Extra Arms MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2003-05-26
Set symbol
Set name	Scourge
Set code	SCG
Number	92
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Greg Staples

Key Takeaways

Extra Arms grants tactical flexibility with instant speed casting, making combat unpredictable for opponents.
While offering resource doubling, Extra Arms requires a strategic discard, possibly impacting hand resources.
Its versatile nature makes Extra Arms a valuable asset for players seeking to amplify creature abilities.

Text of card

Whenever enchanted creature attacks, it deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

"Perhaps extra heads would have served them better." —Foothill guide

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Extra Arms provides significant advantage by potentially giving you access to additional spells or creatures to utilize each turn, bolstering your presence on the board.

Resource Acceleration: By duplicating your creatures, Extra Arms effectively doubles your available resources on the field, leading to swift escalation in power and creating high-pressure situations for your opponent.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Extra Arms at instant speed offers tactical surprises, enabling you to wait for the optimum moment, such as during combat or end of the opponent’s turn, to expand your board state dramatically.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Extra Arms, you’re often required to part with a card from your hand. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already running low or if you’re forced to discard a pivotal card for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Extra Arms is not only specific but also somewhat restrictive, as it requires both generic and colored mana. This specificity can make it less flexible and harder to cast in a timely fashion, particularly in multi-colored decks that might struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Extra Arms comes with a cost that’s on the higher side for what it provides in return. When considering the card’s effect relative to its mana cost, some players might find that there are other options that may fit the curve of their deck better or provide a similar effect for a lower resource investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Extra Arms fits into a variety of deck strategies, offering utility as both a combat enhancer and a means to manipulate complex board states. Its ability to give a creature multiple instances of an ability makes it a flexible addition to your arsenal.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that capitalize on abilities like tap and untap, enabling intricate combos that can turn the tide of the game. Its synergistic properties can amplify the effectiveness of creatures with powerful activated abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that prioritizes creature-based tactics, Extra Arms can be a game-changer. Enhancing a creature’s ability multiple times can prove to be a strategic edge over opponents, contributing significantly to the success of creature-focused decks.

How to Beat

Extra Arms is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering, bringing a quirky twist to creature abilities and combat strategies. Its main feature allows a creature to block an additional attacker, potentially disrupting your opponent’s plans and turning the tides in combat scenarios. Despite its utility, overcoming this card requires a combination of strategy and card choice.

The key to navigating past the challenge posed by Extra Arms is to diminish its value through smart plays. Utilizing removal spells that can bypass the enhanced blocking capability is an effective strategy. For instance, spells that force a tap on the opponent’s creature or that provide your creatures with trample can help ensure that your attacks make an impact regardless of the extra blocking arm. Additionally, engaging in combat tricks that alter the stats of battling creatures or using spells that can exile or destroy without targeting can neutralize the benefit Extra Arms provides.

Ultimately, being aware of the card’s potential and adjusting your game plan accordingly will minimize the impact of Extra Arms on the battlefield. With a well-considered approach that incorporates evasion, removal, or stat manipulation, you can confidently face and beat Extra Arms in your MTG matches.

Cards like Extra Arms

Extra Arms is an intriguing card in the realm of creature enhancement in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the thematic effect of cards like Mage’s Guile by granting creatures the ability to be multifaceted in battle. Yet, Extra Arms goes a step further by enabling not one, but multiple creatures to unexpectedly gain additional attacking benefits during combat.

When comparing it to cards like Trial of Solidarity, we notice that both create startling combat advantages. However, Trial of Solidarity is a one-off effect that also boosts the team’s strength and vigilance, unlike Extra Arms which can be more selectively applied. Additionally, cards such as Aerial Maneuver offer similar combat tricks by granting a creature flying and a boost in power, but lack the sustained, multi-turn impact provided by Extra Arms.

Ultimately, Extra Arms finds its unique niche by offering continued versatility and surprise combat potential. This makes it a valuable asset for tacticians who favor strategic over brute force in their deck construction, securing its place as a distinct choice among creature enhancement spells.

Cards similar to Extra Arms by color, type and mana cost

Unpredictable Cyclone - MTG Card versions

Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions

Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded - MTG Card versions

Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions

Yet Another Aether Vortex - MTG Card versions

Where Ancients Tread - MTG Card versions

Rumbling Aftershocks - MTG Card versions

Heretic's Punishment - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Extra Arms MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Extra Arms and other MTG cards: