Swinging Ship

Swinging Ship Lite Guide

Unfinity Rare
Mana Cost:
Type: Artifact — Attraction
Swinging Ship Text:
Visit — After the first combat phase this turn, there's an additional combat phase. At the beginning of that combat, untap all creatures that attacked this turn.
Flavor:
"I feel just like Kari Zev! Ragavan, set a course for Lathnu!" —Vorthos, Steward of Myth
Artist: Mike Burns
Collector Number: 231a
Release Date: 2022-10-07
Art crop

Strategy Guide

Last updated 2025-06-30
TL;DR Summary

Swinging Ship is a rare artifact that excels at providing extra combat phases and untapping attacking creatures. In Commander decks, it's often used as a late-game tool to extend the battle by generating additional combat phases. This can be particularly effective when combined with Dauth I, which also generates an extra combat phase.

To utilize Swinging Ship effectively, consider pairing it with a large number of attacking creatures that benefit from untapping. Creatures like Goblin Piledriver or Krenko, Mob Boss thrive in additional combat phases and can deal significant damage when untapped.

Swinging Ship's Visit ability is most impactful when used in combination with other cards that create an extra combat phase, such as Commander Tax, which imposes a cost for each combat phase.

Card Mechanics & Interactions

Swinging Ship

As a rare artifact from the unf set, Swinging Ship is an intriguing addition to any Commander deck. Its unique ability to grant additional combat phases makes it an attractive option for players seeking to manipulate the board state and extend their game.

Visit Ability

Swinging Ship's ability is denoted by the "Visit" keyword. When this card is on the battlefield, after the first combat phase of your turn, there's an additional combat phase. This additional combat phase occurs at the beginning of a new combat step, allowing you to attack and defend twice in one turn.

Here are some key points about the Visit ability:

  • The additional combat phase only occurs if Swinging Ship is on the battlefield after the first combat phase.
  • This card doesn't care about whether it's attacking or defending; its ability triggers regardless of the situation.
  • You can use this card to attack multiple times, but keep in mind that your creatures may become tapped and vulnerable during the second combat phase.

Untapping Creatures

At the beginning of the additional combat phase granted by Swinging Ship, you'll untap all creatures that attacked this turn. This is crucial for maintaining creature tempo and ensuring they remain viable threats on the battlefield.

Some important considerations when using Swinging Ship:

  • Untapped creatures will still have their full power and toughness, allowing them to deal damage as if they were freshly tapped.
  • Creatures with abilities that trigger at the beginning of combat may not benefit from this effect, as they'll be untapped but still in their "combat" phase.

Interaction Examples

Swinging Ship can pair well with various creatures and artifacts. Consider combining it with:

  • Liliana's Mastery, which allows you to sacrifice a creature to create 2/2 white Spirit tokens. With Swinging Ship, these spirits can attack twice.
  • Fierce Warhorn, an artifact that grants +1/+0 to creatures until end of turn. During the second combat phase triggered by Swinging Ship, your creatures will benefit from this boost.

In a game with Commander as the format, be mindful of card advantage and the tempo generated by Swinging Ship's ability.

Strategic Applications

Swinging Ship is a rare artifact that fits perfectly into various archetypes in Commander, particularly those focused on card advantage and tempo manipulation. Its unique ability to create an additional combat phase this turn, untapping all creatures that attacked this turn at the beginning of that combat, can be incredibly powerful when leveraged correctly.

One common strategy that benefits from Swinging Ship is a token-based deck, where you generate large swaths of small, expendable tokens to attack with. By using Swinging Ship's ability, you can create an additional combat phase, untapping all those tokens and giving them another chance to deal damage to your opponent. This can lead to explosive turns, especially when combined with other cards like Vorst, the Keydefender or Komatso of Otraz, which allow you to generate more tokens on the stack.

Swinging Ship also finds a home in decks focused on graveyard synergy and reanimation strategies. By creating an additional combat phase, you can untap creatures that attacked this turn, making it easier to reanimate them or put them into play through other means. This can be particularly powerful when paired with cards like Grave Titan or [Reanimate, which allow you to bring back creatures from the graveyard.

In more controlling decks, Swinging Ship's ability can be used to extend the game and create more opportunities for card advantage. By generating additional combat phases, you can keep your opponent's board clear for longer periods of time, allowing you to develop a more substantial threat on the battlefield.

To make the most of Swinging Ship, it's essential to have a clear plan in place for how you want to use its ability. This might involve generating tokens quickly, reanimating creatures from the graveyard, or using other cards to manipulate the combat phase and create additional opportunities for your creatures to attack. With careful planning and execution, Swinging Ship can become an incredibly powerful asset in your Commander deck.

Advanced Techniques

Swinging Ship is a fascinating card that can greatly impact the tempo of combat in a match. Its ability to create an additional combat phase, untapping creatures that attacked this turn, can be incredibly powerful when combined with other cards.

One key synergy to consider is pairing Swinging Ship with creatures like Estrid's Invocation or Soul Wist. These creatures can attack and then use their abilities at the beginning of the second combat phase triggered by Swinging Ship. This allows for a significant amount of damage to be dealt, especially if you have multiple attackers.

Another potential interaction is using cards that generate token creatures during combat, such as Fangren Reaper or Soul-Scar Mage. When combined with Swinging Ship, these tokens can attack and then become untapped at the beginning of the additional combat phase, creating a wave of attacks that can be difficult for opponents to defend against.

It's also worth noting that cards like Phantasmal Bear or Grave Titan can benefit from Swinging Ship's ability. These creatures often rely on attacking multiple times to generate value, and having an extra untapped attack can greatly amplify their impact.

When building a deck around Swinging Ship, consider the following general strategy:

  • Run a mix of large-toughness attackers that can take advantage of the additional combat phase.
  • Include cards that can generate tokens or create opportunities for attacking creatures to become untapped.
  • Choose creatures with abilities that trigger during combat to maximize the value gained from Swinging Ship's ability.
Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes with Swinging Ship

Swinging Ship's unique Visit ability can lead to costly mistakes, especially in Commander. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

  • Incorrect timing: Players often misinterpret the Visit trigger, assuming it's an instant or a triggered ability that can be tapped and played like a regular spell. However, it's actually a visit effect that triggers at a specific point during the turn.
  • Overestimating combat phases: When an additional combat phase is added, players may assume it'll create more opportunities for attacking creatures to deal damage. In reality, creatures will only attack once per combat phase, regardless of how many are available.
  • Failing to untap attacked creatures: The Visit ability explicitly states that attacked creatures should be untapped at the beginning of the additional combat phase. If this is missed, the benefits of the extra combat phase are greatly diminished.

Some examples of misplays in Commander decks featuring Swinging Ship include:

  • Using Swinging Ship as a pseudo- Lion's Eye Diamond or Sol Ring, trying to activate it too early and gaining an unfair advantage.
  • Playing creatures with large power without considering that they'll only attack once per combat phase, even after the Visit trigger is activated.
  • Neglecting to untap attacked creatures during the additional combat phase, wasting the potential benefits of Swinging Ship.

To maximize Swinging Ship's impact in Commander, focus on understanding its unique ability and play it carefully.

Conclusion

Swinging Ship is a rare artifact that offers a unique value proposition in Commander decks. Its ability to grant an additional combat phase and untap all creatures that attacked this turn can be incredibly powerful when leveraged correctly.

This card excels at providing extra combat phases, which can be particularly effective when combined with other cards like Dauth I, Commander Tax, or Liliana's Mastery. By generating tokens quickly or reanimating creatures from the graveyard, players can create a significant amount of tempo and deal substantial damage to their opponents.

When using Swinging Ship effectively, consider pairing it with large-toughness attackers that can take advantage of the additional combat phase, such as Goblin Piledriver or Krenko, Mob Boss. Include cards that generate tokens or create opportunities for attacking creatures to become untapped, like Liliana's Mastery or Estrid's Invocation.

In a game with Commander as the format, be mindful of card advantage and the tempo generated by Swinging Ship's ability. This card can pair well with various creatures and artifacts, such as Fierce Warhorn, Phantasmal Bear, or Grave Titan.

Common mistakes to avoid when playing with Swinging Ship include incorrect timing, overestimating combat phases, and failing to untap attacked creatures during the additional combat phase.

To maximize Swinging Ship's impact in Commander, focus on understanding its unique ability and play it carefully. Consider running a mix of large-toughness attackers that can take advantage of the additional combat phase, as well as cards that generate tokens or create opportunities for attacking creatures to become untapped.

In terms of overall value, Swinging Ship is a solid addition to any Commander deck looking to manipulate the board state and extend their game. While it may not be an essential card in every deck, its unique ability makes it an attractive option for players seeking to create extra combat phases and deal significant damage to their opponents.

Overall evaluation: 8/10

Recommendation:

  • Consider including Swinging Ship in Commander decks focused on token generation, reanimation strategies, or controlling archetypes.
  • Pair Swinging Ship with large-toughness attackers that can take advantage of the additional combat phase.
  • Include cards that generate tokens or create opportunities for attacking creatures to become untapped.
  • Be mindful of card advantage and tempo generated by Swinging Ship's ability.

Rating breakdown:

  • Power level: 8/10
  • Value: 7.5/10
  • Complexity: 6/10
  • Uniqueness: 9/10

Note: The rating is subjective and based on the analysis provided. Other players may have different opinions about the card's value and playability in Commander decks.