Hussar Patrol MTG Card

Return to Ravnica (RTR)
2012-10-05 - Number 169

Hussar Patrol - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)

Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)
2014-09-05 - Number 55

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Knight
Abilities	Vigilance, Flash
Power	2
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Vigilance enables Hussar Patrol to attack without tapping, keeping your defenses ready.
With flash, the Patrol can surprise opponents and disrupt their plans strategically.
Despite costing four mana, its balanced abilities justify the investment in many scenarios.

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.) Vigilance

"You think no one is watching, you think you're smart enough to escape, and most foolish of all, you think no one cares." —Arrester Lavinia, Tenth Precinct

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hussar Patrol’s vigilance ability ensures that you have a defender on guard while still being able to attack, helping you outmaneuver your opponent and maintain presence on the board.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting resources, the four mana cost for a 2/4 creature with vigilance and flash is a reasonable trade-off, maximizing the efficiency of your mana usage, especially since it can be played at the end of your opponent’s turn.

Instant Speed: As a creature with flash, Hussar Patrol can be summoned at instant speed, surprising your opponent by unexpectedly bolstering your defenses or applying offensive pressure during their turn, which can pivot the game dynamics in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Hussar Patrol does not have a discard requirement itself, playing it might force you to prioritize it over other cards, potentially prompting a discard of useful resources in order to maintain a mindful hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: Hussar Patrol requires both white and blue mana to cast, which may restrict its inclusion to only Azorius decks or those capable of producing both colors fluidly, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Hussar Patrol’s cost is on the higher side for its stats and abilities. Other creatures in the game offer more impactful abilities or present a greater threat for a similar mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hussar Patrol is a flexible addition to any deck looking for stability in the mid-game. With flash, it can surprise opponents by swooping into battle or blocking when least expected, making it a versatile tool for a variety of situations.

Combo Potential: Its vigilance allows it to remain untapped after an attack, ready to be part of defensive strategies or to be combined with cards that leverage untapped creatures. This can lead to potential synergies in both offensive and defensive setups.

Meta-Relevance: Considering that Hussar Patrol’s presence can shift the tempo of the game, it’s particularly useful in a meta that favors quick skirmishes where maintaining board presence without sacrificing defensive capabilities is crucial.

How to beat

Hussar Patrol is a versatile creature card that combines both offensive and defensive capabilities in MTG. Its flash ability allows you to play it at instant speed, which can catch your opponent off guard or enable you to block when they least expect it. Moreover, the card possesses vigilance, meaning it doesn’t tap when it attacks, allowing it to remain ready to block during your opponent’s turn. These two attributes make it a reliable card in both protecting your life total and maintaining board presence.

Overcoming the effectiveness of Hussar Patrol requires a bit of strategy. One approach is to utilize removal spells that can bypass its flash ability by targeting it either before it’s played or during your turn when the element of surprise is not on your opponent’s side. Another tactic is to diminish its combat relevance by overpowering it with stronger creatures or using spells that can reduce its toughness. Enhancing your creatures with auras or equipment to surpass the Patrol’s defending capabilities or employing evasive abilities like flying or trample can also prove effective.

Ultimately, while Hussar Patrol adds dynamic defensive play to the game, with the right approach and cards, you can come out on top. Keeping in mind its strengths will help you craft a strategy that mitigates its impact on the game and allows you to maintain control of the board.

Cards like Hussar Patrol

Hussar Patrol enters the foray of four mana-cost creatures in Magic: The Gathering with the added functionality of flash. This attribute allows it to be played at the same speed as instant spells, much like its kin, Snapcaster Mage. While Snapcaster Mage may not boast the same Vigilance ability, it does offer versatility through its unique spell-recasting feature upon entry to the battlefield. This can be a game-changer, offering tremendous strategic advantage in the right deck.

Another noteworthy analog is Restoration Angel. Although it requires one white mana more than Hussar Patrol, it carries a more dominant presence on the board with both flying and flash, and the added utility of its flicker ability. This tactical element can be used to save creatures from removal or to re-trigger enter-the-battlefield abilities, broadening its impact on the game.

While Hussar Patrol might not make headlines for ground-breaking mechanics, its blend of instant-speed play and the capacity to attack and block without tapping it down elevates its role in decks that seek to remain ever-alert. In the parade of similar cards, the Patrol’s balanced stats and functionality ensure it remains a dependable choice within the game’s vast library.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hussar Patrol MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning, 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 Hussar Patrol and other MTG cards: