Dawnray Archer MTG Card

Dawnray Archer offers card advantage through selective removal and instant speed flexibility during opponents’ turns. Its mana-tapping ability accelerates resources, enabling faster spell casting and earlier threat deployment. However, the need to discard and specific mana requirements can limit its playability in diverse decks.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Archer
Abilities	Exalted
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	39
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dan Dos Santos

Text of card

Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) , : Dawnray Archer deals 1 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.

Their shots are fired most often as signals—or at those who didn't get the message.

Cards like Dawnray Archer

Dawnray Archer is a compelling new option for fans of the archery and elven themes in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the utility of cards like Elvish Archdruid with their capacity to empower and support fellow elves. Yet, Dawnray Archer offers a distinct advantage with its reach attribute, allowing it to serve as a defensive asset against flying threats, a trait Elvish Archdruid does not possess.

Another card worth considering is Ezuri, Renegade Leader, renowned for providing regeneration to elf creatures. While Ezuri offers robust protection, the Archer can engage in combat with fliers, safeguarding your ranks from aerial assaults. Moreover, Sylvan Messenger mirrors the Archer’s elf synergies but differs by emphasizing card advantage through its unique reveal-and-draw ability. While not directly combat-related, it’s a critical strategic advantage that supports the elf theme dynamically.

In examining the characteristics and tactical applications of elf-centric cards, Dawnray Archer secures a valued position among MTG’s vast array of creatures. With its reach capability and elf enhancement, it satisfies a specific niche that helps reinforce a player’s defensive stance while maintaining the popular elf archetype.

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dawnray Archer can potentially offer card advantage by efficiently dealing with multiple threats on the board. With its precision removal ability, it can selectively target and undermine an opponent’s key creatures on the field, potentially leading to advantageous trades or board states for the player.

Resource Acceleration: The Dawnray Archer’s ability to tap for mana may contribute to resource acceleration. By providing an additional mana resource, it can play an essential role in ramping up your game, allowing for quicker casting of spells or deploying more powerful creatures earlier in the match.

Instant Speed: Dawnray Archer’s activated abilities being usable at instant speed gives players the flexibility to react to opponents’ moves during their turn. This capability ensures you can make the most informed decisions possible without committing your resources blindly during your own turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dawnray Archer necessitates the discard of another card to leverage its ability. In situations where your hand is already depleted, this can hinder your game plan and set back your board presence significantly.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of mana, including white, which might not effortlessly fit into multi-color decks that don’t heavily feature white mana. This makes Dawnray Archer potentially restrictive in deck building.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost being on the higher side, Dawnray Archer competes with other cards at similar cost levels that might offer immediate impact or stronger abilities. This could lower its inclusion priority in decks where mana efficiency is crucial.

Reasons to Include Dawnray Archer in Your Collection

Versatility: Dawnray Archer is an adaptable inclusion for a variety of MTG decks. As an early game creature, it can serve as both an offensive and defensive tool while its ability to tap and deal damage can be critical for maintaining board control.

Combo Potential: This card has inherent combo potential, particularly in decks that capitalize on untap mechanics or abilities that trigger off dealing damage, allowing for various strategic plays and interactions.

Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that often fluctuates, having a versatile creature like Dawnray Archer can help players stay competitive. Its ability to deal damage to creatures with flying can be a strategic asset against popular flying-heavy decks that dominate certain metagame phases.

How to beat

Dawnray Archer presents a unique challenge in MTG with her combination of exalted and the ability to give a creature first strike until end of turn. When facing this card, it’s critical to prioritize removal spells that can target the Archer before the combat phase. Spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can effectively dispatch her before she can influence a battle, potentially turning the tides in your favor.

Additionally, watch out for your opponent’s mana availability, as the first strike ability requires a single white mana to activate. Denying them resources with land destruction or counterspells like Mana Leak can prevent the first strike activation altogether. Players should consider sweepers such as Supreme Verdict to handle her and other threats simultaneously. Static abilities that negate first strike, found on cards like Archetype of Courage, can nullify her combat trick, leaving her vulnerable.

Navigating around Dawnray Archer’s strengths requires careful planning and a responsive strategy. Effective removal, resource denial, and clever positioning of your creatures can ensure that you remain one step ahead of this cunning archer.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dawnray Archer 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 Dawnray Archer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dawnray Archer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dawnray Archer 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.