Unbreakable Formation MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 12 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Addendum

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts card efficiency through indestructibility and potential +1/+1 counters.
  2. Saves creatures from removal, conserving mana for strategic plays.
  3. Instant speed provides versatility and surprise element in battles.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn. Addendum — If you cast this spell during your main phase, put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures and they gain vigilance until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Unbreakable Formation provides a unique edge when it comes to card efficiency. By granting indestructible to your creatures not only for a turn but also potentially bolstering your board presence with a +1/+1 counter, it maintains and can increase your card advantage without the need for extra draws.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct source of mana, Unbreakable Formation can be seen as a resource accelerator by saving your creatures from effects that would otherwise necessitate re-building your board, thereby conserving mana and turns that can be allocated to further develop your game state.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Unbreakable Formation offers strategic flexibility. It allows you to adapt to the flow of the game, protect your legion at a critical moment, or end-step fortify your forces, all while leaving opponents guessing your next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Unbreakable Formation itself does not require a discard, preparing for its casting might force a player to keep a specific card type in hand, which could lead to a less optimal use of resources during earlier turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Unbreakable Formation’s mana cost includes white mana, making it a selective choice for multi-colored decks that might struggle with mana consistency, therefore limiting its inclusion to mainly white or white-leaning strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana may be challenging in fast-paced games where maintaining a low curve is vital. Although its instant speed and effects are powerful, there may be scenarios where the mana investment delays other crucial plays, making it less desirable in aggressive decks that aim to deploy threats swiftly.


Reasons to Include Unbreakable Formation in Your Collection

Versatility: Unbreakable Formation offers a range of applications, from protecting your creatures during your opponent’s turn to empowering your offensive strategies during your own. Its adaptability makes it a valuable addition to any deck looking to safeguard its board presence.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or “indestructible” status. It complements strategies that involve creature-heavy tactics, especially when timed right to thwart an opponent’s mass removal spell.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by sweepers and spot removal, Unbreakable Formation shines as a defensive tool that can secure your win condition. It’s particularly effective in “go-wide” aggro decks that seek to maintain a formidable presence on the battlefield against control archetypes.


How to beat

Unbreakable Formation is a popular card among players who want to protect and bolster their creatures on the battlefield. At its core, it’s a versatile tool that can either safeguard a player’s army during their turn or be used defensively against an opponent’s attack. Beyond its immediate effect, this card can significantly alter the board state by making creatures indestructible and providing a lasting +1/+1 counter.

Countering this spell is essential, so cards with instant-speed counter abilities, like Negate or Dovin’s Veto, are valuable to have in your deck. Mass removal spells that don’t destroy, such as Settle the Wreckage or Terminus, can also bypass the indestructible condition. In addition, watch your opponent’s mana closely and prepare to respond if they have the requisite mana to cast Unbreakable Formation. Understanding and anticipating your opponent’s strategy, while having the right counterspell or board management card, is crucial to overcoming the challenge of Unbreakable Formation.

Ultimately, recognizing the right moment to strip your opponent of this strong defensive option can tip the game’s balance in your favor. Timing and strategic use of resources are your keys to success against this formidable spell.


BurnMana Recommendations

Building the ultimate MTG deck calls for not only powerful cards but also strategic insights. Unbreakable Formation stands out as a card that can tip the scales in favor of those who wield it masterfully. If you’re determined to assert dominance on the battlefield, undeterred by your opponents’ attempts at disruption, understanding the finer points of cards like Unbreakable Formation is essential. By diving into the many layers of this card’s potential, enhancing your creature’s resilience, and cleverly navigating through the cons, you can fortify your deck’s offense and defense. Elevate your game and expand your collection with wisdom—begin by exploring more about Unbreakable Formation and similar game-changing cards with us.


Cards like Unbreakable Formation

Unbreakable Formation is a standout card in Magic: The Gathering when it comes to defensive strategies. This card finds similarities with the likes of Make a Stand and Rootborn Defenses, which also offer creatures temporary invincibility. Make a Stand similarly gives your creatures +1/+0 and indestructible for a turn, yet lacks Unbreakable Formation’s flexibility of bolstering your board with +1/+1 counters during your main phase. Rootborn Defenses, on the other side, brings the Populate mechanic into play, allowing you to duplicate a token creature. While this could be more impactful in the right deck, it does not provide the counter bonus that could strengthen your forces with each cast.

Comparing further, we delve into Heroic Intervention, a card that provides not only indestructible but hexproof as well, offering superior protection. Nevertheless, its inability to permanently strengthen the team with counters makes it a less appealing option for aggressive decks. Finally, considering the card’s added advantage of being playable at instant speed, Unbreakable Formation offers incredible versatility, making it a unique and potent tool for both offensive and defensive strategies.

Through this lens, Unbreakable Formation secures a pivotal position in decks seeking to maintain a formidable presence on the battlefield while potentially overwhelming opponents with a surge of power during a crucial turn. It’s these traits that solidify its role in many strategies within the game.

Make a Stand - MTG Card versions
Rootborn Defenses - MTG Card versions
Heroic Intervention - MTG Card versions
Make a Stand - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
Rootborn Defenses - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Heroic Intervention - Aether Revolt (AER)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Unbreakable Formation MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Ravnica Allegiance Promos, 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 Unbreakable Formation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Unbreakable Formation Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 292015normalblackMatt Stewart
22019-01-25Ravnica Allegiance PromosPRNA 29s2015normalblackMatt Stewart
32019-01-25Ravnica Allegiance PromosPRNA 29p2015normalblackMatt Stewart
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 3102015normalborderlessTyler Walpole
52020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 3882015normalblackMatt Stewart
62021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 952015normalblackMatt Stewart
72022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7102015normalblackMatt Stewart
82022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 1062015normalblackMatt Stewart
92022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 781997normalblackMatt Stewart
102023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2132015normalblackMatt Stewart
112023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 1792015normalblackBen Wootten
122024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 322015normalblackMatt Stewart

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Unbreakable Formation has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-01-25 Addendum abilities of instant spells apply while the spell is resolving, not immediately after casting it. If the spell is countered, you don't get the addendum bonus. For example, if you cast Sphinx's Insight during your main phase, you gain 2 life during its resolution, after you draw two cards.
2019-01-25 If a spell with an addendum ability is copied, the copy won't give you the addendum bonus. This is because the copy wasn't cast at all.
2019-01-25 Unbreakable Formation affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won't gain indestructible or vigilance and they won't get a +1/+1 counter.

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