Sworn Companions MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2018-10-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Guilds of Ravnica |
| Set code | GRN |
| Number | 27 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Jason Rainville |
Key Takeaways
- Lifelink soldiers from Sworn Companions effectively add defense and aid in long-term strategy for life advantage.
- The card is essential for token-based strategies, amplifying effects of creature-heavy gameplay.
- Situational usage as a sorcery, requiring strategic play for maximum battlefield impact.
Text of card
Create two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens with lifelink.
"The trouble with youths these days is that, in outright defiance of their elders, they refuse to be bought." —Karlov of the Ghost Council
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sworn Companions brings added value by providing two creature tokens with lifelink. Each creature not only serves as a potential blocker but also as a means for gaining life, effectively giving you a cushion in the game and the potential for outpacing your opponent in a war of attrition.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly affecting mana resources, the two 1/1 lifelink soldier tokens that Sworn Companions creates can be pivotal for strategies that capitalize on token generation. Their presence can amplify effects of other cards that thrive on having multiple creatures in play, thereby accelerating your board state and presence.
Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Sworn Companions demands strategic planning for maximum effect. While it can’t be cast as a surprise during an opponent’s turn, its reliable token generation allows you to set up defenses or prepare for an offensive push on your terms, making it a consistent tool for shaping the battlefield to your advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Casting Sworn Companions requires you to have a stable board presence which could be disrupted if required to discard another useful card from your hand to optimize the play of this card, potentially setting back your momentum.
Specific Mana Cost: Sworn Companions demands a committed white mana cost, necessitating two white mana symbols as part of its casting cost. This can hinder the card’s versatility as it locks you into a white-based strategy and can be challenging to cast in a multi-colored deck that isn’t heavily weighted towards white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, Sworn Companions provides two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens with lifelink, which might not stack up favorably against other token-generating options. There are cards available at similar mana costs that can produce greater numbers of tokens or tokens with higher utility, making Sworn Companions a potentially less competitive choice for deck builders focusing on efficiency and value.
Reasons to Include Sworn Companions in Your Collection
Versatility: Sworn Companions serves as an efficient way to create creature tokens and boost your creature presence on the board. This card can slide into various white-based token strategies, enhancing both aggro and midrange deck builds.
Combo Potential: The lifelink soldiers provided by Sworn Companions are perfect for synergizing with life-gain mechanics or any strategy that thrives on controlling multiple creatures. Their presence can help activate convoke spells or empower cards that count the number of creatures you control.
Meta-Relevance: In the ever-shifting landscape of MTG, a card like Sworn Companions becomes even more valuable when the meta favors longer games and strategies centered around incremental advantage. The additional creatures can lead to favorable trades and build the foundation for a strong board presence.
How to beat
Sworn Companions is a white sorcery spell that allows players to create two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens with lifelink. Its strength lies in the ability to provide a quick defensive presence and potential life gain. To counteract the benefits of Sworn Companions, efficient removal spells can be highly effective. Cards like Cry of the Carnarium or Electrickery can wipe out multiple tokens at once, negating the life gain and board presence.
Another strategy is to apply pressure early in the game. Fast-paced aggro decks can often outpace the token generation, limiting the opponent’s ability to stabilize with lifelink soldiers. Additionally, preventing the tokens from gaining lifelink through cards that remove abilities or using counterspells to prevent Sworn Companions from resolving can tilt the match in your favor. Adjusting your deck to include these strategies can help maintain the upper hand against Sworn Companions.
Overall, while Sworn Companions can bolster the battlefield and provide a cushion with lifelink, it is vulnerable to mass removal and fast-paced strategies. A thought-out approach that includes these tactics can effectively neutralize the impact of Sworn Companions in a match.
Cards like Sworn Companions
Sworn Companions stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a card that allows players to establish a presence on the board. It’s akin to cards like Raise the Alarm, which also produces two creature tokens for the same mana cost. Where Sworn Companions differs is in the lifelink ability granted to its creature tokens, bolstering the player’s life total as they engage in combat. In contrast, Raise the Alarm’s creature tokens come without lifelink, providing no such life-gain benefit.
Another relative in this space is Queen’s Commission. Much like Sworn Companions, it churns out two creature tokens, these bearing the vampire subtype and lifelink. The distinction here is the tribal synergy with vampires that Queen’s Commission offers versus the broader applicability of Sworn Companions’ soldier tokens. Going further, Call the Conclave generates a single 3/3 centaur token, trading quantity for quality in terms of board impact.
Upon examining these comparisons, Sworn Companions reliably delivers value for token strategies in MTG, especially in decks that thrive on life-gain and combat tactics.
Cards similar to Sworn Companions by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sworn Companions MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Sworn Companions and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sworn Companions has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
