Court Archers MTG Card


Court Archers grants card advantage and strategic instant speed actions to outmaneuver opponents during gameplay. Specific mana requirements and a potential discard downside can limit its deck inclusion and strategic use. Its role as a versatile defender and combo enabler with exalted makes it a fitting addition to certain MTG decks.
Court Archers - Shards of Alara
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Archer
Abilities Exalted,Reach
Released2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set nameShards of Alara
Set codeALA
Power 1
Toughness 3
Number126
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRandy Gallegos

Text of card

Reach (This can block creatures with flying.) Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)

The Sun-Dappled Court of Valeron stands secure behind a wall of steel-tipped arrows.


Cards like Court Archers

When considering the utility of Court Archers, it’s essential to survey other creatures within Magic the Gathering that share its penchant for boosting attacks. Standing shoulder to shoulder with cards like Loyal Pegasus, which demands another creature to attack, Court Archers offer a bit more flexibility as they can attack alone as long as they’re fortified by their exalted trait.

Other parallels include creatures like Sigiled Paladin. Both carry the exalted ability, incentivizing you to attack with a single creature for greater impact. Still, Sigiled Paladin has a distinct advantage with its double strike capability when attacking alone. Cards like Akrasan Squire might also come to mind, as this one-drop exalted creature buffs attacking allies, although it’s not self-sufficient in combat. Exalted enthusiasts consider Aven Squire as a similar addition, bringing along flying to the mix, providing an aerial tactic that Court Archers lack.

The exalted mechanic shapes both the offensive and defensive strategies in your MTG deck, with Court Archers offering a balance of attack enhancement without the need for additional cards to unlock its potential, making it a solid contributor to any build aiming to leverage the full force of a lone attacker.

Loyal Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Sigiled Paladin - MTG Card versions
Akrasan Squire - MTG Card versions
Aven Squire - MTG Card versions
Loyal Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Sigiled Paladin - MTG Card versions
Akrasan Squire - MTG Card versions
Aven Squire - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Court Archers by color, type and mana cost

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Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
Rysorian Badger - MTG Card versions
Sabertooth Cobra - MTG Card versions
Quirion Druid - MTG Card versions
Spike Feeder - MTG Card versions
Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions
Titania's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Taoist Mystic - MTG Card versions
Femeref Archers - MTG Card versions
Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Champion - MTG Card versions
Realmwalker - MTG Card versions
Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions
Timberwatch Elf - MTG Card versions
Pincher Beetles - MTG Card versions
Yavimaya Elder - MTG Card versions
Awakener Druid - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Court Archers card can consistently bolster your hand by granting additional draws when fulfilling specific battlefield criteria. This ensures you rarely run out of options and keeps the pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: With its potential to contribute to your board state, Court Archers provides an uptick in resources. This can improve your game position by allowing you to deploy more threats or answers ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: Court Archers offers flexibility with instant speed actions, allowing players to react adeptly to an opponent’s moves. This strategic advantage lets you optimally time your plays, keeping opponents guessing while you maintain control.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Court Archers requires you to discard a card upon activation of its ability. This could pose a dilemma when your hand is already depleted or if you’re safeguarding key cards for a strategic play.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Court Archers includes white mana. This condition restricts its integration into decks, necessitating a focus on white or a well-tuned mana base to accommodate multicolor needs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its cost, the card’s impact on the game might not align with the mana investment required to play it. There are alternative cards within the same mana range that potentially offer greater flexibility or a more substantive board presence.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Court Archers has the ability to serve multiple roles depending on your strategy. With a low mana cost and reach, it can act effectively as an early game defender as well as a late-game utility creature in decks that capitalize on proliferate or Exalted mechanics.

Combo Potential: As a creature with Exalted, Court Archers can boost the power of a single attacker, which can be crucial for combat-based combos or in decks dedicated to voltron strategies where one creature becomes the central focus of attack.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flying creatures are prevalent, having access to reach is key. Court Archers provides that defense while also being a non-threatening presence on the board, perfect for a more subtle buildup in control or midrange decks where board presence and incremental advantage are vital.


How to beat

Court Archers shines in decks that capitalize on the exalted mechanic, boosting its power for each creature with exalted as it attacks alone. Understanding this card’s reliance on multiple exalted triggers is key to countering its strategy. Focus on removing key exalted creatures or employing strategies that discourage single-creature attacks. Keep removal spells or effects at the ready to deal with the Court Archers prior to the attack or when the stack is favorable. Cards that can tap or incapacitate creatures without destroying them can also be highly effective, as they preserve the board state while neutralizing the threat.

In addition, consider using cards that negate combat damage or alter the number of creatures that can attack each turn. This can prove to be disruptive for strategies leaning heavily on exalted mechanics. Work on maintaining a board presence with multiple creatures to deter attacks from a singular buffed creature. Moreover, effects that grant your creatures reach or flying can also serve as a deterrent, ensuring that the Court Archers’ attack is not as impactful. It’s about adapting to the battlefield and recognizing when to take proactive or reactive measures against this strategic card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Court Archers MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Court Archers and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Court Archers has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-10-01 Exalted abilities will resolve before blockers are declared.
2008-10-01 Exalted bonuses last until end of turn. If an effect creates an additional combat phase during your turn, a creature that attacked alone during the first combat phase will still have its exalted bonuses in that new phase. If a creature attacks alone during the second combat phase, all your exalted abilities will trigger again.
2008-10-01 If you attack with multiple creatures, but then all but one are removed from combat, your exalted abilities won’t trigger.
2008-10-01 If you declare exactly one creature as an attacker, each exalted ability on each permanent you control (including, perhaps, the attacking creature itself) will trigger. The bonuses are given to the attacking creature, not to the permanent with exalted. Ultimately, the attacking creature will wind up with +1/+1 for each of your exalted abilities.
2008-10-01 In a Two-Headed Giant game, a creature “attacks alone” if it’s the only creature declared as an attacker by your entire team. If you control that attacking creature, your exalted abilities will trigger but your teammate’s exalted abilities won’t.
2008-10-01 Some effects put creatures onto the battlefield attacking. Since those creatures were never declared as attackers, they’re ignored by exalted abilities. They won’t cause exalted abilities to trigger. If any exalted abilities have already triggered (because exactly one creature was declared as an attacker), those abilities will resolve as normal even though there may now be multiple attackers.