Alpha Status MTG Card


Alpha Status increases a creature’s strength based on shared creature types, enhancing board dominance. Instant effect of Alpha Status surprises opponents, altering game dynamics rapidly and decisively. Strategic removals like board wipes or counterspells effectively counteract Alpha Status’ power.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 for each other creature in play that shares a creature type with it.

The best leaders are made by their followers.


Cards like Alpha Status

Alpha Status carves a unique niche among MTG enchantment cards, enhancing a single creature’s power by capitalizing on the number of creatures that share a type with it. This characteristic echoes the tribal synergy found in cards like Coat of Arms. Unlike Coat of Arms, which broadens its effect to all creatures and encourages a wide board presence, Alpha Status focuses its strength on an individual, potentially turning it into a solitary powerhouse.

Comparing Alpha Status to another enchantment, Muraganda Petroglyphs, reveals a divergent approach to power augmentation. While Muraganda Petroglyphs offers a flat power bonus to all non-token creatures without abilities, Alpha Status scales depending on the tribal consistency of your board. Both have situational benefits, but Alpha Status’ potential for explosive growth with the right tribal deck is undeniable. Furthermore, Door of Destinies presents a parallel in tribal enhancement, although this artifact necessitates casting spells of the chosen type to accumulate +1/+1 counters, differing from the static buff provided by Alpha Status.

Ultimately, Alpha Status can be a game-changer in tribal-focused decks in MTG. Its specificity to creature types and the possibility for dramatic power spikes distinguishes it from other tribal support cards, particularly when leveraged in a well-constructed deck aimed at maximizing creature synergy.

Coat of Arms - MTG Card versions
Muraganda Petroglyphs - MTG Card versions
Door of Destinies - MTG Card versions
Coat of Arms - MTG Card versions
Muraganda Petroglyphs - MTG Card versions
Door of Destinies - MTG Card versions

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Wanderlust - MTG Card versions
Thelon's Chant - MTG Card versions
Maddening Wind - MTG Card versions
Cycle of Life - MTG Card versions
Dense Foliage - MTG Card versions
Hall of Gemstone - MTG Card versions
Fecundity - MTG Card versions
Familiar Ground - MTG Card versions
Momentum - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Mask - MTG Card versions
Broken Fall - MTG Card versions
Verdant Field - MTG Card versions
Lure - MTG Card versions
Food Chain - MTG Card versions
Howling Moon - MTG Card versions
The Dragon-Kami Reborn // Dragon-Kami's Egg - MTG Card versions
Squirrel Nest - MTG Card versions
Lifegift - MTG Card versions
Sasaya, Orochi Ascendant // Sasaya's Essence - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Alpha Status is a potent aura that can quickly turn any creature into a significant threat. By enhancing a single creature’s power and toughness based on the number of creatures that share a type with it, you’re setting the stage for overwhelming board presence. This incremental scaling can lead to a sort of natural card advantage, as the enchanted creature becomes a must-answer threat all on its own.

Resource Acceleration: While Alpha Status itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it effectively amplifies the value of your creatures on the battlefield. In tribal decks, where synergy is key, this enchantment maximizes the utility of each creature you control. This allows you to progress your board state and pressure effectively, which in many cases can be just as valuable as accelerating mana.

Instant Speed: Though Alpha Status is cast at sorcery speed, its impact on the game can be felt immediately, especially if the enchanted creature is already on the battlefield ready to attack. The instant jump in power and toughness can be a game-changing surprise that opponents might not have time to prepare for, even if they have instant-speed responses at their disposal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Alpha Status necessitates the sacrifice of a creature to activate its substantial enhancement effect. This demand can set a player back if they’re struggling to maintain a presence on the board and can’t afford to lose their creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: The card comes with a requirement for green mana specifically, which could limit deck-building options and is not always ideal for multicolor strategies that might struggle with color fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three green mana, Alpha Status can be a tough card to play early on. Other enchantments or buffs may provide similar benefits with a lower and more flexible mana investment, making them more practical for a variety of game situations.


Reasons to Include Alpha Status in Your Collection

Versatility: Alpha Status is a unique enchantment capable of turning nearly any creature into a significant threat. This adaptability makes it a suitable addition to decks capitalizing on creature strengths, particularly in Green-based strategies.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Alpha Status can exponentially increase a creature’s power, especially in decks that focus on creature types or tribal synergies, like Elves or Warriors, creating game-ending scenarios for the opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-centric decks can dominate, Alpha Status ensures relevance by empowering key creatures to go toe-to-toe with the most formidable creatures on the battlefield, thereby matching or surpassing the current competitive standards.


How to beat

When facing Alpha Status in a game, understanding its mechanics can lead to effective counterstrategies. This enchantment can seem formidable as it boosts a creature’s power and toughness for each other creature on the battlefield that shares a creature type with it. To dismantle this advantage, removal spells are your most powerful tool. Spell options that force your opponent to sacrifice a creature, like Diabolic Edict, or those that can exile an enchanted creature regardless of its size, such as Swords to Plowshares, can render the Alpha Status useless.

Board wipes also serve as excellent equalizers against an Alpha Status-inflated creature. By clearing the board with a card like Wrath of God or Damnation, you eliminate all creatures, thus stripping away the enchantment’s power. Moreover, if timed correctly, counterspells can prevent Alpha Status from ever hitting the field, neutralizing a potential threat before it materializes. Managing your resources and keeping the right answers at hand will lead to triumph against a deck wielding this potent aura.

As challenging as it may appear, with careful play and strategic use of removals, board wipes, and counterspells, the threat of Alpha Status can be mitigated, ensuring you remain firmly in control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Building a gaming repertoire with MTG can be as strategic as the games you play. Alpha Status stands out as a card that embodies the raw potential of creature-based strategies, particularly in tribal decks. This enchantment can escalate a creature’s capabilities to new heights, cementing it as a lynchpin in your deck’s offensive arsenal. Learning to wield cards like Alpha Status effectively can define the difference between a good player and a great one. Assemble a collection that champions your gameplay and embrace the tactics that herald victory. Dive into our insights to enhance your MTG prowess and forge an indomitable deck.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Alpha Status MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Salvat 2005, 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 Alpha Status and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Alpha Status Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Darrell Riche.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-05-26ScourgeSCG 1101997NormalBlackDarrell Riche
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL B382003NormalWhiteDarrell Riche

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Alpha Status has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 Alpha Status counts each creature once if that creature shares at least one creature type with the enchanted creature.