Cenn's Tactician MTG Card


Cenn’s Tactician enhances creatures, providing a persistent threat and potential for turning weak units into major forces. It fits well in counter-centric and soldier tribal decks, boosting versatility and providing tactical advantages. Countering it involves removal spells, strategic board wipes, or cards that negate counter accumulation.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Kithkin Soldier
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

, : Put a +1/+1 counter on target Soldier creature. Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it can block an additional creature each combat.

"A well-trained force brings peace... which brings more time for training!"


Cards like Cenn's Tactician

Cenn’s Tactician offers a distinctive strategic depth for players exploring soldier tribal themes in Magic: The Gathering. This creature showcases prowess in bolstering your forces by placing +1/+1 counters on your soldiers, a trait mirrored by the likes of Veteran Swordsmith. Yet, Cenn’s Tactician allows for more granular control by targeting individual creatures, setting it apart from Swordsmith’s broader but less focused boost in power.

Comparing it further to Veteran Armorer demonstrates the nuanced versatility Cenn’s Tactician brings to the battlefield; while Armorer provides a passive defense buff to your creatures, Cenn’s Tactician enables a more active strengthening function which can be pivotal at crucial game moments. It’s akin to Ajani’s Pridemate in that both cards grow stronger over time, though Pridemate’s requirement for life gain makes it a complementary ally rather than a direct competitor.

While considering utility and game impact within the soldiers’ archetype, Cenn’s Tactician certainly carves out its niche, allowing players to craft a more tailored battlefield presence and adapt to shifting game states—a true tactician among its peers.

Veteran Swordsmith - MTG Card versions
Veteran Armorer - MTG Card versions
Ajani's Pridemate - MTG Card versions
Veteran Swordsmith - MTG Card versions
Veteran Armorer - MTG Card versions
Ajani's Pridemate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cenn's Tactician by color, type and mana cost

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cenn’s Tactician contributes to card advantage by supporting a strategy that revolves around +1/+1 counters. It ensures that the player has a persistent presence on the board and can potentially convert small creatures into bigger threats, extracting more value from the cards already in play.

Resource Acceleration: Although Cenn’s Tactician does not directly accelerate resources in the form of mana or treasures, it can be considered a form of resource acceleration in creature-based strategies. By placing +1/+1 counters on creatures, it accelerates the deck’s board presence and power, potentially leading to quicker victories.

Instant Speed: Cenn’s Tactician’s ability to place +1/+1 counters is activated, not at instant speed. However, its versatility comes from being able to use it at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to combat situations, allowing for unanticipated shifts in board strength that can be pivotal during battle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the limitations of Cenn’s Tactician is the necessity to intermittently discard cards to fuel its ability. This can place players in a precarious position, especially when their hand size is already compromised.

Specific Mana Cost: Cenn’s Tactician demands white mana for activation, constraining its integration predominantly to mono-white or two-color decks where white is a principal component, potentially limiting deck-building versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana investment higher than some alternative one-drop creatures, Cenn’s Tactician may not always represent the most mana-efficient option, particularly in aggressive strategies where maximizing board presence early is crucial.


Reasons to Include Cenn’s Tactician in Your Collection

Versatility: Cenn’s Tactician offers a flexible role in various deck builds by providing a steady increase in creature strength. Its ability to place +1/+1 counters on soldiers caters to wide-ranging strategies from aggro to more sophisticated counter-based decks.

Combo Potential: This card excels in combinations with mechanics like proliferate or other abilities that exploit +1/+1 counters, potentially unlocking explosive plays and board dominance through tactical creature enhancements.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low casting cost and contribution to long-term board presence, Cenn’s Tactician remains relevant in metas where incremental advantage and creature resilience are key to outlasting opponents.


How to beat

Cenn’s Tactician is a notable card for those building White Weenie or counter-based strategies in MTG. It stands out with its ability to steadily bolster creatures on the battlefield using +1/+1 counters. To effectively counter this card, it’s important to address its incremental value swiftly. Tactics involve removal spells that can bypass its potential to accumulate counters, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile that can deal with the Tactician before it becomes a larger threat. Furthermore, board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the state of play, nullifying the strategy that Cenn’s Tactician might be central to.

Another strategy is to utilize cards that can strip away counters or negate counter-adding abilities. Cards like Vampire Hexmage can instantly remove all counters from a target, essentially neutralizing the increasing strength Cenn’s Tactician could grant. Lastly, playing around the Tactician means adjusting your game plan to diminish its impact, by either racing with an aggressive deck or out-valuing your opponent in card advantage and board presence. Ultimately, staying one step ahead in tempo and strategy can help in overcoming the challenges posed by Cenn’s Tactician.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cenn's Tactician MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and DCI 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 Cenn's Tactician and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Cenn's Tactician Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-01-02 and 2008-02-01. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 325412003NormalBlackSteven Belledin
22006-01-02DCI PromosPDCI 142003NormalBlackSteven Belledin
32008-02-01MorningtideMOR 52003NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cenn's Tactician has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-04-01 The second ability is cumulative. That is, each creature you control with any +1/+1 counters on it can block an additional creature for each Cenn’s Tactician you control. Cenn’s Tactician doesn’t care whether the creature has any +1/+1 counters on it beyond the first.