Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Halfling Rogue |
| Abilities | Treasure |
| Released | 2022-07-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate |
| Set code | HBG |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 5r |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Aaron Miller |
Key Takeaways
- Alora enables continuous card advantage by transforming untapped creatures into draw opportunities.
- She provides flexibility and resource acceleration through potential multiple card draws each turn.
- Understanding Alora’s pros and cons helps to integrate her effectively into your deck strategy.
Text of card
Whenever you attack, up to one target attacking creature can't be blocked this turn. At the beginning of the next end step, return that creature to its owner's hand. If you do, create a Treasure token.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler enables persistent card draw by turning any untapped creatures you control at the end of your turn into potential draws. This can consistently replenish your hand, ensuring you never run out of options.
Resource Acceleration: By potentially drawing multiple cards each turn, Alora can accelerate your resource availability. You stand a better chance of drawing into lands or ramp spells, keeping you ahead of your opponents in the resource game.
Instant Speed: With the ability to create card advantage at instant speed, Alora offers flexibility in gameplay, allowing you to adapt to the ever-changing battlefield and maximize your mana efficiency. This capability ensures you’re leveraging every opportunity the game presents.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler demands that you discard a card to utilize her full potential. This downside may lead to resource depletion when you’re trying to maintain a card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Her casting cost includes colored mana, which necessitates a dedicated deck build around her colors to play her effectively and consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Alora comes with a sizeable mana investment. In competitive play, this can be a drawback, as there are alternatives that provide similar benefits at a lower cost, allowing for a more efficient game strategy.
Reasons to Include Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler in Your Collection
Versatility: Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler is a flexible choice for any deck looking to capitalize on life gain. Her ability to create tokens whenever you gain life ensures that she can adapt to various strategies, from aggressive to more controlling builds.
Combo Potential: Alora has significant synergy within decks that focus on life gain mechanics. Her token-generating capability can be exploited in tandem with cards that benefit from creature tokens or increased life totals, opening up opportunities for powerful combos.
Meta-Relevance: Given the dynamics of various formats and their evolving metas, Alora’s unique skill set can exploit the trends that emphasize sustained board presence and incremental advantage. Her utility in such an environment can make her a mainstay in relevant decks.
How to beat
Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler, has made a splash as a versatile creature in many MTG decks. Her ability to boost the morale of allies with +1/+1 counters and dish out damage makes her a formidable opponent. However, there are strategic approaches to overcoming this jolly duelist.
Utilizing spells that can neutralize Alora before she gets a chance to swing into action is key. Cards like Murderous Rider offer a swift solution as they can take out Alora and also leave behind a creature you can leverage in combat. Board wipes such as Doomskar can clear the playing field before she has an opportunity to accumulate counters and bolster her forces. Counter magic, like Dovin’s Veto, can ensure she never touches the battlefield to begin with, safeguarding you from future threats.
When facing Alora, keep in mind that controlling the pace of the game is crucial. Stalling her progress with removal, counterspells, or even enchantments that keep her tapped down ensures that your opponent doesn’t gain the upper hand with this exuberant commander. Stay one step ahead, and you can ensure Alora’s tenacity doesn’t end your voyage.
Cards like Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler
In the diverse tapestry of creatures and abilities within MTG, Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler stands out as a unique figure among multicolored legendary creatures. Its closest analogs are often found within the realm of cards that empower their fellow teammates. Take Adriana, Captain of the Guard, for example, who also turns the tides of battle in your favor with a melee combat mechanic, granting additional strength to attacking creatures. However, Alora’s ability to bestow life points in addition to buffing creatures each turn sets her apart.
Another card in comparison is Radiant, Serra Archangel. While Radiant also supports its allies in combat, it plays differently by giving your flying creatures a significant boost. Conversely, Alora provides a broader range of support, affecting all creatures you control. Furthermore, with a focus on life gain, Alora is markedly synergistic with strategies that capitalize on high life totals for a decisive advantage.
When evaluating characters for your MTG deck, it’s evident that Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler not only brings a spirited presence to your battlefield but also offers a compelling blend of life gain and creature enhancement that harmonizes with various play styles and deck themes.
Cards similar to Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate, 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 Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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