Collective Effort MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Escalate

Key Takeaways

  1. Collective Effort offers versatile removal options, letting players address multiple threats in a single card slot.
  2. The escalate mechanic provides strategic depth, enabling players to tailor card effects to the current board state.
  3. This card is a boon in multiplayer formats, synergizing well with decks that focus on creature presence and support.

Text of card

Escalate— Tap an untapped creature you control. (Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.) Choose one or more — • Destroy target creature with power 4 or greater. • Destroy target enchantment. • Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature target player controls.


The Benefits of Collective Effort

Card Advantage: With Collective Effort, you have the potential to garner triple the card advantage. This happens when you escalate your efforts and activate all three modes – destroy an opponent’s creature with power 4 or greater, destroy an artifact or enchantment, and put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control. This card’s functionality gives you a strategic edge, allowing you to maintain or exceed in card advantage over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This card taps an untapped creature you control when escalating, thereby not hindering your mana resources that can be used elsewhere. Such utility can aid in accelerating your position and move you forward in the game. This approach of resource management proves beneficial in both offensive and defensive game states.

Instant Speed: Although Collective Effort is a sorcery speed card, the integrated advantages compensates for it. Balanced and paced, it allows you to strategically plan your moves and brings flexibility in the gameplay. The optimal use of this card guides your game towards victory, even if you cannot respond instantaneously.


The Downsides of Collective Effort

Discard Requirement: In MTG, Collective Effort may require you to tap an untapped creature you control, depending on which modes you choose. This can result in one less creature available for combat or other abilities, placing you in a less favourable position if your resources are limited.

Specific Mana Cost: Collective Effort’s cost includes a specific color (White) in its casting requirement. This may limit its versatility, as inclusion in your deck would mean a considerable commitment towards white mana sources, potentially obstructing your deck’s color balance.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Three mana for the collective outcome rendered by Collective Effort, may seem a tad bit high. Several other cards within the MTG universe can offer similar results at a potentially lesser resource expenditure.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Collective Effort brings flexibility to any deck, adapting to multiple strategies with its three modes of action. By allowing you to choose between creature enhancement, enchantment removal or tapping power, it caters to different scenarios and enables better control of the game.

Combo Potential: The card’s use escalates as more creatures are present on your side of the field. This ability of Collective Effort to scale up makes it a strong synergistic piece in decks that favor creature accumulation, such as token strategies or white ‘weenie’ decks.

Meta-Relevance: Given the current game scenario where enchantments have a prominent role, and big threats are part of most deck archetypes, Collective Effort stands as a relevant addition. Its ability to handle large enemy creatures and enchantments while also having the power to pump up one of your creatures’ strength, helps in controlling the battlefield effectively.


Similar Cards

Collective Effort has a distinct place within the sphere of Magic: The Gathering, owing to its triumvirate of effects. Comparable spells such as Blessed Alliance bring versatility but fall short of the complete package presented by Collective Effort. The Escalate keyword sets it apart, offering simultaneous execution of all effects for a cost of merely discarding a card.

Then, consider Spectra Ward, which offers a robust protection mechanism like Collective Effort, but with a high-cost ceiling. If you are seeking a cost-effective alternative with a simultaneous ability utilization, Collective Effort emerges as a strong choice.

On the other hand, spells like Fiend Hunter may seem attractive for their exiling effect but miss out on the added advantage of pumping up creatures or destroying enchantments. Hence, its trio of powers coupled with its versatility, places Collective Effort in a unique place within MTG’s spell landscape.

Overall, while assessing Collective Effort against its similar spell types in MTG, this card stands out for its flexibility, enabling players to adapt and maneuver according to game progress and opponents’ deck strategies.


How to Beat Collective Effort

If you’re a Magic: The Gathering player, you might come across Collective Effort, a popular MTG card in White decks. This card has the potential of becoming a game-changer. With its unique abilities to either boost your own creatures, destroy an opponent’s creature with high power, or eradicate a dreaded enchantment, it’s a versatile component in any game.

To counter Collective Effort’s strength, we suggest strategies that make the most of spell speed and presence of removal cards in your deck. Since Collective Effort is a sorcery, it can only be cast during your main phase. So, capitalize on this by keeping instant speed removal or counter spells in your deck to respond to its activation.

Moreover, cards like Negate or Cancel that can nullify sorcery spells could be useful in overcoming the Collective Effort’s threat. Likewise, having creature cards with the hexproof or indestructible traits in your arsenal could also prove potent against the card’s destructive abilities.

In conclusion, thwarting the Collective Effort card in MTG necessitates strategic use of spell speed, removal or counter spells, and resilient creatures. This formula can help turn Collective Effort’s advantage into your own.


Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the intricacies of Magic the Gathering embodies both skill and community contribution. The journey within the MTG realm is an exciting fusion of individual prowess and the collective wisdom of players worldwide. As you forge ahead, refining your decks and strategies, remember that collective effort is key to unlocking new heights of gameplay. We encourage you to deepen your engagement with the MTG community, share insights, and continue learning. With every card played and every match won, you’re not just earning victories; you’re building a legacy. Dive further into the vast universe of MTG with us, and let’s reach those summits together.


Cards like Collective Effort

Collective Effort has a distinct place within the sphere of Magic: The Gathering, owing to its triumvirate of effects. Comparable spells such as Blessed Alliance bring versatility but fall short of the complete package presented by Collective Effort. The Escalate keyword sets it apart, offering simultaneous execution of all effects for a cost of merely discarding a card.

Then, consider Spectra Ward, which offers a robust protection mechanism like Collective Effort, but with a high-cost ceiling. If you are seeking a cost-effective alternative with a simultaneous ability utilization, Collective Effort emerges as a strong choice.

On the other hand, spells like Fiend Hunter may seem attractive for their exiling effect but miss out on the added advantage of pumping up creatures or destroying enchantments. Hence, its trio of powers coupled with its versatility, places Collective Effort in a unique place within MTG’s spell landscape.

Overall, while assessing Collective Effort against its similar spell types in MTG, this card stands out for its flexibility, enabling players to adapt and maneuver according to game progress and opponents’ deck strategies.

Blessed Alliance - MTG Card versions
Spectra Ward - MTG Card versions
Fiend Hunter - MTG Card versions
Blessed Alliance - MTG Card versions
Spectra Ward - MTG Card versions
Fiend Hunter - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Collective Effort by color, type and mana cost

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Excommunicate - MTG Card versions
Tivadar's Crusade - MTG Card versions
Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Dust to Dust - MTG Card versions
Blinding Light - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Charge - MTG Card versions
Valorous Charge - MTG Card versions
Bargain - MTG Card versions
Angelic Blessing - MTG Card versions
Virtuous Charge - MTG Card versions
Riding Red Hare - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Meditation - MTG Card versions
Search for Glory - MTG Card versions
Hive Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Reconstruction - MTG Card versions
Council's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Command - MTG Card versions
Proclamation of Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Marshaling Cry - MTG Card versions
Solemn Offering - MTG Card versions
Excommunicate - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Collective Effort MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Eldritch Moon 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 Collective Effort and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Collective Effort Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 172015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
22016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 17s2015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
32022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 1832015NormalBlackGames Workshop
42022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 183★2015NormalBlackGames Workshop
52023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 612015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
62023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 192015NormalBlackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Collective Effort 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 Collective Effort card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-07-13 Additional costs don't affect a spell's mana value.
2016-07-13 Effects that reduce the cost of spells reduce the total cost, including any escalate costs added.
2016-07-13 If an effect allows you to cast a spell that has escalate without paying its mana cost, you pay escalate costs for that spell if you choose more than one mode.
2016-07-13 If one target of an escalate spell becomes illegal, the other targets will still be affected. If all of the targets become illegal, the spell won't resolve.
2016-07-13 If two of the chosen modes of an escalate spell target a creature, you may choose the same creature for each mode's target, or choose different creatures. The same is true if the chosen modes target a player (or opponent).
2016-07-13 If you choose the first and third modes, and destroying the creature ends an “exile until” effect (such as that of Lunarch Inquisitors), the creature will return to the battlefield before you put +1/+1 counters on creatures. The same is true if you choose the second and third modes and destroying the enchantment ends such an effect.
2016-07-13 You can tap any untapped creature you control to pay the escalate cost, including one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of the turn.
2016-07-13 You can't choose any one mode multiple times.
2016-07-13 You choose all of your modes at once. You can't wait to perform one mode's actions and then decide to choose more modes.

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