Foot Soldiers MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 16
1999-07-01 - Number 17
2005-07-29 - Number 14
2005-07-29 - Number 14★
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Cards like Foot Soldiers
Foot Soldiers is an intriguing card centered around the theme of unity and numbers in Magic: The Gathering. It shares the battlefield with other creature cards such as Squadron Hawk, which similarly allows you to search for copies of itself when played. Despite both offering a way to populate the board, Foot Soldiers require you invest mana for each copy fetched, while Squadron Hawk provides immediate value by retrieving additional copies directly to your hand.
Looking into the realm of token generation, Raise the Alarm stands out as a comparable card. It quickly creates two soldier tokens for a mere two mana at instant speed, enabling a surprise defense or bolstering your ranks during the opponent’s turn. Although it lacks the self-replicating feature of Foot Soldiers, its efficiency can’t be overlooked.
In essence, while Foot Soldiers may excel in creating a prolonged presence on the board, other cards like Squadron Hawk and Raise the Alarm offer more immediate benefits or flexibility. In terms of building an army, each card has its strategic advantages depending on your game plan and the pace you wish to set in the MTG arena.
Cards similar to Foot Soldiers by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Foot Soldiers cards often allow you to search your library for additional soldier cards to put into your hand or directly onto the battlefield, bolstering your armies and providing a steady flow of resources.
Resource Acceleration: Many Foot Soldiers cards are low-cost, which enables you to deploy multiple creatures quickly and efficiently, outpacing your opponent’s ability to summon defenders.
Instant Speed: Certain Foot Soldiers benefits include flash or instant-speed abilities that surprise opponents during their turn, disrupting their strategy and keeping them on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Foot Soldiers often necessitate you to discard another card as part of the casting or activation process. This diminishes your hand, possibly leaving you vulnerable to an opponent’s strategy or unable to respond to threats effectively.
Specific Mana Cost: The Foot Soldiers cards typically require a specific combination of mana, which can be problematic for multi-color decks that might struggle to consistently produce the needed mana types, thereby limiting the card’s versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the ability and overall impact of Foot Soldiers, the mana cost can be relatively high. This cost imbalance means that by the time you’re able to deploy these creatures, you may be facing more powerful threats from your opponent that offer a better value for their mana cost.
Reasons to Include Foot Soldiers in Your Collection
Versatility: Foot Soldiers are easily adaptable to various deck themes, thanks to their flexible role as chump blockers or an increased presence with army-building strategies.
Combo Potential: These cards work well in synergy with effects that boost the power of each creature or leverage the numbers for abilities that count the soldiers you have on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: They can shine in a meta that favors board presence, allowing for constant pressure on opponents through sheer numbers and strategic alignments with other soldier-themed cards.
How to beat
Confronting a horde of Foot Soldiers in Magic: The Gathering can be an intimidating challenge. These relentless warriors often swell in numbers, turning what seems to be a simple creature card into a threatening army on the battlefield. Unlike spells that target individual threats, Foot Soldiers thrive on unity and collective strength.
To outmaneuver these units, strategic removal is key. Sweeper spells that clear multiple creatures at once can dismantle a platoon of Foot Soldiers, ensuring they won’t overrun you. Using spot removal could be less efficient unless you’re picking off a critical buffed Soldier. Additionally, employing creatures with the ‘reach’ or ‘flying’ abilities can prove to be a superior defense strategy, taking advantage of the Foot Soldiers’ lack of aerial capability. Control decks with counterspells also keep their numbers in check, preventing your opponent from ever establishing their presence.
Ultimately, success lies in preventing the build-up of Foot Soldiers or disrupting synergies that enhance their power. Adequate preparation and the right mix of spells in your deck will turn this tide of battle, allowing you to hold the line and come out victorious against the relentless march of Foot Soldiers.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Foot Soldiers MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Starter 1999, 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 Foot Soldiers 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
Printings
The Foot Soldiers Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by Kev Walker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 16 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 17 | 1997 | Normal | White | Kev Walker | |
| 3 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 14 | 2003 | Normal | White | Kev Walker | |
| 4 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 14★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Foot Soldiers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |