Bard's Company
Bard's Company2 W U
Creature — Human Citizen
You may cast this spell as though it had flash if you control a Human. Other creatures you control get +1/+1. Whenever this creature enters or attacks, recruit. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token.)
rare2/3

Versions

Bard's Company — Base #146
Base #146
Bard's Company — #210
#210

Bard's Company

AI draftAI-generated draft analysis — not yet human-reviewed. Treat with healthy skepticism.

Limited summary

A premier WU rare that combines a repeatable Recruit engine with a team-wide anthem, quickly producing and upgrading a wide board. Conditional flash can also create a major combat blowout by unexpectedly increasing every other creature's power and toughness.

Roles

BombRole — Can win the game on its own if unanswered.Token MakerRole — Creates token creatures or artifacts.Enabler + PayoffWorks as both an enabler and a payoff for its archetype.

Archetypes

Play around this

If the opponent controls a Human and has four mana available, account for Bard's Company entering at instant speed and giving every other creature +1/+1, which can turn apparent trades or attacks into blowouts.

Gameplay notes

When possible, hold Bard's Company for a profitable flash deployment, but cast it on curve if delaying would waste substantial anthem damage. Attack with it when safe to generate repeated Recruit value, and discard a nonland card when the resulting 2/2 Soldier after the anthem is worth more than the card.

Key synergies

Eagle of the Great Shelf
Eagle of the Great ShelfDirect SynergyExplicit mechanical interaction between the two cards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Bard's Company both anthems the Eagle and recruits when it attacks. By resolving the recruit trigger first, a newly created Human token is present when the Eagle's attack trigger resolves, immediately increasing its bonus.

Bard the Bowman
Bard the BowmanEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Bard's Company recruits when it enters and whenever it attacks, repeatedly supplying the extra draw that triggers Bard while also creating creatures that can receive his counters and lifelink.

Bard, King of Dale
Bard, King of DaleComboA specific, particularly strong two-card interaction.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Bard, King of Dale upgrades each Recruit draw into two cards before the discard and doubles any Human Soldier tokens created, while Bard's Company gives all those tokens +1/+1.

Wizard's Staff
Wizard's StaffDirect SynergyExplicit mechanical interaction between the two cards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

When the equipped Bard's Company attacks, Wizard's Staff makes its Recruit ability trigger twice, producing two loot effects and potentially two Human tokens from one attack.

Belladonna Took
Belladonna TookEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Its enters-or-attacks recruit trigger repeatedly supplies Human tokens for Belladonna, while its anthem makes the wide board created and permanently countered by Belladonna more threatening.

Master's Councillors
Master's CouncillorsEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Bard's Company repeatedly recruits on entering and attacking, supplying the extra draw that triggers Master's Councillors to mill three; repeated triggers can quickly reach seven cards in a graveyard and turn Councillors into a 3/3 or larger attacker. Company also directly supports it as a fellow Human and grants it +1/+1.

Esgaroth Garrison
Esgaroth GarrisonArchetype SynergyBoth play complementary roles in the same Limited archetype.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Bard's Company gives the Garrison and its recruited token +1/+1, while its repeated Recruit triggers create more creatures that increase the Garrison's power.

Lake-town Lookout
Lake-town LookoutEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Lake-town Lookout lets Bard's Company be cast with flash, while Company's anthem turns both the Lookout and the Human token it can leave behind into meaningful combat bodies.

Lakeshore Apothecary
Lakeshore ApothecaryEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Bard's Company repeatedly recruits on entry and attack, providing second-card triggers that grow Lakeshore Apothecary; its anthem also makes the Apothecary and Recruit tokens more threatening.

Long Lake Nuisance
Long Lake NuisanceDirect SynergyExplicit mechanical interaction between the two cards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

The recruit token is a Human that receives Bard's Company's anthem, while the Company adds repeated recruit triggers and turns the Nuisance into a much sturdier 4/2 flyer.

Patient Instructor
Patient InstructorEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Patient Instructor is a Human that enables Bard's Company's flash clause, and its recruit token gives the Company's anthem another body to enhance.

Thorin's Last Stand
Thorin's Last StandEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Bard's Company recruits an additional creature and repeatedly supports a wide board, while its static anthem combines with Thorin's Last Stand to give the entire team +3/+2 for the turn.

Lake-town Toymaker
Lake-town ToymakerEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Casting Bard's Company before combat recruits, making it your second draw after the normal draw step and immediately enabling Toymaker; the resulting Human token also expands your attacking board.

Ravenhill Flock
Ravenhill FlockEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Bard's Company recruits when it enters and whenever it attacks, repeatedly drawing cards that place +1/+1 counters on Ravenhill Flock while its anthem further increases the Flock's size.

The Queen of Dale
The Queen of DaleEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

The Queen is a cheap Human that enables Bard's Company's conditional flash, and her repeated Recruit triggers create Human Soldier tokens that Company upgrades with its anthem.

An Unexpected Party // At the Door
An Unexpected Party // At the DoorComboA specific, particularly strong two-card interaction.Synergy strength 3/3 — Strong

Choosing Human gives Bard's Company and every Human Soldier created by Recruit an additional +2/+2, stacking with Company's anthem to turn each Recruit token into a 4/4.

Lake-town Mariners // Gone Fishing
Lake-town Mariners // Gone FishingDirect SynergyExplicit mechanical interaction between the two cards.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

Blinking Bard's Company protects it and triggers its enters ability again for another recruit, while Lake-town Mariners later contributes another large Human to the Company’s go-wide board.

Sound the Trumpets
Sound the TrumpetsEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

The Soldier created by Sound the Trumpets is a Human that receives Bard's Company's anthem, turning the counterspell's incidental 1/1 into a 2/2 and strengthening the WU go-wide plan.

Roll-Roll-Roll-Roll
Roll-Roll-Roll-RollDirect SynergyExplicit mechanical interaction between the two cards.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

Each chapter can blink Bard's Company, retriggering its enters ability for another Recruit while also resetting it safely after combat or protecting it from sorcery-speed interaction.

Great Gilded Boat
Great Gilded BoatArchetype SynergyBoth play complementary roles in the same Limited archetype.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

Bard's Company pumps the Boat's recruited Human Soldier tokens, allowing each token to crew the Boat by itself, and its own recruit triggers add more bodies and card selection to the same attack-focused Human strategy.

Dwarven Provisioner
Dwarven ProvisionerArchetype SynergyBoth play complementary roles in the same Limited archetype.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

Bard's Company repeatedly recruits to expand the board and gives those creatures a permanent boost, while Provisioner adds another team-wide boost that can turn the resulting swarm into a lethal attack.

Lake-town
Lake-townEnabler → PayoffOne card sets up the condition the other rewards.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

Bard's Company repeatedly recruits to provide Human tokens for Lake-town, and its anthem makes a token carrying Lake-town's two counters into a substantial threat.

Moment of Glory
Moment of GloryArchetype SynergyBoth play complementary roles in the same Limited archetype.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

Bard's Company repeatedly recruits to build a wide board, giving Moment of Glory's flashback mode more creatures to enhance. Recruit can also discard Moment of Glory while potentially creating another token for the later anthem.

Celebrate the Mountain-king
Celebrate the Mountain-kingArchetype SynergyBoth play complementary roles in the same Limited archetype.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

Celebrate can create a Human Soldier that Bard's Company immediately boosts, while removing a blocker helps the enlarged go-wide board attack effectively.

The Mountain-king's Return
The Mountain-king's ReturnArchetype SynergyBoth play complementary roles in the same Limited archetype.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

The Saga recruits another Human Soldier for Bard's Company to boost, while Company's repeated looting can place a mana-value-3-or-less creature into the graveyard for the Saga's second chapter to return.

The Eagles Are Coming!
The Eagles Are Coming!Direct SynergyExplicit mechanical interaction between the two cards.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

Returning Bard's Company protects it or resets it for another enters-the-battlefield Recruit trigger, and the delayed Bird token subsequently receives Company's anthem.

Elrond, Moon-Reader
Elrond, Moon-ReaderDirect SynergyExplicit mechanical interaction between the two cards.Synergy strength 2/3 — Meaningful

Elrond's activated ability can blink Bard's Company, protecting it and retriggering its enters ability for another Recruit while preserving the anthem for future turns.

Eagle's Rescue
Eagle's RescueAnti-SynergyThese cards actively work against each other — a “nonbo”.Synergy strength 1/3 — Nice to have

Bard's Company's anthem makes your 1/1 Recruit tokens into 2/2 creatures, so they no longer qualify as targets for Eagle's Rescue's graveyard ability while the Company remains in play.

Synergy graph

Min strength
Sound the Trumpets ↔ Belladonna Took Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Eagle of the Great Shelf ↔ Wizard's Staff Combo · strength 3/3Master's Councillors ↔ Wizard's Staff Combo · strength 3/3Sound the Trumpets ↔ Bard the Bowman Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3The Queen of Dale ↔ An Unexpected Party // At the Door Build-Around · strength 3/3Belladonna Took ↔ The Queen of Dale Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Belladonna Took ↔ An Unexpected Party // At the Door Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Eagle of the Great Shelf ↔ Great Gilded Boat Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3The Eagles Are Coming! ↔ Bard, King of Dale Direct Synergy · strength 3/3The Queen of Dale ↔ Bard the Bowman Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Great Gilded Boat ↔ Belladonna Took Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Master's Councillors ↔ Bard the Bowman Mechanic Synergy · strength 2/3Ravenhill Flock ↔ Bard, King of Dale Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3The Queen of Dale ↔ Ravenhill Flock Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard, King of Dale ↔ The Queen of Dale Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Great Gilded Boat Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Wizard's Staff Combo · strength 3/3Bard the Bowman ↔ The Mountain-king's Return Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Bard, King of Dale Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Master's Councillors ↔ Great Gilded Boat Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Master's Councillors ↔ Bard, King of Dale Build-Around · strength 2/3Ravenhill Flock ↔ Wizard's Staff Combo · strength 3/3The Queen of Dale ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Sound the Trumpets ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Sound the Trumpets ↔ Master's Councillors Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Sound the Trumpets ↔ Ravenhill Flock Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Sound the Trumpets ↔ Wizard's Staff Direct Synergy · strength 1/3Sound the Trumpets ↔ Great Gilded Boat Archetype Synergy · strength 1/3The Mountain-king's Return ↔ Bard, King of Dale Build-Around · strength 3/3The Mountain-king's Return ↔ Master's Councillors Direct Synergy · strength 2/3The Queen of Dale ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Enabler → Payoff · strength 1/3An Unexpected Party // At the Door ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3An Unexpected Party // At the Door ↔ Eagle of the Great Shelf Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Belladonna Took ↔ Wizard's Staff Combo · strength 3/3Belladonna Took ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Belladonna Took ↔ The Eagles Are Coming! Direct Synergy · strength 2/3The Queen of Dale ↔ Wizard's Staff Combo · strength 3/3Great Gilded Boat ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Great Gilded Boat ↔ Wizard's Staff Direct Synergy · strength 1/3Great Gilded Boat ↔ Ravenhill Flock Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Eagle's Rescue ↔ The Queen of Dale Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3The Queen of Dale ↔ Lakeshore Apothecary Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Belladonna Took Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Elrond, Moon-Reader Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Ravenhill Flock Mechanic Synergy · strength 2/3The Queen of Dale ↔ Master's Councillors Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Esgaroth Garrison ↔ Great Gilded Boat Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Esgaroth Garrison ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Lake-town ↔ Celebrate the Mountain-king Enabler → Payoff · strength 1/3Lake-town ↔ Lake-town Lookout Anti-Synergy · strength 1/3Lake-town Lookout ↔ Bard the Bowman Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Lake-town Lookout ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Lake-town Lookout ↔ The Mountain-king's Return Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Lakeshore Apothecary ↔ Great Gilded Boat Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Lakeshore Apothecary ↔ Wizard's Staff Direct Synergy · strength 3/3Long Lake Nuisance ↔ Bard the Bowman Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Long Lake Nuisance ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Long Lake Nuisance ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Patient Instructor ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Patient Instructor ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Patient Instructor ↔ Roll-Roll-Roll-Roll Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Thorin's Last Stand ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Thorin's Last Stand ↔ An Unexpected Party // At the Door Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Celebrate the Mountain-king ↔ Bard the Bowman Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Celebrate the Mountain-king ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Celebrate the Mountain-king ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Lake-town Toymaker ↔ Wizard's Staff Combo · strength 3/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Eagle of the Great Shelf ↔ The Queen of Dale Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Patient Instructor Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Eagle of the Great Shelf ↔ Bard, King of Dale Build-Around · strength 2/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Lakeshore Apothecary Mechanic Synergy · strength 2/3Eagle of the Great Shelf ↔ Patient Instructor Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard the Bowman ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Mechanic Synergy · strength 2/3Eagle of the Great Shelf ↔ Long Lake Nuisance Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3Eagle's Rescue ↔ Lake-town Lookout Combo · strength 3/3Eagle of the Great Shelf ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Archetype Synergy · strength 3/3Eagle of the Great Shelf ↔ Celebrate the Mountain-king Enabler → Payoff · strength 1/3Eagle's Rescue ↔ Great Gilded Boat Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Lake-town Mariners // Gone Fishing ↔ Celebrate the Mountain-king Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Lake-town Mariners // Gone Fishing ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Master's Councillors ↔ Patient Instructor Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Ravenhill Flock ↔ Elrond, Moon-Reader Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Master's Councillors ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Mechanic Synergy · strength 2/3Ravenhill Flock ↔ Celebrate the Mountain-king Direct Synergy · strength 1/3The Mountain-king's Return ↔ Lakeshore Apothecary Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Master's Councillors ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Sound the Trumpets ↔ The Queen of Dale Combo · strength 3/3The Mountain-king's Return ↔ Ravenhill Flock Enabler → Payoff · strength 1/3Master's Councillors ↔ Long Lake Nuisance Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Ravenhill Flock ↔ Patient Instructor Direct Synergy · strength 1/3Sound the Trumpets ↔ Moment of Glory Direct Synergy · strength 1/3Master's Councillors ↔ Lakeshore Apothecary Mechanic Synergy · strength 2/3The Mountain-king's Return ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Master's Councillors ↔ Celebrate the Mountain-king Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Ravenhill Flock ↔ Long Lake Nuisance Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Sound the Trumpets ↔ Lakeshore Apothecary Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3The Mountain-king's Return ↔ Patient Instructor Direct Synergy · strength 3/3An Unexpected Party // At the Door ↔ Dwarven Provisioner Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3An Unexpected Party // At the Door ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Belladonna Took ↔ Lake-town Lookout Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Belladonna Took ↔ Patient Instructor Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3Roll-Roll-Roll-Roll ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Belladonna Took ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3Great Gilded Boat ↔ Lake-town Direct Synergy · strength 1/3Roll-Roll-Roll-Roll ↔ Long Lake Nuisance Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Great Gilded Boat ↔ Dwarven Provisioner Archetype Synergy · strength 1/3Belladonna Took ↔ Celebrate the Mountain-king Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Belladonna Took ↔ The Mountain-king's Return Direct Synergy · strength 2/3The Eagles Are Coming! ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Direct Synergy · strength 2/3The Eagles Are Coming! ↔ Patient Instructor Direct Synergy · strength 2/3The Eagles Are Coming! ↔ Eagle of the Great Shelf Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard, King of Dale ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard, King of Dale ↔ Lakeshore Apothecary Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Elrond, Moon-Reader ↔ Wizard's Staff Combo · strength 3/3Elrond, Moon-Reader ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Elrond, Moon-Reader ↔ Lakeshore Apothecary Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Elrond, Moon-Reader ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Elrond, Moon-Reader ↔ Master's Councillors Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Eagle of the Great Shelf Direct Synergy · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Bard the Bowman Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Bard, King of Dale Combo · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Wizard's Staff Direct Synergy · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Belladonna Took Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Master's Councillors Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Esgaroth Garrison Archetype Synergy · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Lake-town Lookout Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Lakeshore Apothecary Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Long Lake Nuisance Direct Synergy · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Patient Instructor Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Thorin's Last Stand Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Lake-town Toymaker Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Ravenhill Flock Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ The Queen of Dale Enabler → Payoff · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ An Unexpected Party // At the Door Combo · strength 3/3Bard's Company ↔ Lake-town Mariners // Gone Fishing Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Sound the Trumpets Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Roll-Roll-Roll-Roll Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Great Gilded Boat Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Dwarven Provisioner Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Lake-town Enabler → Payoff · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Moment of Glory Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Celebrate the Mountain-king Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ The Mountain-king's Return Archetype Synergy · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ The Eagles Are Coming! Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Elrond, Moon-Reader Direct Synergy · strength 2/3Bard's Company ↔ Eagle's Rescue Anti-Synergy · strength 1/3Bard's Company (this card)
Showing 147 of 147 connections · click a card to explore its graphLine thickness = strength