High Alert MTG Card


High Alert lets defenders attack, greatly expanding your board presence and offensive capabilities during the game. With its untap ability, High Alert can activate creatures twice in one turn, bolstering both defense and offence. Ability to utilize the untap effect at instant speed offers strategic depth and surprise elements to disrupt opponents.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Each creature you control assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power. Creatures you control can attack as though they didn't have defender. : Untap target creature.


Cards like High Alert

High Alert is a unique inclusion in Magic: The Gathering’s assortment of defensive strategies, standing out in its ability to leverage the defense scores of creatures. While most cards prioritize attack power, High Alert turns the tables, allowing creatures to attack with their toughness rather than their strength, a rare attribute notably shared by cards like Assault Formation. However, High Alert diverges with the added capability to untap a creature, an action that Assault Formation requires mana to perform.

Meandering Towershell is yet another card that bends the conventional offensive approach. It’s not directly comparable but reflects MTG’s design philosophy of innovating creature combat roles. Wall of Denial, as well, sits in a similar category; it’s a stalwart defender that benefits from High Alert’s mechanics by suddenly becoming a formidable attacker.

In summary, High Alert’s singularity within the realm of combat cards in Magic: The Gathering is unquestioned. It offers a significant twist on the traditional combat roles of creatures and can create unexpected turns in gameplay dynamics, providing a distinct advantage for players focused on defensive strategies.

Assault Formation - MTG Card versions
Meandering Towershell - MTG Card versions
Wall of Denial - MTG Card versions
Assault Formation - MTG Card versions
Meandering Towershell - MTG Card versions
Wall of Denial - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The High Alert card is particularly powerful in that it allows defenders to attack as though they didn’t have defender. It unlocks new potential for cards that were previously restricted to a passive defensive role, essentially extending your arsenal and giving you more active pieces on the board with which to pressure your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: High alert also includes an untap ability. This resource acceleration mechanism offers the strategic advantage of being able to untap a potentially powerful defender, enabling it to be used both offensively and defensively within the same turn cycle.

Instant Speed: While High Alert itself is not an instant, it allows you to capitalize on the untap ability at instant speed. This could be strategically pivotal, offering the chance to surprise an adversary by untapping a creature without warning, potentially disrupting their plans and swinging the momentum of the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While High Alert doesn’t require discarding as a cost, its activation is dependent on a specific mana allocation which could potentially leave you short on options to respond to your opponent’s plays.

Specific Mana Cost: High Alert demands a precise mana setup, one white, one blue, and one other, to cast. This can be restrictive as it necessitates a dual-color deck and can be challenging to manage if your mana sources are not adequately diversified.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana including two specific colors, High Alert may strain your mana resources, especially in the early game. This can delay your development compared to other cards that could be played sooner or provide immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include High Alert in Your Collection

Versatility: High Alert adds value to different deck archetypes with its ability to let defenders attack as though they didn’t have defender. Whether in a defender-focused deck or one that appreciates flexible combat strategies, this card offers a variety of strategic options.

Combo Potential: This card excels in synergy with high-toughness creatures, allowing for unexpected combat scenarios. It can turn an unassuming wall into a formidable attacker, catching opponents off guard and enabling high-damage combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating dynamics of the game, having a card like High Alert that can activate a legion of defensive creatures for an offensive onslaught makes it a tactically shrewd addition. In metas where toughness is key, High Alert can certainly shine.


How to beat High Alert

In the Magic: The Gathering arena, High Alert is a unique enchantment that alters the usual combat dynamics by allowing creatures to deal damage with their toughness instead of their power. This can turn seemingly passive decks into formidable battleground contenders overnight. Overcoming a deck that utilizes High Alert requires both a keen understanding of its mechanics and a strategic approach.

One successful method is to shift the focus from offensive moves to disruption. Cards like enchantment removal or countermagic can effectively neutralize High Alert before it transforms the battlefield. Consider running spells such as Naturalize or Negate, which can dismantle the enchantment or prevent it from hitting the field altogether. Another tactic would be to use board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation that can clear the board of creatures regardless of their newfound toughness-as-damage strength.

A strategic player must also evaluate their own deck’s construction, specifically aiming to include versatile responses to varied threats. Ultimately, gaining the upper hand against a High Alert deck demands both preparedness and adaptability, ensuring one’s own strategy is not caught off guard by this card’s game-altering effect.


BurnMana Recommendations

Utilizing High Alert to its fullest potential can significantly impact your MTG gameplay, weaving a web of strategic depth that thrives off versatility and surprise. As you sculpt your deck, consider the synergy between High Alert and creatures with high endurance, piecing together a strategy that capitalizes on both offensive might and defensive solidity. Don’t let the potential mana constraints deter you; instead, see them as a puzzle to solve within your deck construction. Dive deeper with us, as we explore the many facets of deck building, optimal plays, and card interactions that could turn your next MTG session into a showcase of tactical genius. Expand your knowledge and elevate your gameplay with BurnMana.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase High Alert MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and The List, 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 High Alert and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The High Alert Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2019-01-25. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 1822015NormalBlackDaarken
22020-09-26The ListPLST RNA-1822015NormalBlackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where High Alert 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 High Alert card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-01-25 High Alert’s first ability doesn’t actually change any creature’s power. It changes only the amount of combat damage it assigns. All other rules and effects that check power or toughness use the real values. For example, Titanic Brawl won’t cause a creature to fight with its toughness under High Alert.