Vodalian Soldiers MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Soldier
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Provide early battlefield presence, setting the stage for potential Merfolk synergies and strategic gameplay.
  2. Facilitate mana retention for instant speed plays, adding flexibility and threat response to game tactics.
  3. Suffer from specific mana requirements and potential card disadvantage, demanding careful deck construction.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vodalian Soldiers offer an early presence on the battlefield, setting the stage for card advantage by pressuring opponents and disrupting their strategy.

Resource Acceleration: As part of a synergistic Merfolk deck, Vodalian Soldiers can contribute to resource acceleration by paving the way for more potent tribal spells that benefit from having multiple Merfolk in play.

Instant Speed: Although Vodalian Soldiers themselves may not be an instant, their smaller mana cost facilitates holding mana back for instant speed interactions on your opponent’s turn, giving you greater flexibility in responding to threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vodalian Soldiers require another card from your hand to be discarded to utilize certain abilities. This can be a steep price when your hand is already dwindling, causing you to lose potential late-game resources.

Specific Mana Cost: As a card with a distinct blue mana requirement, Vodalian Soldiers can be restrictive in deck building. It demands a dedicated slot in blue-based or two-color decks where the mana base might not support it consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its abilities and stats, Vodalian Soldiers come at a relatively hefty cost, which may not always align with the tempo of your game plan. Other creatures offer more value or stronger abilities at a similar or lower mana cost, making them more appealing choices in a competitive setting.


Reasons to Include Vodalian Soldiers in Your Collection

Versatility: Vodalian Soldiers effortlessly melds into various blue-centered decks. Given its creature type, it works perfectly in Merfolk tribal builds, which are universally recognized for their synergistic tactics. Its low mana cost also makes it a great early defense against aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: As a Merfolk, it can benefit from cards that target this particular tribe, such as “Lord of Atlantis” which can boost its power and toughness. Other tribal synergies that involve tapping or untapping Merfolk, or that gain benefits whenever a Merfolk enters the battlefield, also welcome this card into the mix.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where tribal decks, particularly Merfolk, are making waves, incorporating Vodalian Soldiers can provide a strategic edge. It gives you a reliable body on the board that can be enhanced with various other cards in the tribe, helping you to maintain a presence on the battlefield.


How to beat

Vodalian Soldiers is recognized for being an early game creature that can bolster the defenses of players in Magic: The Gathering. Their Merfolk lineage is particularly strong in decks that revolve around underwater synergy, capable of creating a formidable board presence in the initial turns. However, their strength lies primarily in quantity rather than individual prowess. Therefore, the key to outmaneuvering Vodalian Soldiers lies in effective removal strategies. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or spot removal like Doom Blade can dismantle a Merfolk assembly with ease, especially when these creatures are relying on their collective force.

Another strategy to diffuse the threat of Vodalian Soldiers is to outpace them with creatures that offer better value over time. Larger creatures can often overpower these soldiers in combat, particularly those that can evade or are unblockable. In addition, utilizing spells that hinder the opponent’s mana base can disrupt their ability to summon multiple Merfolk in quick succession. Keeping Vodalian Soldiers at bay requires a blend of removal, board control, and strategic pacing, ensuring their early game advantage doesn’t escalate into an unwinnable situation for their adversaries.


Cards like Vodalian Soldiers

Vodalian Soldiers fit snugly into the realm of merfolk creatures within Magic: The Gathering. When pitted against their kin, such as Silvergill Adept, both cards share the aquatic theme but diverge in utility. Silvergill Adept, although slightly costlier mana-wise, compensates by offering card draw in addition to its presence on the battlefield. Vodalian Soldiers, traded at a lesser mana value, forgo such card advantage for earlier tactical pressure.

Moving along the current, Merfolk of the Pearl Trident showcases a similar mana cost to Vodalian Soldiers but falls short with no special abilities to boast. Whereas, Vodalian Soldiers’ ability to block flying creatures gives it a strategic edge, lending players a more defensive option. Moreover, considering River Sneak, its ability to grow stronger with each other merfolk played presents a more aggressive upside compared to the Vodalian Soldiers’ consistent but static board presence.

Ultimately, in the waters of MTG, every card has its ebb and flow. Vodalian Soldiers may not make waves with flashy abilities, but as part of a merfolk-centric strategy, they can provide an early defense against aerial threats, a merit not to be underestimated in the right decks.

Silvergill Adept - MTG Card versions
Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
River Sneak - MTG Card versions
Silvergill Adept - Lorwyn (LRW)
Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
River Sneak - Ixalan (XLN)

Cards similar to Vodalian Soldiers by color, type and mana cost

Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Wu Light Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Darting Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Sneaky Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Minamo Sightbender - MTG Card versions
Kaijin of the Vanishing Touch - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Minamo Sightbender - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kaijin of the Vanishing Touch - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vodalian Soldiers MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fallen Empires, 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 Vodalian Soldiers and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vodalian Soldiers Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 1999-04-21. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 31c1993normalblackRichard Kane Ferguson
21994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 31b1993normalblackJeff A. Menges
31994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 31a1993normalblackMelissa A. Benson
41994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 31d1993normalblackSusan Van Camp
51997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1341997normalwhiteMelissa A. Benson
61999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 1041997normalwhiteMelissa A. Benson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vodalian Soldiers has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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