Relentless Advance MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Amass
Released	2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set name	War of the Spark
Set code	WAR
Number	64
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Stanton Feng

Key Takeaways

A cost-effective way to amplify creature strategies and increase board presence in MTG gameplay.
Helps in resource allocation by providing a sizable token, allowing other strategic plays.
Even though sorcery-speed, it offers reliable tactical deployment for strategic maneuvers.

Text of card

Amass Zombies 3. (Put three +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It's also a Zombie. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token first.)

They approach in formation, every movement efficient and sure. They halt, listen, and then press on in silent unison.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: As you cast Relentless Advance, you create a 4/4 blue Zombie Army creature token. Not only is this a substantial body on the board, but it also contributes to your army count, tipping the scales in terms of board presence. This can be particularly significant in decks that rely on creature strategies or those that benefit from having multiple creatures in play.

Resource Acceleration: While Relentless Advance doesn’t directly generate mana or treasure tokens, it acts as a form of resource acceleration by providing a cost-effective creature. At four mana for a 4/4 token, it aligns well with the concept of mana efficiency in MTG. This enables you to allocate resources elsewhere, knowing you’ve made a solid investment towards your board’s development.

Instant Speed: Relentless Advance, as a sorcery, is designed to have a decisive impact during your main phases. This allows you to plan your turn with precision, knowing that you can reliably deploy a formidable creature token to apply pressure or enhance your defensive lineup at a moment’s strategic choice.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When you’re aiming to maintain card advantage, Relentless Advance can fall short. It doesn’t require you to discard directly, but it doesn’t replenish your hand either. In a game where each card counts, this can sometimes be a setback, particularly if your strategy relies on a full grip of options.

Specific Mana Cost: With its need for three blue mana, Relentless Advance is restrictive when it comes to deck construction. This mana specificity hampers its applicability, making it less ideal for multi-colored decks that might struggle to meet the blue mana necessary to cast it efficiently on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to summon a single 3/3 Zombie Army token, it is outmatched by other cards with lower costs or those that offer additional benefits. This high investment may slow your tempo, especially if facing an opponent with a more streamlined strategy to develop their board or respond to threats.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Relentless Advance offers the flexibility to enhance both aggression-focused and control-oriented blue decks. It allows for a notable increase in board presence with a 3/3 Zombie token, which can be crucial in both offense and defense.

Combo Potential: This card works seamlessly within strategies that capitalize on amassing tokens or those that exploit the power of proliferate mechanics. Pairing Relentless Advance with cards that benefit from having multiple creatures or tokens can lay the groundwork for powerful synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-heavy strategies often populate the meta, having a card that deploys a creature while potentially leaving mana open for other plays can be significantly advantageous. Its presence in your collection could provide a tactical edge in a variety of matchups.

How to Beat Relentless Advance

Relentless Advance is a versatile spell that allows players to amass an army by creating a powerful Zombie Army token, or strengthening an existing one. This card can significantly shift the balance on the battlefield when used strategically, making it a card to prepare for. To successfully counter this tactic, it’s essential to disrupt your opponent’s ability to utilize their Zombie Army effectively.

Incorporating instant removal spells in your deck can provide a quick answer to the looming threat of an amplified Zombie Army. Cards like Shock or Murder can be key in eliminating the token before it becomes a larger problem. Additionally, employing counterspells can prevent the casting of Relentless Advance altogether, keeping the token off the board to begin with. Look towards staple counters like Cancel or Essence Scatter for efficient means to stop the spell in its tracks.

Board wipes also serve as an effective method to clear multiple threats, including any formidable Zombie Army tokens. Wrath of God or Damnation are substantial in resetting the playing field. Ultimately, the key lies in timely disruption and controlling the pace, ensuring that Relentless Advance doesn’t overrun the game and maintaining a defensive posture against your opponent’s token generation strategies.

Cards like Relentless Advance

Relentless Advance offers a dynamic option within the blue creature spells of Magic: The Gathering. It can be juxtaposed with cards like Aven Surveyor, which provides a similar creature boost emphasizing versatility. Aven Surveyor allows you to put a creature on top of the opponent’s library instead of just building your board, granting a different kind of tempo advantage.

Comparably, Coral Commando is a straightforward card, although it’s less impactful than Relentless Advance. It delivers a permanent 3/2 creature body for the same mana cost without any additional effects, showcasing the extra reach that Relentless Advance provides by amassing a Zombie token with additional power.

Additionally, we can consider Benthic Biomancer, which, for a lower mana cost, presents adaptability through its adapt ability, though it doesn’t directly offer the sizeable token advantage intrinsic to Relentless Advance. The strategic utility of Relentless Advance in amassing a sizable token highlights its distinct place in strategies centered on synergy and token proliferation.

Ultimately, the value of Relentless Advance in Magic: The Gathering is emphasized through its capacity to supplement both creature-centric and token-based strategies, making it a card with a unique tactical advantage in blue decks.

Cards similar to Relentless Advance by color, type and mana cost

Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions

Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Relentless Advance MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Relentless Advance and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Relentless Advance has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-05-03	Army is a new creature type. It’s possible to control a nontoken Army (perhaps a creature with the changeling ability) and, through combinations of other cards, it’s possible to control multiple Army tokens. When instructed to amass, you may put +1/+1 counters on any of your Army creatures, and you may choose a different one each time.
2019-05-03	If you don’t control an Army, the Zombie Army token that you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters.