Unconventional Tactics MTG Card
2017-07-14 - Number 27
2020-08-13 - Number 43
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Key Takeaways
- Boosts offense by rewarding aggressive play and drawing cards during combat.
- Resurrects from the graveyard, offering Zombie decks a recurring advantage.
- Limited by white mana cost and steep for the effects provided.
Text of card
Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains flying until end of turn. Whenever a Zombie enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay . If you do, return Unconventional Tactics from your graveyard to your hand.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: By enabling you to potentially draw extra cards when creatures deal combat damage, Unconventional Tactics rewards offensive playstyles. This puts you ahead in resources, helping you to maintain pressure and versatility in your gameplay.
Resource Acceleration: Although it doesn’t produce mana or tokens directly, this card resurrects itself from the graveyard to your hand when you play a Zombie, effectively reducing the cost of using it again. This recursive nature can be considered a form of resource acceleration in Zombie-themed decks.
Instant Speed: While Unconventional Tactics is a sorcery, its ability to be reused from the graveyard gives you an instant-like advantage on your turn. You can plan your moves knowing that you have access to additional power and potentially card draws each time you deploy a Zombie, making every creature cast more threatening.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Unconventional Tactics is that it asks players to sacrifice another card. This cost can be a tough pill to swallow, especially when your hand is already running on empty.
Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a white mana cost, Unconventional Tactics may not seamlessly fit into every deck. Players running multicolor decks may find it challenging to meet the mana requirements, thereby limiting the card’s utility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its potential to turn the tide of battle, Unconventional Tactics carries a mana cost that can be seen as steep for its effects. In a game where efficiency is key, there are alternatives that could achieve similar outcomes without the same investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Unconventional Tactics stands out for its flexibility, easily sliding into decks that take advantage of creature buffs or those with a zombie theme. The ability to repeatedly bolster your attacking force can be a significant advantage in multiple game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card packs a punch with its recursive nature, enabling players to exploit the synergy with zombie creatures. Every cast from the graveyard after a zombie enters the battlefield is like adding extra fuel to a powerful, ever-reviving engine. This makes it a prime candidate for combo-laden strategies that look to capitalize on such recurring effects.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive strategies shine, Unconventional Tactics offers the potential to outpace your opponents with unexpected swings in power. As the metagame evolves, this card can serve as a tactical ace, giving creature-based decks a much-needed edge to dominate the battlefield.
How to Beat Unconventional Tactics
Unconventional Tactics is a unique card that adds a twist to creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It boosts a creature with a notable power increase and also grants it flying until the end of the turn – a clear path above terrestrial blockers. Yet, this card’s true strength lies in its zombie-recursion ability, possibly giving you repeated value turn after turn.
Countering this tactic is a matter of disrupting the flow. Removal spells that exile, like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, can efficiently deal with the animated zombie threats, cutting short the loop. Hand disruption, including Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, can preemptively remove Unconventional Tactics from the game before it performs. Graveyard hate cards, such as Relic of Progenitus or Leyline of the Void, can also prevent the recurring aspect of the card, keeping your skies clear of flying zombies.
Being prepared is paramount. A good defense against Unconventional Tactics involves not only handling the threats it creates but also targeting the underlying mechanics that make it a danger. By combining creature elimination, hand disruption, and graveyard hate, you can ensure your opponent’s unconventional methods won’t lead to their victory.
Cards like Unconventional Tactics
Unconventional Tactics adds a twist to creature buff spells in Magic: The Gathering. It invites comparison with classics like Giant Growth, which provides an immediate and significant power boost to a creature. But Unconventional Tactics has the unique ability to return to your hand whenever you cast a Zombie creature spell, offering repeated value. Unlike Giant Growth, the Tactics card increases both power and toughness, giving a well-rounded enhancement.
Examining other similar cards, we find Elephant Guide granting a similar power increase and an added insurance in the form of a 3/3 green Elephant creature token upon the enchanted creature’s death. However, Elephant Guide lacks the recursion that Unconventional Tactics offers. Cartouche of Solidarity also shines in strength, bolstering a creature and providing a creature token with a different ability. Although it creates a one-time-only benefit, Cartouche is noteworthy for its additional ability to reward the creature with first strike.
Assessing Unconventional Tactics within the array of creature enhancement spells in Magic: The Gathering, it certainly carves out its niche. Its synergetic design especially bolsters Zombie-themed decks, giving it a standout edge in repeated utility and sustained board presence.
Cards similar to Unconventional Tactics by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Unconventional Tactics MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Unconventional Tactics and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Unconventional Tactics Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Jason Felix.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 27 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix | |
| 2 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 43 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Unconventional Tactics has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
