instant armies out of nowhere.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Rally the Ancestors can be a game-changer by returning multiple creatures from your graveyard to the battlefield, it does come with a steep price. The major drawback is after your next upkeep, you must exile those creatures if they haven’t left the battlefield. This can lead to situations where you are forced to discard valuable creatures permanently, leaving you with fewer resources for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Rally the Ancestors requires a very specific mana investment to cast. The card requires both white mana and a considerable amount of generic mana, which dictates that your deck must have a solid white mana base. This can restrict the card’s inclusion to mainly white-based or multicolor decks that can afford to allocate resources to the correct mana type.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a starting mana cost at three and an additional one for each creature beyond the first you aim to return with Rally the Ancestors, the spell can become costly rather quickly. Considering this, some players may find that the mana could be spent on alternative strategies or spells that offer more permanent solutions or pose a constant threat to the opponent, as opposed to a one-turn surprise.


Reasons to Include Rally the Ancestors in Your Collection

Versatility: Rally the Ancestors shines by offering flexibility in gameplay. This card can be a game-changer in decks that are graveyard-centric, allowing you to return multiple creatures to the battlefield for a decisive move or a surprise defense.

Combo Potential: This spell has the potential to be the cornerstone of combo decks. When paired with creatures that have powerful enter-the-battlefield or leave-the-battlefield effects, Rally the Ancestors can create overwhelming board states or even lead to an instant win with the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: As metas shift towards creature-based strategies or stall tactics, the ability to suddenly mass resurrect your fallen creatures can reverse the tides of a game. This makes Rally the Ancestors a card worth considering for its strength in adapting to various competitive environments.


How to beat

Rally the Ancestors is a potent card that can turn the tide of a game by bringing back multiple creatures from the graveyard for a sudden burst of power. This surprise factor can overwhelm unprepared opponents in Magic: The Gathering. Anticipating this move can make all the difference in your gameplay strategy. Making sure your deck has ways to counteract spells or remove creatures from play quickly is essential.

There are several strategies to counter Rally the Ancestors effectively. Running countermagic like Negate or Dispel can stop Rally the Ancestors in its tracks. Inclusion of graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Grafdigger’s Cage can neuter its effect entirely. If Rally the Ancestors does resolve, instant-speed removals like Path to Exile or board wipes such as Wrath of God can clean up the creatures before they have a chance to attack or use their abilities.

When facing decks that utilize Rally the Ancestors, it’s crucial to always play cautiously, keeping up mana for interaction. Remember, the key to victory often lies in disrupting your opponent’s game plan while advancing your own.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG is exemplified by complex and potentially game-altering cards like Rally the Ancestors. Its ability to turn the tide in a single instant by reviving a host of creatures from the graveyard can catch opponents off-guard and sway the outcome in your favor. But mastering its application requires finesse and a good understanding of your deck’s mechanics. Whether you’re looking to give your graveyard-centric deck a surprise edge or seeking to overcome its high mana cost and discard requirements, we encourage you to dive deeper into the strategies that make Rally the Ancestors a formidable force on the battlefield. Enhance your MTG prowess and make every duel an epic encounter by learning more with us.


Cards like Rally the Ancestors

Rally the Ancestors is an intriguing option within the pantheon of instant spells that reanimate creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest cousins include cards like Immortal Servitude and Return to the Ranks, both of which also return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield. Where Rally the Ancestors shines is in its ability to summon a vast number of creatures at instant speed, albeit they get exiled if not tapped at your next upkeep. This can set up for surprise blocks or a formidable attack during an opponent’s turn.

However, comparing it to Immortal Servitude reveals a cost difference, as Servitude is more restrictive in the converted mana cost of creatures it can retrieve. On the other hand, Return to the Ranks has convoke as its distinctive trait, allowing you to utilize your creatures to help cast the spell. Although Rally the Ancestors may require a larger mana investment, the potential to influence the game’s outcome immediately makes it a powerhouse in decks built around it.

Ultimately, the decision to include Rally the Ancestors in your deck might come down to your strategy’s tempo and the type of creatures you’re playing. Given its explosive potential in the right deck, it stands out as an impactful card for commanding the battlefield with a legion of ancestors.

Immortal Servitude - MTG Card versions
Return to the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Immortal Servitude - Gatecrash (GTC)
Return to the Ranks - Magic 2015 (M15)

Cards similar to Rally the Ancestors by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - MTG Card versions
Invulnerability - MTG Card versions
Remedy - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Shield - MTG Card versions
Samite Ministration - MTG Card versions
Shield Wall - MTG Card versions
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Graceful Reprieve - MTG Card versions
Last Breath - MTG Card versions
Angelsong - MTG Card versions
Rest for the Weary - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Divine Offering - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Alabaster Potion - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Invulnerability - Tempest (TMP)
Remedy - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Rhystic Shield - Prophecy (PCY)
Samite Ministration - Invasion (INV)
Shield Wall - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Life Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Shelter - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Equal Treatment - Torment (TOR)
Aura Extraction - Onslaught (ONS)
Raise the Alarm - Mirrodin (MRD)
Test of Faith - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Echoing Calm - Darksteel (DST)
Dawn Charm - Commander Legends (CMR)
Graceful Reprieve - Morningtide (MOR)
Last Breath - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Angelsong - The List (PLST)
Rest for the Weary - Worldwake (WWK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rally the Ancestors MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged and Fate Reforged Promos, 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 Rally the Ancestors and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rally the Ancestors Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2022-07-28. Illustrated by Nils Hamm.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-01-23Fate ReforgedFRF 222015normalblackNils Hamm
22015-01-23Fate Reforged PromosPFRF 22s2015normalblackNils Hamm
32022-07-28Explorer Anthology 1EA1 22015normalblackNils Hamm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rally the Ancestors has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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