Raise the Alarm 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
Create two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens.
Complete guide
Raise the Alarm is a classic white instant that provides immediate board presence at a low cost. It serves as a versatile tool for aggressive strategies, defensive maneuvers, and synergy-based decks looking to go wide.
What it Does
Raise the Alarm is an instant-speed spell that creates two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens. Because it is an instant, it can be cast during your turn or your opponent's turn, allowing you to surprise your opponent with blockers or increase your creature count right before your turn begins.
Step-by-Step Resolution
When you cast Raise the Alarm, you pay the mana cost of one white and one generic mana and place the spell on the stack. Once both players pass priority and the spell resolves, you put two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield simultaneously. These tokens are permanent creatures that can attack, block, and be targeted by other spells or abilities just like any other creature card.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is forgetting that these tokens are subject to summoning sickness; they cannot attack or use tap abilities the turn they are created unless they gain haste. Additionally, players sometimes forget that if an effect like a board wipe occurs in response to the casting of the spell, the tokens have not yet entered the battlefield and will be created after the wipe finishes resolving.
When to Play It
The best time to cast Raise the Alarm is often during your opponent's end step to ensure your Soldiers are ready to attack on your next turn. It is also an excellent defensive tool to cast during the declare attackers step, providing two unexpected blockers to trade with or absorb damage from attacking creatures.
Interaction examples
SoldierIf your opponent attacks with a creature, you can cast Raise the Alarm before the declare blockers step. Two Soldier tokens are created, and you can immediately assign one or both to block the incoming attacker.
Swords to PlowsharesIf your opponent tries to use Swords to Plowshares on a creature you already control, you can cast Raise the Alarm in response. While the original creature is still exiled, you have successfully replaced it with two Soldier tokens to maintain your board presence.
Path to ExileAfter your opponent exiles your best threat with Path to Exile, you can use the mana from the basic land you searched for to cast Raise the Alarm, immediately rebuilding your army with two Soldier tokens.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Raise the Alarm
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Isochron Scepter + Clock of Omens + Krark-Clan Ironworks + Mycosynth Lattice
- 1Activate Isochron Scepter by paying
and tapping it, casting Raise the Alarm without paying its mana cost. - 2Resolve Raise the Alarm, creating two creature tokens that are also artifacts due to Mycosynth Lattice.
- 3Activate Clock of Omens by tapping both creature tokens, untapping Isochron Scepter.
- 4Activate Krark-Clan Ironworks by sacrificing one creature token, adding
. - 5Repeat.
- 6Once you have infinite tapped tokens, you may sacrifice any number of them to add infinite colorless mana.
Isochron Scepter + Clock of Omens + Krark-Clan Ironworks + Encroaching Mycosynth
- 1Activate Isochron Scepter by paying and tapping it, casting Raise the Alarm without paying its mana cost.
- 2Resolve Raise the Alarm, creating two creature tokens that are also artifacts due to Encroaching Mycosynth.
- 3Activate Clock of Omens by tapping both creature tokens, untapping Isochron Scepter.
- 4Activate Krark-Clan Ironworks by sacrificing one creature token, adding .
- 5Repeat.
- 6Once you have infinite tapped tokens, you may sacrifice any number of them to add infinite colorless mana.
Isochron Scepter + Clock of Omens + Ashnod's Altar + Mycosynth Lattice
- 1Activate Isochron Scepter by paying and tapping it, casting Raise the Alarm without paying its mana cost.
- 2Resolve Raise the Alarm, creating two creature tokens that are also artifacts due to Mycosynth Lattice.
- 3Activate Clock of Omens by tapping both creature tokens, untapping Isochron Scepter.
- 4Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing one creature token, adding .
- 5Repeat.
- 6Once you have infinite tapped tokens, you may sacrifice any number of them to add infinite colorless mana.
Isochron Scepter + Clock of Omens + Krark-Clan Ironworks + Biotransference
- 1Activate Isochron Scepter by paying and tapping it, casting Raise the Alarm without paying its mana cost.
- 2Resolve Raise the Alarm, creating two creature tokens that are also artifacts due to Biotransference.
- 3Activate Clock of Omens by tapping both creature tokens, untapping Isochron Scepter.
- 4Activate Krark-Clan Ironworks by sacrificing one creature token, adding .
- 5Repeat.
- 6Once you have infinite tapped tokens, you may sacrifice any number of them to add infinite colorless mana.
Isochron Scepter + Clock of Omens + Ashnod's Altar + Biotransference
- 1Activate Isochron Scepter by paying and tapping it, casting Raise the Alarm without paying its mana cost.
- 2Resolve Raise the Alarm, creating two creature tokens that are also artifacts due to Biotransference.
- 3Activate Clock of Omens by tapping both creature tokens, untapping Isochron Scepter.
- 4Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing one creature token, adding .
- 5Repeat.
- 6Once you have infinite tapped tokens, you may sacrifice any number of them to add infinite colorless mana.
Isochron Scepter + Clock of Omens + Ashnod's Altar + Encroaching Mycosynth
- 1Activate Isochron Scepter by paying and tapping it, casting Raise the Alarm without paying its mana cost.
- 2Resolve Raise the Alarm, creating two creature tokens that are also artifacts due to Encroaching Mycosynth.
- 3Activate Clock of Omens by tapping both creature tokens, untapping Isochron Scepter.
- 4Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing one creature token, adding .
- 5Repeat.
- 6Once you have infinite tapped tokens, you may sacrifice any number of them to add infinite colorless mana.
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Meta decks with Raise the Alarm
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.