Amass
| Amass [subtype] | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Action | |
| Introduced | War of the Spark |
| Last used | Modern Horizons 3 |
| 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 |
31 amass Orc cards
 19.4%  32.3%  22.6%  3.2%  6.5%  3.2%  9.7%  3.2% 1 amass Sliver card
100% 24 amass Zombie cards 29.2% 29.2% 16.7% 12.5% 8.3% 4.2% |
| 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. Conversely, Amass sets are designed so that an Army can never be completely "locked down", weakening all future amass spells; this can be seen with Law-Rune Enforcer, Kasmina's Transmutation, Bewitching Leechcraft and Fog on the Barrow-Downs. Each of these use a distinct way to exclude Army tokens.
Amass has only appeared on , , and cards in sets that feature large-scale conflicts with a numerous, but mostly faceless, 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 was not already the amassed creature type (i.e. Zombie), it becomes that type in addition to its other types.[10] The first card to be printed with the text Amass Zombies was the Dreadhorde Invasion (Commander Masters) reprint. The first new card was Mindless Conscription (Modern Horizons 3).
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]
The release of The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Jumpstart Volume 2 include an additional Jumpstart exclusive card with amass Orcs — Warg Rider.[14]
Amass Slivers
Commander Masters introduced a one-off Amass variant for Slivers on Lazotep Sliver.[15]
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
- Amass abilities are now written as "amass [subtype] N." Cards printed prior to The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth with amass received errata to say "amass Zombies N."
- To amass Orcs N, if you don't control an Army creature, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token. Then you choose an Army creature you control and put N +1/+1 counters on it. If that Army isn't already an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types.
- Amass Zombies works the same way, except you create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token if you don't control an Army. And if the Army creature you chose isn't already a Zombie, it becomes a Zombie in addition to its other types. By combining cards with amass Orcs and amass Zombies, you can end up with an Orc Zombie Army.
- In the rare case that you control multiple Army creatures (perhaps because you played a creature with changeling) while you amass Orcs, you choose which of your Army creatures to put the +1/+1 counters on. If that creature isn't an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types.
- If you don't control an Army, the Orc Army token you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature before receiving counters. 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.
- Some spells and abilities that amass Orcs may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't amass Orcs.
- Some cards refer to the "amassed Army." That means the Army creature you chose to receive counters, even if no counters were placed on it for some reason.[10][16]
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.)
Example 3
Lazotep Sliver
Creature — Zombie Sliver
Sliver creatures you control have afflict 2. (Whenever a creature with afflict 2 becomes blocked, defending player loses 2 life.)
Whenever a nontoken sliver you control dies, amass Slivers 2. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It’s also a Sliver. If you don’t control an Army, create a 0/0 black Sliver Army creature token first.)
4/4
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.
- ↑ Mike Turian & Adam Styborski (September 22, 2023). "Collecting The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™". magicthegathering.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023.
- ↑ Brian Kibler & Olivia Gobert-Hicks (July 17, 2023). "SLIVER SWARM Commander Masters Precon Deck Reveal (Video)". Commander At Home. YouTube.
- ↑ Eric Levine (June 9, 2023). "The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth 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).
