Armament Corps MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 165
2019-11-07 - Number 1389
2020-09-26 - Number KTK-165
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Boosts existing creatures, providing card advantage without extra spell casting.
- Encourages board presence growth and pressure application for strategic dominance.
- Supports instant-speed spells and interactions with immediate-impact abilities.
Text of card
When Armament Corps enters the battlefield, distribute two +1/+1 counters among one or two target creatures you control.
The Abzan avoid extended supply lines by incorporating weapons stores into their battle formations.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Armament Corps rewards you with options when entering the battlefield by allowing you to distribute two +1/+1 counters among creatures you control. This utility leads to potential card advantage by making your existing creatures more formidable without having to cast additional spells.
Resource Acceleration: While Armament Corps doesn’t directly produce mana or Treasure tokens, having creatures with increased power and toughness can equate to accelerated board presence, enabling you to apply more pressure and possibly overtake opponents more quickly.
Instant Speed: Though the Armament Corps itself is not an instant, it strategically complements instant-speed interactions. Bolstering your creatures as they arrive gives you immediate benefits that can positively impact combats or other spells cast at instant speed on your turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Armament Corps can be a setback when it hits the battlefield requiring a card discard, which could be punishing if your hand is already depleted or if the discarded card is crucial for your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: It demands a precise combination of mana colors to be played. This might render the card a bit inflexible, restricting its inclusion to only certain multicolor decks which can consistently provide the necessary mana types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost leaning on the higher side, Armament Corps competes with other cards in the same cost bracket that might offer more immediate impact or greater value, potentially relegating it to a lower priority during deck construction.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Armament Corps offers a dynamic playstyle, fitting smoothly into decks focused on +1/+1 counters or those utilizing a variety of creature types. Due to its flexible color identity, it is a multifaceted inclusion in multicolored decks seeking to bolster their board presence.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with mechanics such as proliferate or support cards that reward you for having creatures with counters. The ability to distribute counters as soon as it enters the battlefield opens doors to synergize with numerous strategies, intensifying both its immediate and long-term impact on the game.
Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of the meta, Armament Corps maintains relevance in environments where creature-based strategies prevail. It acts as an advantageous piece in matchups that hinge on establishing formidable creatures to outclass opponents’ defenses. Its presence in your collection means you’re well-equipped to adapt to such meta shifts.
How to beat
Armament Corps enters the battlefield as a powerhouse, immediately impacting the game with its ability to distribute +1/+1 counters. This creature card is a force to be reckoned with, not just for its potential in combat but also for its versatile ability to bolster other creatures on your battlefield.
To effectively counter Armament Corps, it’s crucial to hinder its ability to manipulate the battlefield in your opponent’s favor. Removal spells that can target it before the counters are placed, such as Path to Exile or Murderous Rider, can be key. Additionally, casting spells or abilities that negate its effects or neutralize its advantages, like Essence Scatter to counter it or Frogify to render its abilities moot, can turn the tides in your favor. Consider employing counter strategies early to ensure Armament Corps doesn’t establish dominance.
Understanding the importance of timing and choosing the right removal or counter ability can make all the difference. By being proactive and keeping removal options at the ready, Armament Corps’ influence can be mitigated, allowing you to maintain control of the game and ultimately leading you to victory.
Cards like Armament Corps
Armament Corps stands as a unique multicolor creature within Magic the Gathering’s vast array of cards. Echoing the tactful deployment of creatures like Siege Rhino, Armament Corps offers an immediate impact on the board by distributing +1/+1 counters upon entering the battlefield. While Siege Rhino also provides a life-draining ability, Armament Corps focuses solely on flexibly boosting your creatures’ strength and resilience.
Another similar card worth mentioning is Juniper Order Ranger. Although lacking the direct +1/+1 counter distribution of Armament Corps, this card steadily generates counters whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, promising long-term value. However, it doesn’t have the initial splash of Armament Corps’s immediate bolster ability. On the flip side, we have cards like Abzan Falconer, which grants all creatures with +1/+1 counters flying, synergizing well with Armament Corps by enhancing its overall board presence immediately.
The strategic use of Armament Corps in your MTG deck can decisively shape the battlefield in your favor. Despite different roles, these creatures all share an underlying theme of leveraging +1/+1 counters, a testament to the robust and versatile nature of Magic the Gathering creatures in this category.
Cards similar to Armament Corps by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Armament Corps MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir 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 Armament Corps 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 Armament Corps Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Steven Belledin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 165 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1389 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | KTK-165 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Armament Corps has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Armament Corps card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | The enters-the-battlefield ability can target Armament Corps itself. |
| 2014-09-20 | You choose how the counters will be distributed as you put the ability on the stack. Notably, if you choose to put one +1/+1 counter on each of two target creatures, and one of those creatures becomes an illegal target in response, the +1/+1 counter that would’ve gone on that creature is lost. It can’t be put on the remaining legal target. |
