Gleam of Battle MTG Card


Gleam of Battle - Dragon's Maze
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Released2013-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameDragon's Maze
Set codeDGM
Number73
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRaymond Swanland

Key Takeaways

  1. Increases creatures’ power, indirectly pressuring opponents and forcing additional resource expenditure.
  2. Strong creatures without extra mana can lead to better allocation of resources elsewhere.
  3. Inherent passive boost mimics instant speed effects during combat, surprising opponents.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it.

Every soldier returns from battle changed: by hardship, by blood, by a glimpse of glory.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Gleam of Battle itself does not directly allow you to draw cards, it generates incremental advantage over time by enhancing your creatures. Each of your attacking creatures becomes more formidable, indirectly pressuring your opponent and often forcing them to commit more resources to handle the threats.

Resource Acceleration: Gleam of Battle doesn’t provide traditional mana acceleration. However, the constant growth of your creatures can lead to a snowballing battlefield presence, effectively giving you the resource advantage of having stronger creatures without further investment, which in turn can allow you to allocate mana elsewhere.

Instant Speed: Although Gleam of Battle is an enchantment that operates at sorcery speed, its ongoing effect can have instant speed implications. As your creatures automatically strengthen with each assault, this passive boost can surprise opponents during combat calculations, especially when multiple creatures are involved, mimicking the combat trickery often associated with instants.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In certain scenarios, holding onto Gleam of Battle can lead to a tricky decision regarding card economy. Although the card itself does not have an inherent discard cost, its place in your hand might force you to choose it as the discard during other gameplay moments, particularly when your hand is full, or specific effects demand a discard as a trade-off for their activation.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Gleam of Battle requires a precise mix of mana, including red and white. This cost can be restrictive for decks that are not optimized for a Boros (red-white) strategy, potentially leading to situations where the card remains a dormant asset in your hand, awaiting the appropriate mana to become available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s six mana investment can often be a deterrent. In the landscape of MTG, there are multiple alternatives that can provide similar or enhanced benefits at a lower mana cost. This high demand for resources could potentially slow your game progression, as you allocate mana for this enchantment that could otherwise be used for more immediate threats or defenses on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gleam of Battle is a multi-faceted Enchantment that can be easily slotted into decks focused on creature buffs and aggressive strategies. Its ability to bolster your creatures each time they attack ensures that your forces grow continuously, making it a persistent threat on the board.

Combo Potential: This card also shines when paired with strategies that leverage +1/+1 counters. With its potential to exponentially increase the power of creatures, it offers synergy with mechanics like Proliferate or cards that grant bonuses for creatures with counters, unlocking powerful combo opportunities.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by grindy games where board presence is key, Gleam of Battle can tip the scales in your favor by constantly enhancing your creatures’ strength, forcing opponents to deal with an ever-escalating threat that can snowball to victory.


How to beat

Gleam of Battle is a distinctive enchantment that players encounter in the vast world of MTG. It can swiftly turn the tides by empowering creatures each time they attack, making an opposing force formidable as the game progresses. It’s a card that rewards aggression, but like all strategies, it has its vulnerabilities.

To effectively counter Gleam of Battle, players need to prioritize removing the enchantment from the battlefield. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize are perfect tools for this task, as they can directly destroy Gleam of Battle, mitigating its power to bolster an opponent’s creatures. Another strategy involves controlling the board before the creatures get out of hand – board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the field, negating the incremental advantage Gleam of Battle provides. Lastly, countering the enchantment before it takes effect with spells like Counterspell or Negate ensures that the threat is dealt with before it ever becomes a concern.

Understanding the synergy of your deck and having answers to key threats like Gleam of Battle is essential in navigating the ever-changing landscape of MTG and emerging victorious in the heat of battle.


BurnMana Recommendations

Gleam of Battle stands as a testament to the strategy and depth that MTG offers. Those who wield this card understand the value of long-term gain over immediate gratification. It may not be the fastest route to victory, but it certainly is one that rewards patience and steady force. To harness the power of Gleam of Battle and cards alike, it’s crucial to recognize the balance between investment and payoff. For further insights into optimal deck building and strategic gameplay, delve into our resources. We provide the guidance to refine your tactics and sculpt a deck that echoes your ambition on the battlefield. Enhance your MTG arsenal with us and become a formidable opponent in every duel.


Cards like Gleam of Battle

Gleam of Battle is an intriguing enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering, quite comparable to cards like Warstorm Surge and Cathars’ Crusade which bolster creatures during combat. Where Gleam of Battle shines is in its consistent ability to put +1/+1 counters on creatures that attack, forever intensifying their threat level. Warstorm Surge, however, deals damage outright based on the creature’s power without the need for attacking, while Cathars’ Crusade provides a counter to each creature you control whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, not limited to combat scenarios.

On a related note, there’s also Path of Bravery, which blesses attacking creatures with a static power boost and provides life gain, offering an immediate impact compared to Gleam of Battle’s progressive increase in power and toughness. Although not contributing to permanent growth, Path of Bravery has the potential for a quicker advantage. Similarly, True Conviction grants double-strike and lifelink to your creatures, presenting a stark contrast to Gleam of Battle’s longer-term incremental growth strategy.

In evaluating their roles on the battlefield, Gleam of Battle requires a strategic approach to leverage its full potential, setting it apart in scenarios that favor protracted conflicts where its incremental advantage can become overwhelming.

Warstorm Surge - MTG Card versions
Cathars' Crusade - MTG Card versions
Path of Bravery - MTG Card versions
True Conviction - MTG Card versions
Warstorm Surge - MTG Card versions
Cathars' Crusade - MTG Card versions
Path of Bravery - MTG Card versions
True Conviction - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gleam of Battle MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Gleam of Battle and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gleam of Battle has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-04-15 If a creature enters the battlefield attacking, it won’t cause Gleam of Battle to trigger.
2013-04-15 The +1/+1 counter is put on the creature before blockers are declared and combat damage is dealt.

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