Defiant Salvager MTG Card
2017-01-20 - Number 56
2020-08-07 - Number 83
2020-11-12 - Number 79
2020-11-20 - Number 117
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Aetherborn Artificer |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Sacrifice an artifact or creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Defiant Salvager. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
"I didn't survive that crash just so I could fall to the likes of you."
Cards like Defiant Salvager
Defiant Salvager is an intriguing creature card that finds its place within the pool of MTG’s sacrificing mechanics. Its closest relatives include the likes of Ravenous Intruder, which shares the ability to sacrifice artifacts or creatures for a boost in power. The key difference, however, is that Ravenous Intruder gains its power uptick until end of turn, offering a potential for a lethal attack within a single turn.
Comparably, Syndicate Trafficker presents itself as another kin, permitting the sacrifice of artifacts to both increase power and offer indestructible as a form of protection for the turn. This aspect grants an advantage in resilience over Defiant Salvager, which only strengthens without gaining any form of defense. Yet another alternative in this arena is Yahenni, Undying Partisan who, while naturally incorporating the sacrifice mechanism to grow stronger, also boasts haste and the potential for gaining indestructibility when other creatures die.
Assessing them side by side, each card provides unique strategic advantages within the art of sacrificing. However, Defiant Salvager offers the continuous growth without being confined to a single turn, potentially leading to a steadily increasing threat on the board that can become formidable over time.
Cards similar to Defiant Salvager by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Defiant Salvager lets you sacrifice artifacts or creatures to build up a formidable creature on the battlefield. This can prove valuable when you turn excess resources into a sizeable threat, efficiently impacting the game state.
Resource Acceleration: Combining Defiant Salvager with cards that generate tokens or redundant permanents can rapidly accelerate your board presence. As you convert resources typically stagnant into offensive power, you effectively expedite your strategy and pressure your opponent.
Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice other creatures or artifacts at any time gives you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves. This not only makes the Defiant Salvager a versatile tool for interactions but also allows for surprise combat tricks, potentially turning the tide at pivotal moments in the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Defiant Salvager necessitates sacrificing another artifact or creature to activate its ability, potentially depleting your board presence and resources.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires black mana, which may not seamlessly fit into all deck architectures, particularly those that are color-diverse or have mana constraints.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the need to invest both mana for playing Defiant Salvager and additional resources to utilize its ability, some players might find other cards offer a more economical way to strengthen their board state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Defiant Salvager offers flexibility across various deck archetypes. It can serve as a reliable sacrifice outlet for strategies that benefit from sacrificing creatures or artifacts for greater gain.
Combo Potential: Its ability to convert other permanents into +1/+1 counters lends itself to numerous synergistic opportunities. Pairing Defiant Salvager with cards that generate tokens or have death triggers can create a potent combination on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that appreciates incremental advantage and resilient threats, Defiant Salvager carves out a niche. It thrives in metagames where artifact and creature strategies are prevalent, making it a steadfast addition to collections aiming to remain competitive.
How to beat
Defiant Salvager, a card found within the artifact-rich environment of Aether Revolt, offers players an intriguing outlet for sacrifice strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It can single-handedly dismantle the careful plans of an opponent by steadily growing in power, as long as you can feed it with sufficient artifacts or creatures. But how does one overcome an adaptable adversary like Defiant Salvager?
Removal spells that bypass the channels of combat are the key. Rather than allowing Defiant Salvager to reap the benefits of its activated ability, which requires no mana and simply can’t be used during a turn’s combat phase, instant-speed removal is most effective. Spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can handle this creature before it spirals out of control. Additionally, managing the board to minimize potential sacrifice fodder is crucial. By limiting the number of artifacts and creatures available for the Salvager’s ability, you constrain its power level and ensure its impact on the game remains in check.
It’s crucial to strike a delicate balance – act swiftly, but with consideration, to halt the Salvager before it becomes a towering threat that demands an immediate answer. In most cases, handling Defiant Salvager smoothly means a clear path to victory in your game of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Defiant Salvager MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt and Double 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 Defiant Salvager and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- 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
Printings
The Defiant Salvager Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2017-01-20 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Volkan Baǵa.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-01-20 | Aether Revolt | AER | 56 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 2 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 83 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 3 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 79 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 4 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 117 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Defiant Salvager has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Defiant Salvager card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-11-10 | If you sacrifice an artifact creature to activate Defiant Salvager's ability, you put one +1/+1 counter on Defiant Salvager, not two. |
| 2020-11-10 | You can sacrifice Defiant Salvager to activate its own ability. It won't receive a counter, but abilities that trigger on the sacrifice or watch for a creature dying will see it. |