Outflank MTG Card


Outflank - Throne of Eldraine
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2019-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameThrone of Eldraine
Set codeELD
Number23
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byVictor Adame Minguez

Key Takeaways

  1. Instant-speed Outflank permits tactical plays, turning combat phases to your advantage.
  2. White mana requirement limits its use to certain deck compositions, affecting versatility.
  3. Outflank’s power scales with creature quantity, beneficial in swarm or token strategies.

Text of card

Outflank deals damage to target attacking or blocking creature equal to the number of creatures you control.

"With the drum of hooves and a flash of blades, the monster's terrifying roar changed to a cry of fear." —*Legend of the Gilded Knights*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Outflank shines in scenarios where the battlefield is crowded with creatures, giving players a decisive edge. By potentially removing a key threat, it can shift the balance and maintain supremacy in the tug-of-war for board dominance.

Resource Acceleration: Although Outflank does not directly accelerate resources, its low cost permits players to deploy other strategies alongside it. This efficient use of mana keeps the tempo in favor of the player who can make multiple impactful plays in a single turn.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Outflank at instant speed offers flexibility that can catch an opponent off-guard. Whether it’s during combat on their turn or yours, the instantaneous nature of this spell allows for strategic combat tricks that can tip a battle in your favor without sacrificing your own turn’s actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Outflank necessitates a player to have a number of attacking creatures equal to or greater than the number of creatures defending. This situation may not always be favorable, especially if you’re facing a more defensive opponent with fewer creatures on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Outflank requires white mana, making it exclusive to decks that can produce this color. This specificity could potentially limit its inclusion only to white or multi-colored decks that can accommodate white mana in their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its effect, Outflank’s mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other combat tricks in the game. Players may opt for more mana-efficient alternatives that provide a similar or even greater impact on the game without being as taxing on their mana resources.


Reasons to Include Outflank in Your Collection

Versatility: Outflank easily slides into white creature-based decks, capitalizing on its ability to deal damage equivalent to the number of creatures you control. This makes it an excellent choice for swarm strategies or token decks, where the number of creatures can quickly escalate.

Combo Potential: This card demonstrates impressive synergy with tactics that increase the number of creatures on the field. Pairing Outflank with cards that produce multiple tokens or with effects that double creature counts can turn it into a devastating removal spell for a minor mana investment.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-heavy decks are dominant, Outflank shows its true colors as a cost-effective combat trick. It’s particularly strong against single, high-value threats, allowing you to maintain board control without expending multiple resources.


How to beat

Outflank is a versatile combat trick that can tip the scales in combat scenarios within Magic: The Gathering. This white instant allows a player to deal damage to an attacking or blocking creature equal to the number of creatures they control. It shines in decks that flood the battlefield with creatures, turning a defensive stand into a removal opportunity.

To outmaneuver Outflank, it is crucial to maintain control of the battlefield. One strategy is to reduce the opponent’s creature count, weakening Outflank’s potential. Spell-based removal or board wipes can effectively diminish the opposing army, ensuring Outflank lacks the necessary numbers to be impactful. Additionally, pacing your own creature plays to avoid extensive losses during combat can also mitigate the card’s effectiveness.

Furthermore, dueling with decks that focus less on a wide creature strategy and more on quality over quantity, with fewer, stronger creatures, can also minimize the impact of Outflank. By limiting the targets and ensuring your essential creatures have high toughness, you can ensure that Outflank’s effect is less devastating. Through thoughtful play and strategic deck building, overcoming Outflank’s influence can be achieved.


Cards like Outflank

Outflank stands as a unique tactical spell among creature removal cards in MTG. In essence, it bears resemblances to other white spells designed to neutralize threats, such as the straightforward Sunlance, which also deals damage to target creature. Nevertheless, Outflank’s dependency on the number of attacking creatures you control differentiates it, offering potentially greater damage output in swarm strategies.

Considering other alternatives, Condemn is a worthy mention. As a one-mana white instant, it dispatches a threat by putting an attacking creature on the bottom of its owner’s library. Unlike Outflank, its effect is not influenced by the number of creatures you command, providing a reliable answer in one-on-one scenarios. Then, there’s the celebrated Swords to Plowshares, a staple in removal for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, instantly exiling any creature at the risk of giving your opponent life.

Outflank shines in games where the battlefield is teeming with your units, serving as a cost-efficient way to capitalize on your army’s size. Its place within white’s creature control arsenal remains secure for those seeking a devastating reveal during a full-on assault.

Sunlance - MTG Card versions
Condemn - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Sunlance - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Condemn - Dissension (DIS)
Swords to Plowshares - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Outflank by color, type and mana cost

Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Indestructible Aura - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Orim's Touch - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Piety Charm - MTG Card versions
Hallow - MTG Card versions
Death Ward - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Blaze of Glory - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Healing Salve - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Swords to Plowshares - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
Purelace - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Righteousness - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Indestructible Aura - Chronicles (CHR)
Glyph of Life - Legends (LEG)
Warning - Ice Age (ICE)
Heal - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Anoint - Tempest (TMP)
Rally the Troops - Portal Second Age (P02)
Enlightened Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Orim's Touch - Invasion (INV)
Pollen Remedy - Planeshift (PLS)
Sacred Rites - The List (PLST)
Pay No Heed - Torment (TOR)
Path to Exile - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Piety Charm - Onslaught (ONS)
Hallow - Darksteel (DST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Outflank MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine, 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 Outflank and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Outflank has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-10-04 Count the number of creatures you control as Outflank resolves to determine how much damage Outflank deals.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks