Fairgrounds Warden MTG Card

Acts as a non-draw-card advantage by temporarily removing opponent creatures from the game. Enables mana savings, allowing for other spells and creatures to be played efficiently. Provides strategic exile timing that can catch opponents unprepared.

Kaladesh (KLD)
2016-09-30 - Number 13

Fairgrounds Warden - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)

Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
2020-11-12 - Number 17

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Dwarf Soldier
Power	1
Toughness	3

Text of card

When Fairgrounds Warden enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until Fairgrounds Warden leaves the battlefield.

"You're coming with me."

Cards like Fairgrounds Warden

Fairgrounds Warden holds a unique position in MTG, paralleling other creatures with detain abilities. Comparable to Fiend Hunter, it offers a similar exiling effect upon entering the battlefield. However, Fairgrounds Warden is more recent, hailing from the Kaladesh set and sporting a lower power stat, which can sometimes mean it has a lower threat level to opponents.

Likewise, Banisher Priest stands in contrast to Fairgrounds Warden, sharing the same casting cost and effect, but differing in creature type. This difference can be significant depending on the deck’s synergies and the tribal themes it might be leveraging. Additionally, both cards return the exiled creature once they leave the battlefield, making them temporary solutions to threats.

Conclusively, amongst MTG’s creature-based temporary exile options, Fairgrounds Warden fits securely into strategies looking for removal on a creature. Its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies, at least momentarily, while developing your board presence is what makes Fairgrounds Warden a viable inclusion in decks that can sustain its board presence or capitalize on its enter-the-battlefield effect.

Cards similar to Fairgrounds Warden by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Fairgrounds Warden. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Mono-White Midrange	Gladiator		Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 08 2024
	Abzan Combo	Gladiator		Gladiator Games: We're Back

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fairgrounds Warden may not let you draw cards, but it does something equally valuable by exiling an opponent’s creature as long as it remains on the battlefield. This temporary removal can disrupt your opponent’s strategy and provide pivotal turning points during the match.

Resource Acceleration: Although Fairgrounds Warden doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it effectively saves your mana by dealing with potential threats without requiring costly removal spells. This lets you allocate mana towards other spells and creatures, keeping up the pressure or developing your board presence more efficiently.

Instant Speed: While Fairgrounds Warden operates at sorcery speed, its impact is similar to instant speed removal in certain situations. It can be played right before your turn, ensuring that the exile effect aligns with your strategic timing, and possibly catching an opponent off-guard by removing a key creature they were relying on for the next phase of their plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fairgrounds Warden’s ability potentially leaves you vulnerable, as removing it from the battlefield will return the exiled creature to your opponent. This can be particularly detrimental in the late game when you have fewer resources to handle the returned threat.

Specific Mana Cost: While not overly restrictive, Fairgrounds Warden’s two white mana requirement does commit you significantly to white, making it less flexible in multi-colored decks that may not prioritize white mana generation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana for a 1/3 creature, Fairgrounds Warden is often overshadowed by other removal options, such as Declaration in Stone or Path to Exile, which are more mana-efficient and don’t risk returning the exiled creature.

Reasons to Include Fairgrounds Warden in Your Collection

Versatility: Fairgrounds Warden adds value to a variety of decks with its ability to temporarily remove a creature from the battlefield. This flexible control element can swing the momentum in your favor, making it useful in different gameplay scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card works well with flicker or bounce effects, allowing you to repeatedly exile creatures and control the board. Its synergistic capabilities provide opportunities for creative deck builders to explore unique combinations.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creatures play a pivotal role, Fairgrounds Warden gains significance by being a key piece of interaction. It can disrupt opponents’ strategies and is particularly effective against decks that rely on powerful or combo-centric creatures.

How to beat

Fairgrounds Warden may not look intimidating at first glance, but this creature can tilt the battlefield in your opponent’s favor by exiling one of your creatures until Fairgrounds Warden leaves the board. Overcoming this obstacle requires strategic moves and a clear understanding of removal options within your deck.

To reclaim your creature, focus on removing Fairgrounds Warden from the battlefield. Direct removal spells such as Murder or Fatal Push can quickly dispatch the Warden, thus returning your exiled creature to the battlefield. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation are also effective, especially if your opponent has accumulated multiple threatening creatures along with the Warden. If direct removal isn’t within your reach, combat tricks or abilities that reduce the Warden’s toughness to zero will also do the trick. Utilizing enchantment-based removal options, such as Oblivion Ring, can sideline the Warden long enough for you to regain control.

Always be mindful of the state of the board and your resources. Keeping removal or counter spells at the ready ensures that Fairgrounds Warden won’t disrupt your strategy for long. In some scenarios, aggressively pressuring your opponent so that they’re forced to block with the Warden is another path to freeing your exiled creature.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fairgrounds Warden MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Fairgrounds Warden and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fairgrounds Warden Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Izzy.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-09-30	Kaladesh	KLD		13	2015	Normal	Black	Izzy
2	2020-11-12	Kaladesh Remastered	KLR		17	2015	Normal	Black	Izzy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fairgrounds Warden has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fairgrounds Warden card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2016-09-20	Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners' graveyards. Any Equipment will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled permanent will cease to exist.
2016-09-20	If Fairgrounds Warden leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves, the target creature won't be exiled.
2016-09-20	If a creature token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won't return to the battlefield.
2016-09-20	In a multiplayer game, if Fairgrounds Warden's owner leaves the game, the exiled card will return to the battlefield. Because the one-shot effect that returns the card isn't an ability that goes on the stack, it won't cease to exist along with the leaving player's spells and abilities on the stack.
2016-09-20	The exiled card returns to the battlefield immediately after Fairgrounds Warden leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions.