Tower Defense MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides a wider defense across all creatures, often resulting in advantageous battlefield preservation.
  2. Low mana cost enables simultaneous execution of multiple strategies, improving turn efficiency.
  3. Instant speed allows for surprise defenses, disrupting opponents’ strategies effectively.

Text of card

Creatures you control get +0/+5 and gain reach until end of turn.

"The drakes are practice. We may one day need to bring down a sky swallower, or maybe even Rakdos himself." —Korun Nar, Rubblebelt hunter


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tower Defense provides an exceptional boost to a player’s defensive capabilities by bolstering each of their creatures. Unlike a single targeted effect, this card impacts multiple creatures, ensuring you’re fortifying your entire battlefield, not just one asset. The strengthening of each blocker can lead to advantageous trades or deter opponents from attacking, inadvertently providing card advantage through the preservation of your creatures.

Resource Acceleration: One key feature of Tower Defense is its low mana cost for such a substantial effect on the field. This efficiency in cost enables players to deploy other strategies or spells in the same turn, leading to accelerated resource utilization and maximizing the potential of each turn.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Tower Defense at instant speed adds an element of surprise and strategic depth. With instant speed, you retain the flexibility to respond reactively to your opponent’s actions, making it a powerful tool for disrupting their tactics and potentially turning the tide of battle when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Tower Defense is that it necessitates discarding another card to activate its effects. This can diminish your hand and potentially leave you at a disadvantage, especially if you’re running low on cards and need to maintain a strategic hand size for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: With its specific green mana requirement, Tower Defense might be less versatile in decks that aren’t heavily green or that have a more challenging mana base. This can sometimes result in the card being stranded in your hand without the right sources of mana available, reducing its immediate utility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card does provide a solid defensive boost, its mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other options. Players might find it challenging to justify the mana investment in Tower Defense when there are other cards that could offer more immediate board presence or utility for the same, or lower, mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tower Defense offers a unique utility in a range of deck types due to its ability to provide an instant and significant boost to not just one but all creatures you control. From enhancing defenders in a wall-based deck to turning the tides in combat, its unexpected power surge can be a game-changer.

Combo Potential: With its cost-efficient +0/+5 and reach bonuses, this card can be a lynchpin in combos centered around toughness. Cards or abilities that trigger off high-toughness creatures can work in tandem with Tower Defense for surprising effects and can protect your army against flying threats suddenly.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies predominate, Tower Defense has the potential to provide a formidable defense against aggressive attacks. It can be especially relevant in a meta dominated by flying creatures, where granting reach can significantly alter the board state.


How to beat

Tower Defense is an intriguing instant card that bolsters a player’s creatures with a sudden burst of toughness and reach. This can transform an unassuming defensive line into an almost impregnable wall, thwarting your opponent’s assault with ease. Overcoming this strategic play requires clever foresight and particular countermeasures. One effective strategy is to employ removal spells that bypass the increased toughness, like those inflicting direct damage, as they can eliminate key creatures even in the midst of a Tower Defense boost.

Counterspells also serve as a powerful tool against Tower Defense by nipping the troublesome instant in the bud before it ever impacts the board. Alternatively, playing cards that restrict the opponent’s ability to cast instants can preemptively neutralize Tower Defense’s potential. Board wipes remaining the most conclusive answer – a well-timed Wrath of God or Damnation clears the field regardless of how high the creatures’ toughness may soar. Through a combination of preparedness and control, players can effectively disarm the protective magic Tower Defense offers.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG is exemplified by cards like Tower Defense, offering both an unexpected bulwark and the thrill of instant in-game reversals. As you assess your collection and ponder the meta intricacies, consider the symbiotic relationship between your defensive measures and overall deck synergy. Tower Defense isn’t just about protection; it’s understanding the flow of combat and bending it in your favor. Our platform is dedicated to enhancing your MTG expertise, from deck techs to metagame analysis. Dive deeper into strategies and card evaluations with us, and turn each match into a testament of your tactical prowess.


Cards like Tower Defense

The Tower Defense spell offers a unique strategic advantage in MTG, akin to fortifying your position on the battlefield. It’s not unlike other combat tricks used to bolster one’s creatures, such as Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive, which grants unblockability to creatures with power or toughness 1. However, Tower Defense doesn’t focus on offense; instead, it provides a solid defense, granting +0/+5 and reach to all creatures, which can be a game-changer during your opponent’s attack phase.

When looking at cards like Aerial Maneuver, we notice that it also amplifies defense by boosting a creature’s power and toughness and providing flying and first strike. However, its effect is limited to a single creature, as opposed to Tower Defense’s all-encompassing shield. Another similar spell is Spidersilk Armor, which offers a less powerful toughness boost but equips each creature you control with a permanent reach ability. This means it doesn’t offer the immediate and potentially overwhelming defensive wall that Tower Defense provides.

Ultimately, when evaluating Tower Defense against its counterparts, it stands out for its potential to turn a losing battle into a victorious defense, making it a noteworthy choice for players aiming to protect their creatures against aerial threats and overwhelming attacks.

Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive - MTG Card versions
Aerial Maneuver - MTG Card versions
Spidersilk Armor - MTG Card versions
Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)
Aerial Maneuver - Gatecrash (GTC)
Spidersilk Armor - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)

Cards similar to Tower Defense by color, type and mana cost

Tranquil Domain - MTG Card versions
Resuscitate - MTG Card versions
Heavy Fog - MTG Card versions
Aggressive Urge - MTG Card versions
Tangle - MTG Card versions
Krosan Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Seedtime - MTG Card versions
Nourish - MTG Card versions
Wear Away - MTG Card versions
Vital Surge - MTG Card versions
Predator's Strike - MTG Card versions
Might of the Nephilim - MTG Card versions
Resize - MTG Card versions
Squall Line - MTG Card versions
Regenerate - MTG Card versions
Strength of the Tajuru - MTG Card versions
Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Defiance - MTG Card versions
Tribute to the Wild - MTG Card versions
Plummet - MTG Card versions
Tranquil Domain - Mirage (MIR)
Resuscitate - Exodus (EXO)
Heavy Fog - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Aggressive Urge - Jumpstart (JMP)
Tangle - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Krosan Reclamation - Judgment (JUD)
Seedtime - Judgment (JUD)
Nourish - Darksteel (DST)
Wear Away - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Vital Surge - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Predator's Strike - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Might of the Nephilim - Dissension (DIS)
Resize - Coldsnap (CSP)
Squall Line - Time Spiral (TSP)
Regenerate - Magic 2010 (M10)
Strength of the Tajuru - Worldwake (WWK)
Naturalize - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Tel-Jilad Defiance - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Tribute to the Wild - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Plummet - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tower Defense MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Ravnica Allegiance, 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 Tower Defense and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tower Defense Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2019-01-25. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 1372003normalblackSeb McKinnon
22019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 1472015normalblackCraig J Spearing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tower Defense has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-01-24 Only creatures you control when Tower Defense resolves will get the bonuses. Creatures that come under your control later that turn will not.

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