Amass
| Amass [subtype] | |
|---|---|
|
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Icon Amass.png}}|70x70px]] | |
| Keyword Action | |
| Introduced | War of the Spark |
| Last used | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth |
| Reminder Text | Amass [subtype] N (Put N +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It’s also a [subtype]. If you don’t control an Army, create a 0/0 black [subtype] Army creature token first.) |
| Storm Scale | 5[1] |
| Statistics |
22 amass Orc cards
 18.2%  31.8%  27.3%  4.5%  4.5%  9.1%  4.5% 23 amass Zombie cards 30.4% 26.1% 17.4% 13% 8.7%  4.3% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Amass" | |
Amass is a keyword action introduced in War of the Spark that creates and grows an Army.[2][3][4]
Description
As you amass, if you don't already control an Army creature, you create a 0/0 black Army creature token. Then put a number of +1/+1 counters on one of your Armies equal to the number after amass. If you do control an Army, you don't create any new tokens. Rather, you'll put those +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. In both cases, the Army that you amass then becomes the creature type after amass, in addition to its other types.
Amass was designed so a player would control one Army at any given time but there are several ways to create multiple Armies. You can copy an Army you control, control a creature with Changeling, or modify the creature type using Artificial Evolution.
Amass has only appeared on , , and cards in sets that feature large-scale conflicts with a numerous, but mostly identity-less, antagonist force.[5]
Amass Zombies
In War of the Spark, Amass is flavorfully connected to Nicol Bolas's army, the Dreadhorde.[6] It created black Zombie Army creature tokens.
The original form of the mechanic specifically created a black Zombie Army and did not specify a creature type.[2][7] Mark Rosewater noted that if Amass were ever to return, it was a possibility that it would create an Army of another creature type.[8] However, this would necessitate some tweaking of the mechanic.[9]
When the mechanic was reworked for The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, all previous amass cards received errata to "amass Zombies N." The functionality of Amass changed slightly so that if an Army creature you amass on already the amassed creature type (i.e. Zombie), it becomes that type in addition to its other types.[10]
Amass Orcs
In The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Amass is tied to the Orc hosts of Mordor and Isengard. The mechanic was reworked for the set to allow different creature types to be amassed; changing the mechanic from "Amass N" to "Amass [subtype] N".[11][10] Design had looked at extending the flexibility to include a color option but as the Orcs in the set were all black, the simpler version was prefered.[12] R&D decided to keep it in the same colors as War of the Spark — .[13]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- Amass
- A keyword action that gives you a Zombie Army creature token or grows an Army you already have. See rule 701.44, “Amass.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 701.44. Amass
- 701.44a To amass [subtype] N means “If you don’t control an Army creature, create a 0/0 black [subtype] Army creature token. Choose an Army creature you control. Put N +1/+1 counters on that creature. If it isn’t a [subtype], it becomes a [subtype] in addition to its other types.”
- 701.44b A player “amassed” after the process described in rule 701.44a is complete, even if some or all of those actions were impossible.
- 701.44c The phrases “the Army you amassed” and “the amassed Army” refer to the creature you chose, whether or not it received counters.
- 701.44d Some older cards were printed with amass N without including a subtype. Those cards have received errata in the Oracle card reference so that they read “amass Zombies N.”
Rulings
- It's possible to control a nontoken Army (perhaps a creature with the changeling ability) and, through combinations of other cards, it's possible to control multiple Army tokens. When instructed to amass, you may put +1/+1 counters on any of your Army creatures, and you may choose a different one each time.[14]
- If you don't control an Army, the Army token that you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters.
- Although players can respond to the spell or ability that instructs you to amass, once you start to amass, no one can interrupt you. This is true even if you're creating a new Army — no player can do anything while the Army creature token is still 0/0, before it gets the counters.
- Even though the +1/+1 counters represent the growing numbers of combatants joining your ranks, the Army creature token is still a single creature. It has at least two creature types: Army and the type specified on the card (e.g Zombie or Orc).
- Some spells that amass may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell tries to resolve, it doesn't resolve. You won't amass.
- Some cards that cause you to amass also provide bonuses to "Zombie tokens." These affect any token that happens to be a Zombie, not just a Zombie Army you've amassed.
- Combining older amass cards with ones from this set makes for some fun stories. If you amass Zombies, you create a Zombie Army creature token with some +1/+1 counters on it. If you later amass Orcs, that Zombie Army becomes an Orc Zombie Army and gets even more +1/+1 counters[10]
Examples
Example 1
Relentless Advance 
Sorcery
Amass Zombies 3. (Put three +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It’s also a Zombie. If you don't control one, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token first.)
Example 2
March from the Black Gate 
Enchantment
When March from the Black Gate enters the battlefield and whenever an Army you control attacks, amass Orcs 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It’s also an Orc. If you don’t control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.)
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2022-03-08). "Hey Mark, was talking to some friends and got curious...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Matt Tabak (March 31, 2019). "War of the Spark Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 31, 2019). "Will any older cards be given the army creature...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 31, 2019). "Will army be a token only creature type made...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2023). "Crafting the Ring, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 31, 2019). "Why force such a mechanic into these colors?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 15, 2019). "Waging War of the Spark, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 8, 2022). "If we ever see it again would it still be zombie armies?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 8, 2022). "If amass were to return with a new tribe, would the original be erratad in some way?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b c Matt Tabak (May 30, 2023). "The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™ Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 30, 2023). "Crafting the Ring, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 31, 2023). "One thing I am curious about for Amass and its changes coming in the LOTR set.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2023). "Crafting the Ring, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 19, 2019). "War of the Spark Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
External links
- War of the Spark - Mechanic Spotlight: Amass | Magic (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (April 1, 2019).
