Improvised Armor MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 40
2023-01-13 - Number 10
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Cycling,Enchant |
Key Takeaways
- Improvised Armor maximizes artifact utility, enabling creatures to be fortified without using additional cards.
- Affinity for artifacts reduces cost, allowing faster deployment of creatures or defenses for strategic play.
- Though not instant, it pairs well with instant-speed artifacts, offering flexible defensive opportunities in artifact-rich decks.
Text of card
Enchanted creature gets +2/+5. Cycling o3 (o3, Discard this card from your hand: Draw a card.)
"I trust what I make for myself. Do you trust more what is made for you by another?"
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Improvised Armor can offer an increase in card utility by equipping a creature without consuming a card from your hand immediately. When played strategically, it can turn leftover artifacts into valuable protective gear, potentially giving you an edge over opponents by maximizing the resources at your disposal.
Resource Acceleration: Thanks to its affinity for artifacts, Improvised Armor can reduce its casting cost. This means it provides a form of resource acceleration, enabling you to deploy threats or defenses more quickly than usual. It effectively turns any artifacts into cost-reducers, allowing for more efficient use of your mana each turn.
Instant Speed: Although Improvised Armor itself is an aura enchantment and doesn’t have instant speed, its synergy with instant-speed artifacts can be a substantial pro. It can be dropped onto the battlefield opportunistically, making it a flexible addition to any deck that’s heavy on artifacts and looking for ways to shield its creatures at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The unique mechanic of Improvised Armor necessitates discarding a card, which could be a setback when your hand is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Improvised Armor’s casting cost demands a precise blend of mana types, potentially restricting its integration into a wide array of decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its mana value, some players might find Improvised Armor less attractive considering the plethora of alternative equipment cards available that provide similar or better benefits for a lower investment.
Reasons to Include Improvised Armor in Your Collection
Versatility: Improvised Armor can be a flexible addition to decks that aim to fortify creatures. It’s particularly useful in defending against removals while bolstering your battlefield position.
Combo Potential: As an aura with significant toughness boost, Improvised Armor can work with cards that benefit from enchantments, or in synergistic strategies that utilize high toughness creatures.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where combat interaction is key, slotting Improvised Armor into your deck could provide a decisive edge by strengthening your creatures against common threats.
How to Beat
Overcoming Improvised Armor in MTG hinges on understanding its role in bolstering creature durability. This card shines in decks that are heavy on artifact synergy, making the equipped creature tougher to dispatch. Working around it requires a multi-faceted approach. One could employ enchantment destruction spells or bounce effects that specifically target Improvised Armor or the equipped creature. Cards such as Disenchant or Revoke Existence allow you to directly address the armor.
Another effective strategy is to sidestep the creature’s enhanced defenses with removal spells that don’t target, like board wipes. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can sweep the board clean, armor and all, without the need to engage the problematic creature head-on. Alternatively, exile effects like Path to Exile bypass the armor’s protection entirely. In any case, keying into your deck’s innate strengths and maintaining versatility in your answers will keep Improvised Armor from becoming an insurmountable obstacle on the battlefield.
Adaptation and a well-rounded arsenal are your best assets when facing off against the resilience added by Improvised Armor. By exploiting its vulnerabilities and capturing the tempo, you can dismantle the defenses it establishes. This keeps your path to victory clear, even in the face of armored opposition.
Cards like Improvised Armor
Improvised Armor is a unique piece within the array of enchantments available in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It shares the basic function of enhancing a creature with other auras such as Ethereal Armor or Knightly Valor. Yet, whereas Ethereal Armor bolsters a creature based on the number of enchantments you control and provides first strike, Improvised Armor offers a decent boosting of a creature’s toughness and provides a permanent cost reduction for equipped abilities.
Shield of the Realm is another enchantment that can be considered in relation to Improvised Armor. Both cards aim at fortifying a player’s creatures on the battlefield; however, Shield of the Realm reduces damage done to the creature it’s equipped to, rather than increasing its stats. On the practical side, Improvised Armor’s bonus of reducing equipment costs can lead to impactful long-term advantages, especially in decks that heavily utilize equipment artifacts. Conversely, Sentinel’s Eyes is a low-cost aura that increases a creature’s vigilance and power, although it does not alter a creature’s toughness as significantly as Improvised Armor does.
Every card has its advantages dependent on the situation and deck synergy. Improvised Armor stands out in strategies that prioritize permanent enhancements and reducing costs for equipping creatures, setting a flexible foundation for a myriad of deck-building strategies in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Improvised Armor by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Improvised Armor MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Dominaria 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 Improvised Armor 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 Magic products
Printings
The Improvised Armor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 40 | 1997 | normal | black | Alan Pollack | |
| 2 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 10 | 2015 | normal | black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Improvised Armor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
