Leonin Vanguard MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Cat Soldier |
| Released | 2018-07-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2019 |
| Set code | M19 |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 22 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Aaron Miller |
Key Takeaways
- Enhances decks by converting life gain into strategic card advantages with beneficial synergies.
- Offers indirect resource acceleration, triggering life-gain-related abilities and mana efficiencies.
- Operates at instant speed, adding a versatile and tactical layer to gameplay each turn.
Text of card
At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control three or more creatures, Leonin Vanguard gets +1/+1 until end of turn and you gain 1 life.
The best fighters are skilled in both harming and healing.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Leonin Vanguard itself doesn’t draw cards directly, it synergizes well with life gain strategies which can lead to card advantage through other card interactions. Pairing Leonin Vanguard with cards that reward gaining life can essentially convert its ability into a card advantage mechanism.
Resource Acceleration: Although not a typical resource accelerant, Leonin Vanguard’s potential to gain you life each turn can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration in decks that benefit from life gain, potentially triggering other abilities or enchantments that add to your mana pool or reduce costs of casting spells.
Instant Speed: Leonin Vanguard operates at a pace that can outmaneuver opponents, especially since its ability can trigger each turn. This adds a tactical layer to playing the card, as it can influence combat and bolster your board state at crucial moments, much like an instant would affect the game—yet its impact is continuous, contributing every turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Leonin Vanguard’s impact on the battlefield may be less noticeable if your strategy requires holding cards for late-game advantage. Being cluttered with this card could result in a missed opportunity to maintain hand advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Leonin Vanguard requires white mana, which might not fit into all deck archetypes, particularly those that are color-intensive in other hues or multi-colored decks that have a greater focus on mana flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Leonin Vanguard’s mana cost is low, when considering its starting stats and early-game impact, decks might opt for other one-drops that provide immediate board presence or utility.
Reasons to Include Leonin Vanguard in Your Collection
Versatility: Leonin Vanguard is a card that can easily fit into a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those that capitalize on life gain or aggressive creature strategies. As a one-drop creature, it can swiftly bolster your board presence from the very first turn.
Combo Potential: This card holds potential in combos, especially within decks that aim to have a significant number of creatures on the battlefield. Its ability to gain you life each turn can be a crucial component in decks that thrive on life gain triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In a playing environment that favors aggressive tactics, Leonin Vanguard can be an excellent addition. Its ability to grow in strength each turn while gaining you incremental life can give you an edge against opponents, making it a relevant choice for current metagames.
How to beat Leonin Vanguard
Leonin Vanguard presents a unique challenge in MTG due to its ability to bolster your life total while still being an early game threat. This card shines in an aggressive strategy, especially when accompanied by a deck filled with creatures to trigger its ability consistently. To counter this pesky one-drop, it’s key to disrupt the creature-heavy strategy it relies on.
Board wipes can be particularly effective in this case. Clearing the board before the Vanguard can accumulate advantages is crucial. Spot removal, although reactive, can prevent the Leonin Vanguard from becoming active if used before the combat phase or in response to a trigger. Control decks have the upper hand here, packing enough removal to keep creature numbers low. Also, cards that limit the number of creatures that can attack can hinder the Vanguard’s impact effectively.
Remember, Leonin Vanguard needs a density of creatures to excel, so minimizing those creatures’ presence can significantly lessen the Vanguard’s effect on the game. Dealing with this card is more about managing the battlefield than the Vanguard itself. Keep their creature count low, and you’ll mitigate the gains this card can provide to your opponent.
Cards like Leonin Vanguard
Leonin Vanguard makes a distinct mark in the realm of one-drop creatures in MTG. When you evaluate it alongside other cards such as Veteran Armorsmith, the ability to receive a life boost every turn stands out, provided you control three or more creatures. Unlike Armorsmith, Leonin Vanguard doesn’t offer a defensive boost to other creatures, but instead focuses on individual gain, which can be pivotal in the early game.
Examining Isamaru, Hound of Konda reveals another one-cost creature with a potentially more powerful starting position due to a higher power and toughness. However, Isamaru doesn’t offer the life-gain ability that can accumulate over time, making Leonin Vanguard a preferred choice for a strategy centered around life accumulation. Considering Ajani’s Pridemate, a known synergy is revealed. Although Pridemate requires an external source of life gain to grow, pairing it with Leonin Vanguard can consistently strengthen your board presence.
Ultimately, Leonin Vanguard holds its own within the selection of one-drops in MTG, especially for players keen on augmenting their life total while developing a formidable presence on the battlefield early on. Its life-gaining aspect can become a cornerstone for any deck capitalizing on such mechanics.
Cards similar to Leonin Vanguard by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Leonin Vanguard MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019, 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 Leonin Vanguard 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Leonin Vanguard has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Leonin Vanguard card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | If you don’t control three or more creatures as Leonin Vanguard’s ability resolves, the ability does nothing. However, if you do control three or more creatures as it resolves, the +1/+1 bonus doesn’t stop applying if you no longer control three creatures later in the turn. |
| 2018-07-13 | If you don’t control three or more creatures as your combat phase begins, Leonin Vanguard’s ability won’t trigger at all. Causing a permanent to become a creature during the beginning of combat step won’t cause Leonin Vanguard’s ability to trigger. |
