Charge MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances creature strength, multiplying board presence and synergizing with creature-based strategies.
  2. Instant speed allows for reactive play, making it a game-changer during the combat phase.
  3. Mana and discard requirements may limit its use, yet its potential impact is significant.

Text of card

Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.

"Honor rides before us. All we have to do is catch up." —Danitha Capashen


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Charge doesn’t directly translate into drawing cards, it synergizes well with decks that rely on creature presence, essentially multiplying the power of your board state and enhancing the value of each creature you control.

Resource Acceleration: Charge aids in the swift escalation of your creatures’ capabilities. By bolstering your entire army with additional power, it accelerates your offensive resources, potentially leading to an earlier victory.

Instant Speed: The utility of Charge being an instant cannot be overstated. This trait allows you to adapt reactively to the flow of the game, only deploying the spell when it can have the most impactful effect, such as during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Charge, while offering a potential combat edge, necessitates discarding a card, a steep price for decks that already struggle with maintaining hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Charge’s mana cost is color-restricted to white, which can be prohibitive for multicolored or colorless strategies and limit the card’s overall flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given Charge’s effect of only increasing creatures’ power for a single turn, its mana investment is substantial when compared to other buffs or combat tricks in the same cost bracket.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Charge can be a key component in decks that require a sudden boost in power, particularly when you’re building an army of creatures on the battlefield. Its low mana cost allows for it to be easily slotted into various deck types without compromising the mana curve.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with creatures that have abilities triggered by +1/+1 counters or when you’re on the threshold of overwhelming your opponent. Seamlessly pairing with proliferate mechanics or doubling effects, Charge serves as a force multiplier in the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s crowded with aggressive strategies, Charge can tilt the balance in your favor. The instant speed of the spell allows for last-minute combat tricks that can serve as a game-changer during critical turns.


How to beat

Charge is a simple yet potent spell that can bolster the might of an entire army in a single swift cast. For just one white mana, each creature you control gets a temporary buff in the form of an additional +1/+1 until the end of the turn. This can quickly turn the tides of a combat phase or enable a formidable finishing move.

Overcoming the surging power of Charge involves strategic foresight and timely card play. Control decks have the upper hand here, with a plethora of counter spells that nix Charge before its effects even hit the board. You might consider cards like Negate or Essence Scatter to halt it in its tracks. Meanwhile, for those favoring a less reactive approach, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation effectively reset the playfield, rendering Charge null and void.

Adapting to your opponent’s tempo is crucial, as Charge is often played in decks aiming to amass creatures quickly and overwhelm opponents. Spot removals or mass removals can dismantle their strategy, leaving them without a platform to capitalize on Charge’s potential. Therefore, maintaining card advantage and board control is key to outmaneuvering the swift boost that Charge aims to provide.


Understanding the Mechanics of Charge

Charge is a versatile instant that serves as a key piece in decks focused on bolstering the power of numerous creatures at once. It’s akin to cards like Fortify, which also grants a temporary power increase to creatures. However, Charge distinguishes itself with a meager mana cost of only one, enabling a swift and unexpected surge in combat strength. Fortify, with a higher mana cost, offers a choice between boosting defense or offense, presenting a more flexible, albeit expensive, option.

Another card worthy of comparison is Inspired Charge. Despite sharing the instant type and similar name, Inspired Charge requires significantly more mana and boosts both power and toughness. This makes it an excellent choice for overwhelming the opponent during a crucial combat phase but demands more planning due to its cost.

When assessing the practicalities of combat tricks in MTG, Charge shines due to its low cost and the element of surprise it brings to the battlefield. It enables a strategic advantage while preserving mana for other potential plays, making it an efficient tool in creature-heavy decks aiming for a quick victory.

Fortify - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Fortify - Time Spiral (TSP)
Inspired Charge - Magic 2011 (M11)

Cards similar to Charge by color, type and mana cost

Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Guardian Angel - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Indestructible Aura - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Rewards - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Orim's Touch - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Death Ward - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Blaze of Glory - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Healing Salve - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Purelace - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Swords to Plowshares - Fallout (PIP)
Guardian Angel - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Righteousness - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Indestructible Aura - Chronicles (CHR)
Glyph of Life - Legends (LEG)
Warning - Ice Age (ICE)
Heal - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Anoint - Tempest (TMP)
Reaping the Rewards - Exodus (EXO)
Rally the Troops - Portal Second Age (P02)
Enlightened Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Orim's Touch - Invasion (INV)
Pollen Remedy - Planeshift (PLS)
Sacred Rites - The List (PLST)
Pay No Heed - Torment (TOR)
Path to Exile - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Charge MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Mystery Booster, 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 Charge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Charge Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Zezhou Chen.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-04-27DominariaDOM 102015normalblackZezhou Chen
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 552015normalblackZezhou Chen
32020-09-26The ListPLST DOM-102015normalblackZezhou Chen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Charge has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-04-27 Charge affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +1/+1.

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