Battle Cards in MTG: Rules, History, and Best Cards

Last updated on February 26, 2026

Invasion of Shandalar | Illustration by Adam Paquette

Atraxa, Grand Unifier loomed tall over Magic when it was first revealed. It has a pretty good effect, and what had everyone shocked was a small detail in its reminder text: the inclusion of “battle” among the other card types. We all thought battles would be revealed in All Will Be One, yet no battle card appeared until March of the Machine. Magic’s first new card type in what felt like ages!

If the introduction of planeswalker cards way back when taught us anything, it’s that the introduction of a new card type can lead to confusion about rules and mechanics. I’m here to try and clear out any doubts about battle cards.

How Do Battle Cards Work?

Invasion of Dominaria | Illustration by Denys Tsiperko

Battle cards are transforming dual-face cards that enter the battlefield with a number of defense counters. The front side of the card is a permanent that’s played horizontally (first and only card that enters sideways so far) and can only be played at non-instant speed like any other permanents.

So far, each battle has a specific subtype of battle called siege, so most of the rules we know specifically apply to those battles but may be different for future battle cards.

A specific condition of the siege subtype is that when you cast it, you have to choose an opponent to defend that battle. You (and any other opponents) can then choose to attack that battle. It’s important to note that even if an opponent is tasked with defending a battle, the person who cast it is still both its owner and controller. You technically attack your own permanent.

Once the defense counters on a battle are removed through damage, it transforms to its backside. Battles can transform into creatures, artifacts, enchantments, sorceries, and even planeswalkers and legendary creatures.

The History of Battle Cards in MTG

Battle cards were first teased in 2023’s Phyrexia: All Will Be One through Atraxa, Grand Unifier’s reminder text. This mirrored the way Tarmogoyf announced planeswalker cards in the same way.

Battle cards first appeared in March of the Machine, and Invasion of Zendikar was the first battle card to be spoiled. This is the only the first set to have the battle card type, and they might (and probably will) show up in upcoming sets.

Speaking of upcoming sets, MaRo has stated that battles will be deciduous instead of evergreen. This means that the battle card type won’t show up in all (or even most) sets, but it’s a tool that can be used by the game’s designers if it fits a set’s flavor or mechanics.

Do Battle Cards Go In Your Deck?

Yes, battle cards are like any other card type and go in your deck.

If you’re thinking of cards like dungeons, planes, and conspiracies, which can have their corresponding card type on them, these are all actual cards but aren’t considered card types because they serve as additional objects, much like dice, coins, and counters.

How Many Battle Subtypes Are There?

We only know of the siege subtype. These are the only battle subtype that appears in March of the Machine. Since siege battles force an opponent to protect them, we can safely bet there’ll be battles that task their own caster with defending them. Fans have obviously already started speculating on what other battle types could be. I like user Gentleman_Jaggi’s idea of defense battles have to be defended by their caster until they reach a certain condition, and war battles which have more universal effects and somehow end up throwing all players into the conflict.

Hopefully, we see more battles soon so we can have our doubts cleared.

How Do the Defense Counters on Battles Work?

Battles come into play with N defense counters on them which must be removed to defeat it. Once a battle is defeated, it’s exiled and comes back to the field transformed. Note that the counters on battles are defense counters, not loyalty, but since they work in a similar way to loyalty counters on planeswalkers, the confusion is understandable.

Can You Proliferate Defense Counters on Battles?

Yes, since battles are permanents with counters on them, can absolutely proliferate those counters if you want to. You obviously won’t want to proliferate your own battles since you want to remove them as quickly as possible, but you can always proliferate your opponents’ battles to drag them out as much as possible.

Can You Sacrifice Battles?

As long as you are that battle’s owner and controller (reminder: the chosen defender for a siege battle is not their controller), you could technically choose it for a sacrifice effect. Sacrificing a battle doesn’t cause it to transform.

Can You Destroy Battles?

Any effect that allows you to destroy a permanent can destroy a battle, since they’re also permanents that can be targeted.

Can You Damage Battles With Spells?

Battles are susceptible to any damage spells that allow you to deal damage to “any target” or “target permanent.”

Can a Battle Attack Itself If It’s Turned into a Creature?

No, if a battle somehow becomes a creature, it cannot attack or block. If that battle became an attacking creature in some way, it would be removed from combat.

What if the Battle is Defeated on an Opponent’s Turn?

It doesn’t matter if a battle is defeated during your own turn or an opponent’s. It’s still exiled and is cast transformed onto your battlefield. Which turn it is doesn’t affect the battle’s transformation.

What if a Battle is Copied?

A copy of a battle looks at the target permanent's state and becomes a new instance of it, so it would enter with a fresh round of defense counters.

Are Battle Cards Good?

Battles are good, especially if you get decent value out of the front card and see the transformed side as extra. In a similar way with planeswalkers, battles can draw out a game because attackers must choose between disrupting a powerful card or attacking a player's life total. In more multiplayer/EDH terms a super interesting political tool is to turn an opponent into a more desirable target, much like curses, and turn it into benefits for someone attacking a battle they don’t own.

At the end of the day, I think they’re good cards that aren't overpowered and can get even more interesting with time.

How Do Battles Work in Commander?

Battles operate the same in that you select a player to defend the battle that you control, and in a multiplayer game like Commander any player can attack that battle. This makes it easier to transform if you convince even one or two players to help attack the battle.

How Does All Will Be One Work with Battles?

Battles entering the battlefield trigger All Will Be One much like a planeswalker would. This card is very delicately worded, so it avoids battles from being able to damage themselves as they enter the battlefield. That would essentially allow them to transform immediately.

Gallery and List of Battle Cards

• Invasion of Alara / Awaken the Maelstrom
• Invasion of Amonkhet / Lazotep Convert
• Invasion of Arcavios / Invocation of the Founders
• Invasion of Azgol / Ashen Reaper
• Invasion of Belenon / Belenon War Anthem
• Invasion of Dominaria / Serra Faithkeeper
• Invasion of Eldraine / Prickle Faeries
• Invasion of Ergamon / Truga Cliffcharger
• Invasion of Fiora / Marchesa, Resolute Monarch
• Invasion of Gobakhan / Lightshield Array
• Invasion of Ikoria / Zilortha, Apex of Ikoria
• Invasion of Innistrad / Deluge of the Dead
• Invasion of Ixalan / Belligerent Regisaur
• Invasion of Kaladesh / Aetherwing, Golden-Scale Flagship
• Invasion of Kaldheim / Pyre of the World Tree
• Invasion of Kamigawa / Rooftop Saboteurs
• Invasion of Karsus / Refraction Elemental
• Invasion of Kylem / Valor's Reach Tag Team
• Invasion of Lorwyn / Winnowing Forces
• Invasion of Mercadia / Kyren Flamewright
• Invasion of Moag / Bloomwielder Dryads
• Invasion of Muraganda / Primordial Plasm
• Invasion of New Capenna / Holy Frazzle-Cannon
• Invasion of New Phyrexia / Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir
• Invasion of Pyrulea / Gargantuan Slabhorn
• Invasion of Ravnica / Guildpact Paragon
• Invasion of Regatha / Disciples of the Inferno
• Invasion of Segovia / Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia
• Invasion of Shandalar / Leyline Surge
• Invasion of Tarkir / Defiant Thundermaw
• Invasion of Theros / Ephara, Ever-Sheltering
• Invasion of Tolvada / The Broken Sky
• Invasion of Ulgrotha / Grandmother Ravi Sengir
• Invasion of Vryn / Overloaded Mage-Ring
• Invasion of Xerex / Vertex Paladin
• Invasion of Zendikar / Awakened Skyclave

Best Battle Cards

#5. Invasion of Zendikar / Awakened Skyclave

Invasion of Zendikar works because you would already pay to double Rampant Growth, then Awakened Skyclave is a decent size dork that scratches my itch for vigilant cards with a ability.

#4. Invasion of Fiora / Marchesa, Resolute Monarch

Invasion of Fiora is a potential one-sided board wipe that acts more like destroy one or two creatures or all tokens. Are there better black board wipes? Sure. Can you maximize it for your deck and each game's situation? Absolutely.

It really helps that the reward of Marchesa, Resolute Monarch has one of the rarest effects in all of Magic in being able to remove all counters from a permanent. (That includes lands, artifacts, and planeswalkers.)

#3. Invasion of Tarkir / Defiant Thundermaw

Invasion of Tarkir, and it couldn’t be any other way, is a great addition to any dragon tribal. The transformed side, Defiant Thundermaw, is possibly the best part of this card with an amazing attack trigger.

#2. Invasion of Ikoria / Zilortha, Apex of Ikoria

Green Sun's Zenith isn’t a massive staple for no reason. Invasion of Ikoria has the same effect for only a single extra green mana, with the added benefit of being able to transform into Zilortha, Apex of Ikoria, which can allow you to defeat your opponents way more quickly.

#1. Invasion of Shandalar / Leyline Surge

Invasion of Shandalar’s effect is a decent enough recursion spell, but if you manage to transform it (and keep Leyline Surge from being destroyed) you can cheat any one permanent in your hand onto the battlefield per turn, which can be absurdly good.

Wrap Up

Ephara, Ever-Sheltering | Illustration by Johan Grenier

I’m really happy with battles as a card type. I think they make for interesting interaction in multiplayer games, the design is interesting. I hope we see more of them soon both with new mechanics and as lore devices.

But enough about what I think. What’s your opinion on battles? Do you like them or do you think they’re unnecessary? What’s your favorite battle? Leave a comment letting me know. And while we’re here, go ahead and visit the Draftsim Discord to join an amazing community of Magic fans.

That’s enough for me. Have a good one, and get back to battling!