In Magic: The Gathering, mechanics often come and go, but some are meant to be recalled when the moment is right, just like sudden reinforcements on the battlefield. And with its unexpected appearance in the relatively recent Modern Horizons 3 set, we're brought to today's Mechanics Overview segment covering the mechanic: Reinforce, a handy ability that lets you bolster your troops and gain the upper hand at just the right time.

Now, admittedly, while I'm not expecting to see Reinforce making big waves at tournaments any time soon, I still feel like it's a mechanic that deserves some amount of attention just for the options it can potentially bring to the table. So, without further ado, let's take a closer look at Reinforce's history, how it works, where it fits into Magic's broader strategy, and why it still has some potential in Reinforcing (ha, see what I did here?) your gameplay.

The History of Reinforce

Reinforce was first introduced in the Morningtide (2008) set, debuting on a handful of cards like Mosquito Guard and Brighthearth Banneret. Back then, Reinforce cards appeared primarily in Green and White, with a little splash of red, and offered a fairly unique way to support creatures in combat.

After Morningtide, Reinforce laid dormant for a while until it made a sudden cameo in Modern Horizons 2 (2021) and Modern Horizons 3 (2024). Cards like Bannerhide Krushok and Wren's Run Hydra brought the mechanic back, and while they didn't reinvent the wheel, they reminded Limited players of the tactical value of always having reinforcements at the ready.

So, What Is Reinforce?

Simply put, Reinforce is an activated ability that lets you discard a card from your hand to pump one of your creatures with +1/+1 counters.

Reinforce X -- [Cost]: "Pay [Cost] and discard this card: Put X +1/+1 counters on target creature."

For example, let's look at Break Ties from Modern Horizons 2. This card has the ability "Reinforce 1--W," meaning you can pay a single White mana, discard it, and then place one +1/+1 counters on a creature of your choice. This flexibility is especially worth noting on a card like Break Ties since, despite its modular nature, sometimes your opponents will just not have any artifacts, enchantments, or things worth exiling from their graveyard. So, rather than having Break Ties be an utterly dead card in hand until your opponent does something, you now have the backup option of it becoming a surprise pump spell.

Reinforce vs. Channel vs. Bloodrush

As you may have figured out by now, Reinforce certainly shares some similarities with other mechanics that activate via discard, but let's quickly compare it to a few of the more prominent ones to understand what makes Reinforce different.

Reinforce vs. Channel

Channel, introduced in Saviors of Kamigawa (2005), is another mechanic that involves discarding a card for an effect, but unlike Reinforce, Channel effects can vary widely. Channel cards let you do everything from countering spells to destroying permanents, making it a more flexible but less predictable mechanic. Reinforce, on the other hand, does one thing and does it consistently: add +1/+1 counters to creatures.

Reinforce vs. Bloodrush

Bloodrush, introduced in Gatecrash (2013), is another mechanic that involves discarding a creature to give an attacking creature a temporary boost. The difference here is that Bloodrush only affects attacking creatures and is a one-time stat boost that disappears after combat. Reinforce, by contrast, adds permanent +1/+1 counters, which makes it a better choice for decks that want long-term value and synergy with counters.

Reinforcing Your Deck

If you're looking to reinforce your deck with this mechanic, here are some quick tips:

• 1/+1 Counter Synergies: Cards that care about counters, like Marwyn, the Nurturer, Walking Ballista, Hardened Scales, or, heck, even the adorable Helga, Skittish Seer, all love to have more counters piled on!
• Combat Tricks: Never underestimate the power of a surprise Reinforce during combat, especially when they're practically uncounterable. (No one plays Stifle anymore, right?)
• Multiplayer Formats: Reinforce's ability to target any creature means you can support your allies in multiplayer formats, making it a great cooperative and/or political mechanic that's perfect for formats like Commander or Two-Headed Giant.

Cards With Reinforce

Despite Reinforce making a brief resurgence in Modern Horizons 2 and Modern Horizons 3, the list of Reinforce cards available today remains incredibly slim:

• Bannerhide Krushok
• Break Ties
• Brighthearth Banneret
• Burrenton Bombardier
• Earthbrawn
• Fowl Strike
• Hunting Triad
• Mosquito Guard
• Rustic Clachan
• Swell of Courage
• Wren's Run Hydra

The Future of Reinforce

So, while Reinforce certainly provides some interesting flexibility and strategic options, I find it unlikely that we'll see it make a significant comeback without undergoing some major redesigns. As it currently stands, Reinforce just doesn't offer the impact needed to compete with more modern, versatile mechanics. After all, the core concept of discarding a card to place +1/+1 counters on a creature is useful in certain situations, but it's rarely powerful or exciting enough to be a major player in constructed formats.

One of the biggest challenges with Reinforce is that it often feels overshadowed by other mechanics that do similar things but with more versatility and power. Take the aforementioned Channel or Bloodrush mechanics as clear examples. Both mechanics allow players to discard a card for an effect, but their potential outcomes are broader and more impactful. Channel, in particular, offers a wide variety of effects depending on the card, ranging from countering spells to dealing damage or destroying permanents. Reinforce, by comparison, is very one-dimensional--no matter the card, it's always about putting +1/+1 counters on a creature.

But with all that said, Reinforce is still a mechanic that's definitely worth trying, especially if you enjoy playing in more casual formats or building Themed Commander Decks. Much like the Support mechanic, a mechanic I recently covered in another article, Reinforce offers unique and unexpected plays that can be fun and just outright hilarious in the right setting.

So, if you're the kind of player who likes exploring lesser-used mechanics or building creative, off-meta decks, give Reinforce a shot today; you might be surprised by what sudden reinforcements can do for you!