Expedition Champion MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Warrior |
| Released | 2020-09-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Zendikar Rising |
| Set code | ZNR |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 138 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Bram Sels |
Text of card
Expedition Champion gets +2/+0 as long as you control another Warrior.
Warriors are combat specialists who bring their deadly skills to bear against the many foes that adventurers face in the course of their journeys.
Cards like Expedition Champion
The Expedition Champion is an intriguing creature card for Magic: The Gathering players who favor creature-focused, red decks. In terms of its design, it shares similarities with other creature cards that boost power based on a certain condition. Take Aetherborn Marauder as an example; it gains power and toughness through distributing +1/+1 counters whenever it enters the battlefield. Although both cards grow under different circumstances, the idea of evolving threats is consistent.
Furthermore, we can draw parallels to Fencing Ace, a card that while starting off with less power, has the double strike ability, potentially delivering more damage if it’s beefed up with enhancements. Expedition Champion stands out in decks abundant with Warriors, as it becomes more potent in that tribe-specific synergy. Warrior enthusiasts will notice that it echoes the tribe-boosting nature found in cards like Goblin Motivator which, while offering a different benefit of haste, also adds value in a well-synergized tribal deck.
Ultimately, while comparing these creature cards, the Expedition Champion remains a valuable asset to Warrior-themed decks, offering significant power increases that can shift combat in your favor. The dynamic nature of this red card makes it a noteworthy consideration for those looking to capitalize on tribally aligned strategies.
Cards similar to Expedition Champion by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Expedition Champion can bolster your battlefield presence significantly by offering a strong body which thrives in decks featuring a high density of Warriors. Players benefit from its inherent advantage in creature-heavy strategies.
Resource Acceleration: Using Expedition Champion effectively lets players leverage tribal synergies to fast-track their board state, thereby increasing their capacity to deploy other threats or answers ahead of the curve.
Instant Speed: Although Expedition Champion operates at sorcery speed, it’s important to highlight the strategic timing of casting such creatures. Knowing when to play Expedition Champion can disrupt opponent strategies, particularly as they may not have accounted for the potential combat prowess it lends your team.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Expedition Champion comes with the caveat that it necessitates discarding another card which often means sacrificing valuable resources from your hand. For players who are strategically planning their hand to optimize upcoming moves, having to discard can interfere with the flow of their game plan, especially if they’re already behind.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Expedition Champion is quite specific, requiring a mix of red mana and generic mana. This specificity can limit the card’s integration into decks that are not primarily red, reducing its flexibility and forcing deck builders to have a higher concentration of red mana sources to consistently cast it on curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Expedition Champion may offer a decent creature body, the mana cost for what it delivers on the battlefield may not always be justified, especially when considering other options available in the mana curve. There are alternatives that can provide more impact with spells or abilities that are more mana-efficient, making Expedition Champion’s higher mana cost a potential drawback in faster-paced or more mana-conscious game strategies.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Expedition Champion excels in red decks that capitalize on a strong warrior presence. Its power boost whenever you control another warrior makes it adaptable to warrior-focused or tribal synergies.
Combo Potential: As a warrior, Expedition Champion works well with cards that benefit from tribal affiliations. Its increased strength can be pivotal in strategies that amplify warriors, potentially swinging games in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors aggressive tactics, Expedition Champion can be a crucial addition. Its reasonable casting cost and conditional power increase can help maintain pressure against slower decks and make it a formidable threat in combat.
How to beat
Expedition Champion is a notable card in MTG that can rapidly enhance its power in decks loaded with other Warriors. Its strength lies in its potential to become a formidable three-mana 4/3 creature, provided you control another Warrior. To counter this threat, it’s crucial to manage the battlefield by quickly removing Warriors. This limits the card’s power boost and keeps it as a bearable 2/3.
Targeted removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile are effective ways to deal with Warriors and thereby diminish the impact of Expedition Champion. Board wipes like Wrath of God can also reset the battlefield, negating the Champion’s advantage entirely. Additionally, using instant-speed interaction to remove the Champion before combat can prevent any Warrior synergy bonuses from affecting the game state.
Strategic blocking is another key tactic. Since Expedition Champion doesn’t have any evasion abilities, creatures with high toughness or those that can generate favorable trades when blocking are excellent ways to mitigate damage and remove the Champion from combat without utilizing spells.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Expedition Champion MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Expedition Champion and other MTG cards:
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- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Expedition Champion 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 Expedition Champion card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-09-25 | Expedition Champion gets just +2/+0, no matter how many other Warriors you control beyond the first. |