Guardian of New Benalia MTG Card
2022-09-09 - Number 19
2022-09-09 - Number 386
2022-09-09 - Number 19s
2022-09-09 - Number 19p
2002-06-24 - Number 103388
2022-09-09 - Number 8
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | Enlist,Scry |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Enlist (As this creature attacks, you may tap a nonattacking creature you control without summoning sickness. When you do, add its power to this creature's until end of turn.) Whenever Guardian of New Benalia enlists a creature, scry 2. Discard a card: Guardian of New Benalia gains indestructible until end of turn. Tap it.
Cards like Guardian of New Benalia
Guardian of New Benalia enters the ever-expanding realm of creature spells with an emphasis on vigilance. Much like the admired Loxodon Smiter, this card offers a substantial presence on the battlefield. However, the Guardian introduces players to an additional layer of utility with its scry ability, thus furnishing strategic deck manipulation that Loxodon Smiter does not provide.
Considering Akroma, Angel of Fury, another creature that promotes a mixture of offensive and defensive tactics. While Akroma brings formidable flying and protection abilities to the table, Guardian of New Benalia stands out with a lower casting cost, making it a strategic early-game drop. Where Akroma might excel in evading blockers and damage, the Guardian excels in deck setup and board stability.
Equally noteworthy is Serra Angel, an iconic card known for its vigilant stance in combat. Nevertheless, the Guardian verges ahead with its contemporary edge — the scry ability, augmenting a player’s tactical advantage over traditional combat-ready creatures. It is the fusion of foresight and presence that places Guardian of New Benalia as a notable competitor within its class.
Cards similar to Guardian of New Benalia by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Guardian of New Benalia. 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 Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Mono-White Humans | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
| Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
| Naya Aggro | Standard | Naya Aggro | The Pizza Box Open: Standard |
| Mono-White Death & Taxes | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Boros Aggro | Standard | Boros Aggro | 2023Players Convention Aichi 2023 Standard Open |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Guardian of New Benalia provides a significant edge by potentially revealing essential cards on the top of your library to fortify your hand or prepare your next plays, ensuring you have the necessary tools to outmaneuver opponents.
Resource Acceleration: This card can act as a catalyst for resource acceleration by scouting the upcoming draws and smoothing out land drops or setting up future turns with strategic plays, helping build up your presence on the board more rapidly.
Instant Speed: Its ability to interact during either player’s turn at instant speed offers tremendous flexibility, enabling dynamic responses to threats or altering combat outcomes to your favor at pivotal moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In playing the Guardian of New Benalia, you may be confronted with the trade-off of discarding another card. This can result in a strategic setback, especially if your hand is already running thin, making it a tough call to bring this creature onto the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Guardian of New Benalia is particular, requiring a mix that might not always align with your deck’s mana base. It demands a certain commitment to white mana, which can pose a challenge in multicolored decks trying to maintain a flexible mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the effectiveness of your deck’s mana expenditure, the Guardian of New Benalia’s cost may appear steep relative to other options available. Players often assess the value based on the immediate impact a card has upon entering the game, and in this case, you might find other creatures or spells that offer more bang for your buck at a similar or lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include Guardian of New Benalia in Your Collection
Versatility: Guardian of New Benalia offers a dynamic blend of aggressive stats and protective abilities. It suits various archetypes, from aggressive decks needing a resilient threat to more control-oriented builds seeking a potent defender on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: With its capacity to shield other creatures or itself, it can seamlessly integrate with strategies that capitalize on synergy between creatures. These defensive capabilities can be a linchpin in combos that require maintaining a stable board presence.
Meta-Relevance: In fast-paced metagames, Guardian of New Benalia shines by hindering opponent attacks and sustaining board control. Its presence can tip the scales in matches where maintaining momentum and creature superiority is paramount.
How to beat
The Guardian of New Benalia emerges as an intriguing creature in the MTG arena, providing a robust defense line. It’s important to understand that overcoming this guardian hinges on strategic plays. In essence, cards that can bypass or nullify its abilities are key. Removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes like “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” can sweep away the guardian without triggering its protective effects. Moreover, spells like “Settle the Wreckage” guide it off the battlefield before it can fortify its position.
Alternatively, employing counterspells like “Dovin’s Veto” or “Negate” upon its casting can prevent the guardian from taking root on the field. Remember, timing is crucial here. Waiting for the guardian to become a centerpiece of your opponent’s strategy will often prove too late. Tackling it early and head-on is the best course of action. Lastly, manipulating combat through cards that force a block or grant trample to your attackers, such as “Grappling Hook” or “Kessig Wolf Run,” might turn the tide by pushing through the guardian’s defenses.
In summary, facing off against the Guardian of New Benalia demands a mix of foresight and decisive action. It mandates keeping your removal and counterspells in line with its emergence to maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Guardian of New Benalia MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Dominaria United, 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 Guardian of New Benalia 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
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Printings
The Guardian of New Benalia Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Ernanda Souza.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 103388 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ernanda Souza | ||
| 2 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 19 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ernanda Souza | |
| 3 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 386 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ernanda Souza | |
| 4 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Promos | PDMU | 19s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ernanda Souza | |
| 5 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Promos | PDMU | 19p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ernanda Souza | |
| 6 | Dominaria United Art Series | ADMU | 8 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Ernanda Souza |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Guardian of New Benalia has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Guardian of New Benalia card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-09-09 | Guardian of New Benalia’s second ability triggers whenever its controller taps another creature for Guardian of New Benalia’s enlist ability. |
| 2022-09-09 | The attacking player chooses whether to tap a creature for an enlist ability immediately after they tap the creatures that they have chosen to attack with. You can’t choose to enlist a creature later. |
| 2022-09-09 | To enlist a creature, that creature must be untapped, it must not be attacking (even if it has vigilance), and it must have haste or have been under that attacking player’s control since the beginning of their current turn. |
| 2022-09-09 | When a player taps a creature for an attacking creature’s enlist ability, that attacking creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the tapped creature’s power. This is a triggered ability that goes on the stack immediately after attackers have been declared in the declare attackers step. |
| 2022-09-09 | You may activate Guardian of New Benalia’s last ability even if it’s already tapped. You may also activate that ability multiple times in the same turn, even if Guardian of New Benalia already has indestructible. |
| 2022-09-09 | You may tap only one creature for an enlist ability of an attacking creature, and a single creature can’t be tapped for more than one enlist ability. |