Dwarven Patrol MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Dwarf
Released	2001-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Apocalypse
Set code	APC
Power	4
Toughness	2
Number	61
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Greg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt

Key Takeaways

It provides card advantage, drawing you extra cards and enhancing your tactical options.
Instant speed interactions allow for adaptable play and keep opponents on their toes.
Despite its high mana cost, Dwarven Patrol can be a meta-relevant addition for dwarf synergy decks.

Text of card

Dwarven Patrol doesn't untap during your untap step. Whenever you play a nonred spell, untap Dwarven Patrol.

Dwarves never worry about who watches their backs.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dwarven Patrol offers incremental advantage by enabling you to potentially draw extra cards if conditions are met, bolstering your hand and giving you more options as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: With its ability tied to Dwarven thematics, this card can synergize with other Dwarf-related cards, potentially unlocking mana ramp or cost reduction effects intrinsic to this tribe within the game.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Dwarven Patrol can be expanded if it has any flash-like effects or can interact at instant speed, allowing you to respond adaptively to the changing battlefield while keeping your opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dwarven Patrol’s effectiveness takes a hit by making you choose and discard a card as part of its casting process. This can be a hurdle when your hand is already depleted, potentially leaving you in a tight spot without the necessary cards for your strategic plays.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a committed investment in red mana, meaning it finds its place in mono-red or red-heavy decks. Players with a multicolored deck or those preferring mana flexibility may find Dwarven Patrol less appealing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in with a mana value that requires significant investment, Dwarven Patrol may not always match up favorably against other cards with lower costs. Players might opt for more economically cast creatures or spells that provide a greater impact on game progression.

Reasons to Include Dwarven Patrol in Your Collection

Versatility: Dwarven Patrol offers a reliable creature presence that can be included in decks focused on dwarf synergy or ones that need consistent board development.

Combo Potential: This card works well in strategies that capitalize on the untap mechanic, enabling various combos with other cards to control the game and generate card advantage.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment shifts, having Dwarven Patrol could prove advantageous in matches where stalling the game and setting up for big moves is key.

How to beat

Dwarven Patrol adds a unique dynamic to battlefield control in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to potentially untap during each opponent’s untap step, it challenges players to think strategically. To circumvent this card’s resilience, focus on removal spells that don’t rely on the combat phase. Consider using instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push to eliminate Dwarven Patrol before it gets a chance to untap and re-engage your forces.

Another tactic involves countering the card entirely. For decks equipped with counter spells, denying Dwarven Patrol’s initial entry onto the battlefield stifles its capabilities from the get-go. Blue decks wielding counters like Mana Leak or Negate can manage the threat efficiently. Alternatively, exploit the patrol’s need for other Dwarves by controlling the board—without sufficient support, its strength wanes significantly, making it a less formidable foe.

A strategic blend of instant disruption and counterplay can turn the tide against Dwarven Patrol, ensuring your MTG matches remain in your favor despite the sturdy defense it presents. Mastery in the art of timing and a careful selection of spells are keys to keeping Dwarven resilience in check.

Cards like Dwarven Patrol

Dwarven Patrol offers MTG players a strategic component in the realm of creature cards. It shares some characteristics with other dwarf-themed cards like Dwarven Miner, which also centers around a dwarven presence on the battlefield. However, unlike Dwarven Miner which disrupts opponents’ mana base by destroying nonbasic lands, Dwarven Patrol focuses more on combat strength, gaining momentum each turn it’s not blocked.

Another comparable card is Dwarven Nomad, which has the ability to become unblockable for a turn. Though both are dwarf types and shape gameplay around evasion tactics, Dwarven Patrol carries the upside of accumulating power, making it a potentially growing threat. Dwarven Nomad, being a single-use unblockable, doesn’t offer that kind of accruing benefit to players.

Assessing these cards against each other shows that Dwarven Patrol can play a key role in aggressive red decks, especially if an opponent lacks adequate blockers. This ability to scale up in power can turn it into a formidable force over time, underscoring its value in direct-combat strategies within the MTG landscape.

Cards similar to Dwarven Patrol by color, type and mana cost

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions

Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions

Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - MTG Card versions

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dwarven Patrol MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse, 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 Dwarven Patrol and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dwarven Patrol has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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