Leonin Squire MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cat Soldier
Released	2004-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Fifth Dawn
Set code	5DN
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	9
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

Leonin Squire grants artifact retrieval, promoting sustained resource advantage and enabling repeated usage of key artifacts.
It’s best used in artifact-heavy decks, ensuring its inclusion can enhance resource acceleration and strategic depth.
The card’s specific abilities position it as a relevant choice in the current metagame, countering artifact disruption strategies.

Text of card

When Leonin Squire comes into play, return target artifact card with converted mana cost 1 or less from your graveyard to your hand.

"I may be kha, but without my soldiers, my people, I am nothing." —Raksha Golden Cub

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The beauty of Leonin Squire lies in its ability to bring back an artifact card from your graveyard directly to your hand when it enters the battlefield. This effect not only recoups previously used resources but also offers potential for repeatable value in decks that frequently see artifacts coming and going from play.

Resource Acceleration: By reclaiming key artifacts, Leonin Squire can indirectly accelerate your resource access. Whether it’s retrieving an artifact that taps for mana or one that reduces the cost of your spells, the squire lays the groundwork for a more robust board presence as the game advances.

Instant Speed: While Leonin Squire itself may not operate at instant speed, the artifacts it returns can be pivotal when considering synergy with instant-speed interactions. Tools that could be recast thanks to the squire’s trigger may offer instant-speed solutions or enable surprise plays, contributing to the versatility and strategic depth of your deck during each match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Leonin Squire doesn’t outright require a discard, but in a roundabout way, it demands that you have a certain type of card (an artifact with a mana cost of 1 or less) in your graveyard to fully take advantage of its ability. This can be seen as a form of “discarding”, since you need to plan for certain cards to be in your graveyard, potentially affecting your hand and playing strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Leonin Squire’s mana cost is specifically white, which may restrict it primarily to mono-white or two-color decks that include white. This mana specificity can limit the card’s flexibility in a variety of decks, potentially excluding it from multi-color decks that don’t focus on white mana or have a tight mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, including one white, Leonin Squire can be seen as having a high cost for its 2/2 body and specific artifact-returning effect. When considering the pace of the game and other available creatures or artifact synergies, players might find more cost-efficient options for their deck that either offer a stronger board presence or a more impactful ability for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Leonin Squire doesn’t lock you into one strategy. Its ability to return artifacts from the graveyard to your hand means it can function in decks that capitalize on artifact synergies or simply as a value play in more general ‘good stuff’ decks.

Combo Potential: The 2/2 Cat Soldier shines in combinations, especially with cards that sacrifice artifacts for gain. Imagine retrieving a key piece of your engine repeatedly, setting the stage for a game-winning move.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low casting cost and utility in recurring artifacts, Leonin Squire holds a solid place in the current metagame. It’s particularly useful against control decks that rely on destroying your vital artifacts, allowing you to maintain pressure and resource continuity.

How to beat

Overcoming the tactical advantages of Leonin Squire is a nuanced task in Magic: The Gathering. This particular creature card, known for its ability to return a small artifact from your graveyard to your hand, offers a subtle yet meaningful form of card advantage. To counter its effects, consider including graveyard disruption within your deck; cards like Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt can effectively nullify the squire’s ability by removing the artifact it targets from the game.

Moreover, efficient removal spells are key to handling creatures like Leonin Squire before their abilities can be leveraged. Instant-speed removals such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile allow you to respond directly to the squire being played, circumventing the potential for artifact recursion. Prioritizing the removal of key artifacts that your opponent may seek to retrieve can also diminish the squire’s utility, reducing their opportunity to exploit its synergy.

In essence, by preemptively managing both the creature and the artifacts within the graveyard environment, you can mitigate the impact of Leonin Squire and maintain an upper hand in your matches within Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Leonin Squire

Leonin Squire is a unique addition to artifact-centric decks in MTG. It stands in comparison with cards like Trusty Retriever, which can also return an artifact from the graveyard to its owner’s hand. However, Leonin Squire comes with a lower mana cost, allowing players to execute their strategies earlier. Trusty Retriever, on the other hand, offers a two-choice flexibility upon entering the battlefield—either to return an artifact or to destroy an enchantment, which Leonin Squire does not have.

Treasure Hunter is another card that mirrors the ability of Leonin Squire. Both cards help recycle valuable artifacts from the graveyard to the hand, but Treasure Hunter is slightly more expensive in mana cost. Despite this, Treasure Hunter offers a larger body on the battlefield, which can be a significant advantage in terms of combat.

Comparatively, Leonin Squire serves the dual purpose of advancing board state while retrieving key artifacts, a trait that is highly appreciated in faster White artifact decks. With these capabilities, Leonin Squire ensures its place as a strategic selection in MTG with its efficiency and early game impact.

Cards similar to Leonin Squire by color, type and mana cost

Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions

Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Leonin Squire MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn, 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 Leonin Squire and other MTG cards: