Martial Coup MTG Card


Generates token armies and clears boards, providing significant card and board advantage. Demanding mana investment, ties heavily to white, may limit deck building flexibility. Combines board wipe strength with creature summoning for impactful battlefield control.
Card setsReleased in 12 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Put X 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens into play. If X is 5 or more, destroy all other creatures.

Their war forgotten, the nations of Bant stood united in the face of a common threat.


Cards like Martial Coup

Martial Coup is an influential spell in the realm of board-wiping cards in MTG. It shares similarities with the iconic board wipe Day of Judgment, with both cards having the potential to clear the battlefield of creatures. Martial Coup, however, offers additional versatility, allowing players to not only sweep the board but also to populate it if the investment of mana is significant enough. This duality gives it an edge in decks that can leverage the creature tokens it creates upon casting for seven or more mana.

Another card in the conversation is Wrath of God, which also removes creatures from the battlefield without regeneration. While Wrath of God costs less than Martial Coup’s token-generating threshold, it lacks the ability to leave behind a potential army. On the flip side, Rout can be cast as an instant if more mana is paid, giving it a distinct timing advantage over Martial Coup, though without the token creation upside. However, in a strategic setting, the advantage of instant-speed removal can sometimes outweigh the benefits of token generation.

Ultimately, Martial Coup occupies a valuable niche within MTG’s suite of removal spells. Its ability to turn the tide by clearing the board while setting up defenses adds a layer of depth to gameplay decision-making.

Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Rout - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Rout - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Martial Coup by color, type and mana cost

Balance - MTG Card versions
Martyr's Cry - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Starlight - MTG Card versions
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Pegasus Stampede - MTG Card versions
Planar Birth - MTG Card versions
Flicker - MTG Card versions
Steadfastness - MTG Card versions
Sacred Nectar - MTG Card versions
False Dawn - MTG Card versions
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Academic Probation - MTG Card versions
Gather the Townsfolk - MTG Card versions
Servo Exhibition - MTG Card versions
Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions
Return to the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Soul Summons - MTG Card versions
Balance - MTG Card versions
Martyr's Cry - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Starlight - MTG Card versions
Renewing Dawn - MTG Card versions
Tariff - MTG Card versions
Pegasus Stampede - MTG Card versions
Planar Birth - MTG Card versions
Flicker - MTG Card versions
Steadfastness - MTG Card versions
Sacred Nectar - MTG Card versions
False Dawn - MTG Card versions
Morningtide - MTG Card versions
Academic Probation - MTG Card versions
Gather the Townsfolk - MTG Card versions
Servo Exhibition - MTG Card versions
Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions
Return to the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Soul Summons - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Martial Coup not only provides a method to potentially clear the board of creatures but also can flood your side of the battlefield with soldier tokens if you have enough mana. This dual utility can swiftly tilt the balance of card presence in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: The tokens generated by Martial Coup aren’t just for defense. They represent additional resources that can accelerate your game strategy. Whether that’s by giving you creatures to sacrifice, enhance with auras, or simply use as blockers, this card provides a versatile advantage.

Instant Speed: Although Martial Coup functions at sorcery speed, its impact is comparable to some powerful instant-speed spells. Having the ability to dictate the state of the game during your main phase with such a scalable effect gives you strategic flexibility often reserved for instant speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Martial Coup doesn’t directly demand that you discard cards, it does have a discard-like effect in that it requires a substantial board presence or hand size to be fully effective. In situations where you’re behind and needing a reset, you might not have the resources to both play Martial Coup to its fullest and rebuild your board position afterward.

Specific Mana Cost: Martial Coup requires white mana, making it somewhat inflexible when it comes to deckbuilding. You’re bound to a specific color identity, which can be limiting when considering splashes in multi-color decks, or in formats where mana flexibility is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To truly capitalize on Martial Coup’s potential, a significant mana investment is required. Its starting cost is already at six mana to generate tokens and clear the board, which can be a steep price, especially when up against decks that thrive in the early game or when trying to keep pace with more mana-efficient sweepers on the market.


Reasons to Include Martial Coup in Your Collection

Versatility: Martial Coup is a flexible addition to any deck that seeks to control the battlefield. Its ability to create an army while potentially clearing the board makes it highly effective in different game scenarios.

Combo Potential: The card provides synergy with strategies that benefit from having a large number of creatures enter the battlefield at once, or those that gain advantage from sacrificing creatures for greater effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by creature-heavy decks, Martial Coup stands out as a valuable card for swinging the game in your favor with its dual functionality of mass removal and board presence.


How to beat

Martial Coup is a powerful sweep in Magic: The Gathering, known for its flexibility in both summoning a host of creatures and potentially clearing the board. To effectively counter this card, a strategic approach is required. Ensuring that your own battlefield isn’t overextended can mitigate the impact of Martial Coup’s devastating clear. Playing fewer creatures but of higher individual value, or those with indestructible or death-resistant abilities, can make Martial Coup less threatening.

Dive into hand disruption tactics to prevent your opponent from gathering the resources they need to launch Martial Coup. Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek are valuable tools for plucking key pieces from your opponent’s hand before they can cast them. Counterspells are also a straightforward answer to Martial Coup, with options like Negate being specifically efficient against noncreature spells, ensuring the coup doesn’t go off.

While Martial Coup offers a clear path to a commanding battlefield, players who anticipate and prepare for it can maintain control and push towards victory despite this potential setback. By considering the value of creatures played, controlling the opponent’s resources, and keeping ready counters, you can often navigate around this otherwise game-changing card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embracing the essence of MTG means constantly evolving your gameplay and harnessing the power of dynamic cards like Martial Coup. As you reflect on its pros and cons, including card advantage, resource acceleration, and critical mana requirements, consider it a prime candidate for versatile deck building. Join us in mastering the art of the game by incorporating Martial Coup into your collection, capitalizing on its combo potential and adapting your strategy to thrive within the current meta. Dive deeper into the nuances of MTG, enhance your board strategies, and encounter similar cards that can alter the battlefield in your favor. Ward off opponents and lead your deck to victory by understanding the full potential of your cards. Learn more with us and embrace the endless possibilities that Martial Coup and MTG present.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Martial Coup MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Commander 2014, 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 Martial Coup and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Martial Coup Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-02-06ConfluxCON 112003NormalBlackGreg Staples
22014-11-07Commander 2014C14 782015NormalBlackGreg Staples
32018-08-09Commander 2018C18 692015NormalBlackGreg Staples
42020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 3782015NormalBlackGreg Staples
52022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 2062015NormalBlackGreg Staples
62022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 1892015NormalBlackDiego Gisbert
72022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 189★2015NormalBlackDiego Gisbert
82023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 792015NormalBlackGreg Staples
92024-03-08FalloutPIP 9822015NormalBlackMonztre
102024-03-08FalloutPIP 6952015NormalBlackMonztre
112024-03-08FalloutPIP 1672015NormalBlackMonztre
122024-03-08FalloutPIP 4542015NormalBlackMonztre

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Martial Coup has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-02-01 Martial Coup checks the number you chose for X, not the amount of mana you actually spent.
2009-02-01 No one can cast spells or activate abilities between the time the Soldier tokens are put onto the battlefield and the time all other creatures are destroyed. For example, you can't sacrifice one of those Soldier tokens to regenerate a Skeletal Kathari.
2009-02-01 You do what the spell says in order. If X is 5 or more, you'll put the Soldier tokens onto the battlefield, then you'll destroy all other creatures.