Dawnfeather Eagle MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Bird
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Deploys immediate board influence with +1/+1 and vigilance to creatures, crucial for turning tight games.
  2. Its five mana cost is steep, requiring strategy to avoid losing momentum in fast-paced matches.
  3. Maintaining board control and using removal spells are effective strategies against Dawnfeather Eagle.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Flying When Dawnfeather Eagle enters the battlefield, creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain vigilance until end of turn.

"It came to rest upon the angel's arm, and then the weight of their gazes fell upon me." —Aeronaut's journal


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With its ability to offer a significant boost during a critical turn, Dawnfeather Eagle can be seen as a card that swings momentum in your favor. While it doesn’t directly draw you more cards, its battlefield impact can outweigh the need for additional card draw by affecting multiple creatures.

Resource Acceleration: Although Dawnfeather Eagle itself doesn’t ramp up mana or similar resources, successfully deploying this card can accelerate your tempo and resources on the battlefield. By lending a buff to your entire team the turn it enters, it essentially amplifies the resource – that is, your creatures – you’ve already invested in.

Instant Speed: While Dawnfeather Eagle operates at sorcery speed, it’s crucial to pinpoint the value found in its timing. Casting it during your main phase can be strategically likened to an instant speed effect by instantly turning the tide in combat, setting up a turn that could secure you the win before your opponent can recuperate.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dawnfeather Eagle doesn’t directly demand you to discard cards, but playing it effectively in a deck that focuses on using cards from the graveyard may inadvertently lead to a disadvantage. This could limit its versatility in decks designed around discard synergies, as it does not contribute to that strategic element.

Specific Mana Cost: Dawnfeather Eagle requires both white and generic mana to cast. This specific mana cost can be restrictive for multicolored decks that might struggle with color consistency, especially in formats where mana fixing is less accessible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Dawnfeather Eagle’s cost is on the higher end for its effect. In competitive play, the mana curve is paramount, and there may be instances where other cards with lower mana costs could provide similar or greater impact on the board, making it a less favorable option in fast-paced matches.


Reasons to Include Dawnfeather Eagle in Your Collection

Versatility: Dawnfeather Eagle serves as a flexible inclusion in various decks, especially those aiming to capitalize on flying creatures or bolster an army. Its ability to give other creatures +1/+1 and vigilance until end of turn can turn a modest board presence into a formidable one.

Combo Potential: The temporary buff provided by Dawnfeather Eagle can synergize with strategies that revolve around creature tokens or those that require a sudden burst of power to overwhelm opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board control and creature-based strategies are prevalent, Dawnfeather Eagle can create momentum swings, either defensively by keeping creatures untapped to block or offensively by facilitating a decisive alpha strike.


How to beat Dawnfeather Eagle

Confronting Dawnfeather Eagle on the battlefield presents a unique challenge. This shining beacon among creatures can swoop in during the late game stages and provide a significant tempo swing in favor of the opponent, thanks largely to its ability to bolster each other creature with a +1/+1 counter upon entering the fray. The critical strategy against this majestic avian adept is maintaining control of the board before it has the opportunity to elevate a potential army.

To neutralize the eagle’s impact, players can resort to efficient removal spells, ensuring the eagle never has the chance to take flight. Tools such as Fatal Push or the more universal Cast Down serve well in preemptively clipping its wings. Counter magic should be reserved for pivotal moments to prevent this feathery force or other game-changing creatures from dictating the pace. Additionally, maintaining a selection of creatures with flying or reach to block is invaluable in preserving life totals and thwarting the air assault that Dawnfeather Eagle is known for catalyzing.

Ultimately, denying the presence of Dawnfeather Eagle or swiftly responding to its summoning will help keep the skies clear and maintain dominance within the game.


Cards like Dawnfeather Eagle

Dawnfeather Eagle stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a solid creature that can influence the battlefield as soon as it enters. This avian ally is akin to other creatures that offer a burst of utility to your team, such as Aven Brigadier. While the Aven Brigadier provides a consistent buff to your other birds and soldiers, Dawnfeather Eagle offers a one-time boost with its +1/+1 and vigilance until the end of turn to all creatures you control.

Comparatively, Inspired Charge is another card that instantly elevates your army with a similar +2/+1 until end of turn, but it lacks the additional flying body that Dawnfeather Eagle brings to the table. Similarly, Guardians’ Pledge focuses only on white creatures, providing a +2/+2 boost, again without adding a creature itself to the battlefield like the Dawnfeather Eagle does.

In essence, Dawnfeather Eagle does a reliable job balancing immediate impact with the addition of a flying body, which can be crucial for both offensive and defensive strategies. Its ability to provide a sudden advantage can swing games, making it a valuable choice for many players in Magic: The Gathering.

Aven Brigadier - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Guardians' Pledge - MTG Card versions
Aven Brigadier - Onslaught (ONS)
Inspired Charge - Magic 2011 (M11)
Guardians' Pledge - Magic 2012 (M12)

Cards similar to Dawnfeather Eagle by color, type and mana cost

Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Karmic Guide - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Glory - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Veteran Bodyguard - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Rashida Scalebane - Mirage (MIR)
Avenging Angel - Tempest (TMP)
Lancers en-Kor - Stronghold (STH)
Radiant, Archangel - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Karmic Guide - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Master Healer - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Angel of Mercy - The List (PLST)
Serra Angel - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)
Border Patrol - Judgment (JUD)
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - Innistrad: Midnight Hunt (MID)
Sigardian Savior - Innistrad: Midnight Hunt (MID)
Glory - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Celestial Gatekeeper - Legions (LGN)
Collector Protector - Unhinged (UNH)
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - Saviors of Kamigawa Promos (PSOK)
Belfry Spirit - Guildpact (GPT)
Petra Sphinx - Masters Edition (ME1)
Barrenton Medic - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Ivory Gargoyle - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dawnfeather Eagle MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt and Aether Revolt, 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 Dawnfeather Eagle and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dawnfeather Eagle Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-01-20 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Sidharth Chaturvedi.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-01-20Aether RevoltAER 142015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi
22017-01-20Aether RevoltAER 14†2015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi
32020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 152015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dawnfeather Eagle has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-02-09 Dawnfeather Eagle’s triggered ability affects itself.
2017-02-09 The set of creatures affected by Dawnfeather Eagle’s triggered ability is determined as the ability resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn and permanents you control that become creatures later in the turn won’t get +1/+1 or gain vigilance.

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