Frontline Medic MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Cleric
Abilities Battalion
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Frontline Medic enhances board presence, indirectly supporting card parity through creature protection in combat.
  2. Battalion ability grants instant indestructibility, enabling aggressive strategies and countering opponent’s instants.
  3. Though mana-specific, Medic’s tactical advantage justifies inclusion in aggro and midrange creature-focused decks.

Text of card

Battalion — Whenever Frontline Medic and at least two other creatures attack, creatures you control are indestructible this turn. Sacrifice Frontline Medic: Counter target spell with in its mana cost unless its controller pays .


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Frontline Medic is not a card advantage engine by itself, but it adds significant value to your board presence. By allowing you to potentially save numerous creatures in combat, it indirectly helps in maintaining card parity with your opponent by safeguarding your existing resources.

Resource Acceleration: While the Medic does not directly provide resource acceleration in the traditional sense, it does enable you to commit more creatures to the board without the fear of losing them in combat. This battle tactic lets you accelerate your board development and press your advantage without having to hold back creatures defensively.

Instant Speed: Frontline Medic’s battalion ability activates at instant speed, which is critical in the heat of battle. At the moment combat is declared, the ability to grant your participating creatures indestructible status can turn a well-planned attack by your opponent into a favorable outcome for you. Additionally, its ability to counter X-spells, which includes a multitude of instant speed spells, adds another layer of interaction during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the heat of battle, the Frontline Medic demands a battalion to activate its ability to grant indestructible, making you commit multiple resources to the field, which can lead to a disadvantageous position if swept away.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a precise combination of mana, the Frontline Medic can strain your mana base, especially if you’re operating a multi-colored deck, limiting its flexibility and potentially disrupting your curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two white, it stands on contested ground. There are alternative creatures and spells that could demand less of your mana pool and offer immediate value upon hitting the field.


Reasons to Include Frontline Medic in Your Collection

Versatility: Frontline Medic has a place in a variety of decks that emphasize creature-based strategies. Its ability to grant indestructible to your attacking creatures makes it a strong addition to aggro and midrange decks alike.

Combo Potential: The battalion mechanic of this card synergizes well with strategies that look to amass a powerful board presence quickly. Its sacrifice ability can disrupt opponents’ plans by countering key instant spells that they rely on.

Meta-Relevance: In metas dominated by combat and spell-slinging, Frontline Medic shines by providing tactical advantages during battles and protecting your other creatures from board wipes. Additionally, if the environment is heavy with counter magic, its ability to nullify those for key turns can be crucial.


How to beat

The Frontline Medic card boasts a unique battleground tactic in Magic: The Gathering, particularly with its ability to make your attacking creatures indestructible. That potent defensive edge, however, can be mitigated. Tactics for overcoming this card revolve around controlling the field before those creatures declare an attack. Utilize removal spells that can bypass indestructibility, such as exile effects or those causing sacrifice, to effectively handle the Medic before the combat phase is initiated.

Keep an eye on spells like Path to Exile or board wipes that don’t destroy, but instead change zones, like Settle the Wreckage. Cards with the mechanic that forces a player to sacrifice an attacking creature can also be quite effective. This includes options like Liliana’s Triumph or Crackling Doom. Beyond direct removal, disrupting your opponent’s strategy to prevent them from achieving battalion—thus activating the Medic’s ability—is key. Counterspells or spot removal used at the right time can ensure that the Medic never gets to assert its influence over the battlefield.

In summary, while Frontline Medic can be a strong asset for your opponent, strategic use of removals and counters can keep the battlefield in your control, helping you maintain the upper hand in a game of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

The MTG landscape is vast, and Frontline Medic is a crucial card for those looking to build a resilient and aggressive strategy. Understanding the value it adds to your game, from making your creatures indestructible in combat to countering critical spells, is the first step. Now, imagine integrating it into your deck and facing opponents with newfound confidence. Expand your knowledge and harness the full potential of this card by exploring tactical insights, deck-building techniques, and more with us. Your journey towards becoming a formidable player in the MTG community awaits. Dive deeper to master your gameplay—discover Frontline Medic’s synergies and counterplays today.


Cards like Frontline Medic

The Frontline Medic is a staple for any deck looking to safeguard its battalion from key spells during combat. With an ability similar to that of the renowned Selfless Spirit, Frontline Medic provides indestructibility to your creatures but focuses on the combat phase and requires a battalion condition. Selfless Spirit offers a broader form of protection with its one-time sacrifice mechanic, applicable at any time, making it a versatile choice for defense.

Another comparable card is Dauntless Escort, which provides a similar protective ability through sacrificing itself to grant your creatures indestructibility. The distinction lies in the Escort’s ability to be used at any given time, at the cost of itself, rather than being contingent on declaring attackers as is the case with Frontline Medic. Additionally, consider Unbreakable Formation, a recent addition that not only shields your army but fortifies them with a +1/+1 counter when cast during your main phase.

In essence, while each card provides invaluable protective capabilities to a player’s creatures, Frontline Medic distinguishes itself by enhancing your strategy during combat while encouraging a more aggressive playstyle typical in battalion-focused decks within Magic: The Gathering.

Selfless Spirit - MTG Card versions
Dauntless Escort - MTG Card versions
Unbreakable Formation - MTG Card versions
Selfless Spirit - MTG Card versions
Dauntless Escort - MTG Card versions
Unbreakable Formation - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Frontline Medic MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Commander 2020, 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 Frontline Medic and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Frontline Medic Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 122003NormalBlackWillian Murai
22020-04-17Commander 2020C20 892015NormalBlackWillian Murai
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 6932015NormalBlackWillian Murai
42023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 1692015NormalBlackFrancesca Resta

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Frontline Medic has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Frontline Medic 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 Once a battalion ability has triggered, it doesn't matter how many creatures are still attacking when that ability resolves.
2013-04-15 The effects of battalion abilities vary from card to card. Read each card carefully.
2013-04-15 The three attacking creatures don't have to be attacking the same player or planeswalker.
2013-07-01 Creatures that come under your control after Frontline Medic's battalion ability resolves will not be granted indestructible by this effect.

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