---
name: "Battle at the Bridge"
mana_cost: "{X}{B}"
cmc: 1
type_line: "Sorcery"
colors: []
color_identity: ["B"]
keywords: ["Improvise"]
set: "PAER"
set_name: "Aether Revolt Promos"
collector_number: "53s"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Chris Rallis"
oracle_id: "3d63ad3a-4e9f-4968-a576-4be063f4ecbf"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/battle-at-the-bridge-paer"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Battle at the Bridge
- **Mana Cost:** `{X}{B}` (CMC: 1)
- **Type:** Sorcery
- **Keywords:** Improvise

## Oracle Text
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for {1}.)
Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn. You gain X life.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Irradiate](/printing/irradiate-mrd.md) — Instant
2. [Barricade Breaker](/printing/barricade-breaker-aer.md) — Artifact Creature — Juggernaut
3. [Essence Pulse](/printing/essence-pulse-c21.md) — Sorcery
4. [Terisiare's Devastation](/printing/terisiares-devastation-brc.md) — Sorcery
5. [Hatred](/printing/hatred-exo.md) — Instant
6. [Sweatworks Brawler](/printing/sweatworks-brawler-aer.md) — Creature — Human Artificer

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Aether Revolt Promos (PAER) #53s
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Chris Rallis
- **Total Printings:** 3 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `legal`

## Official Rulings
- *(2017-02-09)* When using improvise to cast a spell with {X} in its mana cost, first choose the value for X. That choice, plus any cost increases or decreases, will determine the spell’s total cost. Then you can tap artifacts you control to help pay that cost. For example, if you cast Whir of Invention (a spell with improvise and mana cost {X}{U}{U}{U}) and choose X to be 3, the total cost is {3}{U}{U}{U}. If you tap two artifacts, you’ll have to pay {1}{U}{U}{U}.
- *(2017-02-09)* Because improvise isn’t an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs.
- *(2017-02-09)* Improvise doesn’t change a spell’s mana cost or mana value.
- *(2017-02-09)* If the target creature becomes an illegal target, Battle at the Bridge doesn’t resolve and none of its effects happen. You won’t gain life.
- *(2017-02-09)* Improvise can’t pay for {W}, {U}, {B}, {R}, {G}, or {C} mana symbols in a spell’s total cost.
- *(2017-02-09)* Tapping an artifact won’t cause its abilities to stop applying unless those abilities say so.