Orcish Medicine is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Target creature gains your choice of lifelink or indestructible until end of turn. 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.)
Complete guide
Orcish Medicine is a versatile black instant that offers both protection and board presence. It allows you to shield a key creature while growing your forces through the Amass Orcs mechanic.
Dual Purpose Utility
When you cast Orcish Medicine, you first choose between giving a target creature lifelink or indestructible. After that choice is made and applied, you proceed to Amass Orcs 1. This means the spell always attempts to do two distinct things: buffing a creature on the battlefield and either creating or strengthening an Army.
How Amass Orcs Works
The Amass Orcs 1 process follows a specific sequence. If you do not control a creature with the Army subtype, you first create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token. Then, you choose an Army you control and put a +1/+1 counter on it. If that Army wasn't already an Orc, it becomes one in addition to its other types. If you already have an Army, you simply add the counter to it.
Targeting Rules and Timing
Because Orcish Medicine requires a target creature for its first effect, you cannot cast it if there are no creatures on the battlefield. Furthermore, if the target creature becomes illegal before the spell resolves (for example, if it is destroyed in response), the entire spell fails to resolve. In this case, you will not Amass Orcs at all.
When to Use Orcish Medicine
This card is best used as a combat trick or a defensive response. Giving a creature indestructible can save it from a 'destroy' effect or lethal combat damage. Alternatively, choosing lifelink during a large block can result in a massive swing in life totals while simultaneously adding a body to your board.
Interaction examples
Orcish MedicineYou target your own creature and choose indestructible. The creature gains the keyword until end of turn, and you then Amass Orcs 1. Even if you had no creatures before, you now have a 1/1 Orc Army and a protected creature.
Dark RitualYou cast Dark Ritual to add three black mana to your pool. You spend two of that mana to cast Orcish Medicine on a creature you control. This allows you to protect a vital unit early in the game and establish a 1/1 Orc Army blocker using the ritual's acceleration.
Vampiric TutorDuring your opponent's end step, you use Vampiric Tutor to put Orcish Medicine on top of your library. On your turn, you draw it and cast it, choosing lifelink for your attacker. You gain life from the attack and gain a +1/+1 counter on your Orc Army, growing your board presence for the next turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Orcish Medicine
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Amass abilities are now written as "amass [subtype] N." Previous cards with amass have received errata to say "amass Zombies N."
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
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.
Card named in this ruling
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Amass Zombies works the same way, except you create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token if you don't control an Army. 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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
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.
Card named in this ruling
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Orcish Medicine
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