Dauthi Mercenary MTG Card

Upgradeable at instant speed, Dauthi Mercenary presents a recurring, adaptable threat in games. Its shadow ability grants consistent, unblockable player damage, enhancing deck strategy. Effective in meta game environments where combat and evasion are crucial components.

Tempest (TMP)
1997-10-14 - Number 124

Dauthi Mercenary - Vintage Masters (VMA)

Vintage Masters (VMA)
2014-06-16 - Number 114

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Dauthi Knight Mercenary
Abilities	Shadow
Power	2
Toughness	1

Text of card

Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.) o1o B: Dauthi Mercenary gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

"The Dauthi believe they dignify murder by paying for it." —Lyna, Soltari emissary

Cards like Dauthi Mercenary

The Dauthi Mercenary is a unique card that brings a distinctive edge to black creature-based strategies in MTG. In evaluating similar creatures, Skittering Skirge stands out, offering an aggressive creature for the same converted mana cost. But unlike the Dauthi Mercenary, which relies on Shadow to avoid being blocked, Skittering Skirge can be accessible to removal when you play another creature, which is significant in controlling your board’s stability.

Exploring further in black’s territory, we encounter Knight of Dusk. While it has a higher cost, Knight of Dusk presents the ability to destroy target creatures albeit at the cost of sacrificing resources. Comparatively, the Dauthi Mercenary’s strength is in consistent, unblockable damage versus situational control. Another parallel can be drawn with Vampire Cutthroat. This card boasts both Lifelink and the evasive Skulk ability, profitable for slower, life-total focused decks, contrasting with Dauthi Mercenary’s aggressive, damage-driven approach.

Despite the array of options available in MTG for stealthy and evasive creatures, Dauthi Mercenary remains a solid pick, especially for players seeking a reliable damage-dealer without the need for an extensive board presence, making it a unique asset in shadow-focused combat strategies.

Cards similar to Dauthi Mercenary by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dauthi Mercenary is renowned for its built-in upgradeability, allowing players to consistently enhance its power. This incremental power boost can overwhelm opponents by presenting a recurring threat that must be addressed, thereby leveraging card advantage as resources are diverted to handle the Mercenary.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly contributing to resource acceleration, Dauthi Mercenary thrives in an environment where resources can be managed efficiently. Its shadow ability ensures that it’s often unblockable, which means any investments in powering up this creature are rarely wasted, unlike other creatures that might be easily blocked and removed from the game.

Instant Speed: The key advantage of Dauthi Mercenary lies in its ability to be upgraded at instant speed. You can dynamically decide whether to increase its power during your turn or hold back resources for potential counters or other instant-speed interactions during your opponent’s turn, making it a versatile component in any strategic battle plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dauthi Mercenary card doesn’t directly entail a discard requirement, but its inclusion in your deck could necessitate additional cards to enable its shadow ability. This aspect can be a drawback when trying to keep a balanced hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning Dauthi Mercenary requires both black mana and generic mana, which might not align with decks that are not centered around black or are mana diverse. Ensuring the specific mana is available can be occasionally challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Upgrading Dauthi Mercenary’s power requires a rather substantial investment of mana. This can be inefficient compared to other creatures in the same mana range that may offer higher power or additional abilities without the need for extra investments.

Reasons to Include Dauthi Mercenary in Your Collection

Versatility: Dauthi Mercenary is a flexible inclusion in Black decks that value evasive creatures. Its shadow ability allows it to sneak through defenses, making it a consistent source of player damage in various game situations.

Combo Potential: With the capacity to boost its own power, it pairs well with cards that benefit from high-power creatures or those that trigger upon dealing combat damage to a player.

Meta-Relevance: In specific metas where combat interactions are pivotal, and evasion is at a premium, Dauthi Mercenary shines as a strategic component that adds resilience against many common defensive setups.

How to beat

Dauthi Mercenary can be a persistent threat in Magic: The Gathering, particularly in games where it can go unblocked due to its shadow ability, ensuring it can only be blocked by creatures with shadow. To tackle this elusive mercenary, strategy is key. Cards that can remove creatures without targeting them in combat are effective. Board sweepers or cards that change the rules of combat can force Dauthi Mercenary off the battlefield or nullify its advantages.

Moreover, utilizing spells that can target creatures regardless of their abilities, such as those that say “destroy all creatures,” gives you an opportunity to clear the mercenary off the board. Employing enchantments that prevent damage or block unblockable creatures can also diminish its impact. It’s important to plan ahead and include these strategies in your deck if you’re expecting to face opponents who utilize Dauthi Mercenary or similar elusive creatures.

Adapting to your opponent’s tactics and always being prepared with a response in your deck will give you the edge in maintaining control of the game and ultimately coming out on top against tricky adversaries like Dauthi Mercenary.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dauthi Mercenary MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Vintage Masters, 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 Dauthi Mercenary and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dauthi Mercenary Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by Matthew D. Wilson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-10-14	Tempest	TMP		124	1997	Normal	Black	Matthew D. Wilson
2	2014-06-16	Vintage Masters	VMA		114	2015	Normal	Black	Matthew D. Wilson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dauthi Mercenary has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal