King Darien XLVIII MTG Card


This royal MTG card excels in creating soldier tokens, enhancing both board presence and card advantage. While strong, the card requires specific mana types and a discard, which may limit deck use and management. Its unique abilities make King Darien XLVIII valuable for token-centric and life-gain MTG strategies.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Soldier
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

Other creatures you control get +1/+1. : Put a +1/+1 counter on King Darien and create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token. Sacrifice King Darien: Creature tokens you control gain hexproof and indestructible until end of turn.


Cards like King Darien XLVIII

King Darien XLVIII attracts many MTG players who are fond of Mono-White control or token strategies. In the realm of legendary creatures with comparable abilities, we can look at Darien, King of Kjeldor. The latter has a well-established reputation for creating soldier tokens whenever its controller is dealt damage. This parallels nicely with King Darien XLVIII’s ability to fortify your battlefield’s defenses whenever you gain life.

Other parallels are drawn with Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice, which also thrives on a life-gain theme, bolstering your army with token creatures while padding your life total. However, King Darien XLVIII stands out with an emphasis on building a singular, powerful token rather than a wider token spread. Moreover, the merged focus on life gain and token enhancement presents a unique combination unmatched by Trostani.

Assessing the utility and interactions within different decks, King Darien XLVIII offers a strategic variant in token-generating Commanders. It’s a solid choice for players seeking to capitalize on life gain while progressively escalating their offensive capabilities through a single, formidable token.

Darien, King of Kjeldor - MTG Card versions
Trostani, Selesnya's Voice - MTG Card versions
Darien, King of Kjeldor - MTG Card versions
Trostani, Selesnya's Voice - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to King Darien XLVIII by color, type and mana cost

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Beast Walkers - MTG Card versions
Radiant Essence - MTG Card versions
Ranger en-Vec - MTG Card versions
Noble Panther - MTG Card versions
Benalish Emissary - MTG Card versions
Hedge Troll - MTG Card versions
Anurid Brushhopper - MTG Card versions
Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers - MTG Card versions
Oracle of Nectars - MTG Card versions
Kitchen Finks - MTG Card versions
Knight of the Reliquary - MTG Card versions
Centaur Healer - MTG Card versions
Chronicler of Heroes - MTG Card versions
Selvala, Explorer Returned - MTG Card versions
Veteran Warleader - MTG Card versions
Joraga Auxiliary - MTG Card versions
Pride Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Atzocan Seer - MTG Card versions
Ledev Champion - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Warlord - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using King Darien XLVIII. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Five-color AggroFive-color Aggro ModernGrand Open Qualifier Prague 2024
Bant ComboBant Combo StandardBrokers AscendancyBOP! Standard Open
WGWG StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 26, 2024
Selesnya ComboSelesnya Combo LegacyMO78#CS
DecklistDecklist Free form0()
Naya AggroNaya Aggro StandardNaya AggroStandard Challenge 32 2023-12-09 (1)
Selesnya AggroSelesnya Aggro LegacyMO78#CS

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With King Darien XLVIII you can bolster your hand by creating soldier tokens that serve dual purposes. They not only strengthen your board presence but also offer card advantage by being potential card draws with the right synergies in place.

Resource Acceleration: This monarchical card is a boon to strategies that ramp up your resources efficiently. Each token it creates could be seen as an incremental step towards overwhelming your opponents with a flourish of strategic plays or a surprising flash of powerful spells.

Instant Speed: Although King Darien XLVIII works at sorcery speed, it interacts favorably with instant speed spells. It fortifies your strategy by providing a more substantial defense against unexpected threats, thus enhancing your ability to respond to an opponent’s moves while leaving them guessing your next action.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One drawback is the necessity to discard another card to fully utilize King Darien XLVIII’s abilities. This can deplete your hand, particularly if you’re already struggling to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: His casting cost entails a strict combination of mana types, making him a less flexible fit outside of dedicated white-based decks. Players utilizing multi-colored decks may find this a hindrance to their mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: His deployment requires a relatively substantial mana investment, which can slow down your game. In competitive play, other creatures or spells with lower costs could be played sooner, potentially offering more immediate impact on the board state.


Reasons to Include King Darien XLVIII in Your Collection

Versatility: King Darien XLVIII offers an array of strategic options for deck builders. As a commander, King Darien synergizes well with decks geared towards soldier tribal themes or those that capitalize on token generation strategies.

Combo Potential: When it comes to combo potential, this card shines. Its ability to create soldier tokens not only bolsters your field presence but also interacts with effects that trigger upon creatures entering the battlefield or when you gain life.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the card’s ability to rapidly populate the board with tokens, it holds its own in a meta that leans towards aggro or creature-based strategies. The resilience provided by King Darien’s token creation can be integral when facing control or board wipe-heavy decks.


How to beat

King Darien XLVIII introduces a unique game mechanic to Magic: The Gathering, where protection and resource building come into play. Overcoming a card with such resilience requires a strategic approach. Often, direct removal spells are ineffective due to Darien’s protective abilities. Instead, relying on board wipes that don’t target, such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” can clear the way by bypassing his shielding effects. Additionally, leveraging cards that restrict the opponent from gaining benefits, like “Torpor Orb” which suppresses triggered abilities from creatures entering the battlefield, can neutralize the advantages King Darien provides to the opponent’s side.

Moreover, utilizing strategies that force sacrifice, such as “Liliana of the Veil” or “Diabolic Edict,” can circumvent King Darien’s defenses. In matches, planning for attrition warfare by controlling the pace and gradually depleting resources ensures that when King Darien XLVIII finally lands, its impact is significantly reduced or its presence is short-lived. Thus, understanding your deck’s inherent removal tools and adapting to control-based strategies can be key in claiming victory over this royal adversary.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enrich your MTG adventures with the strategic prowess of King Darien XLVIII. This card’s ability to produce valuable soldier tokens at will can turn the tides in your favor, making it a must-have for White control or token-savvy players. With potential to escalate your game through life gain synergies and robust token generation, incorporating King Darien into your deck offers a competitive edge. For those ardent about refining their strategy and expanding their collection with a card that delivers both in power and presence, the path to victory can be paved with the inclusion of King Darien. Discover the full potential and craft your triumph – deepen your MTG knowledge with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase King Darien XLVIII MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United and Dominaria United Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the King Darien XLVIII and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The King Darien XLVIII Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 2042015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
22022-09-09Dominaria United PromosPDMU 204p2015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
32022-09-09Dominaria United PromosPDMU 204s2015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
42022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 3032015NormalBlackJody Clark
52022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 3442015NormalBlackJody Clark

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where King Darien XLVIII has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering King Darien XLVIII card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-09-09 If King Darien XLVIII leaves the battlefield, other creatures you control immediately lose the +1/+1 bonus. Notably, this means that if you activate its last ability after a creature has already been dealt damage, it might die due to having lethal damage before the ability resolves and gives it indestructible.
2022-09-09 In most cases where the value of X isn’t defined in the text of a card, its controller chooses the value of X. However, the X in King Darien’s name is always 10.
2022-09-09 XLVIII is forty-eight.