Tenth District Guard MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Released | 2018-10-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Guilds of Ravnica |
| Set code | GRN |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 29 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Craig J Spearing |
Key Takeaways
- A solid 2/2 for two mana, Tenth District Guard offers defense without disrupting your mana curve.
- It enhances board presence and could indirectly lead to card advantage by saving removal spells.
- Despite its limitations, the guard’s consistent defense can be pivotal in certain MTG formats.
Text of card
When Tenth District Guard enters the battlefield, target creature gets +0/+1 until end of turn.
"The Tenth has always been my home. This city is constantly embroiled in one crisis or another, but I'm determined to protect my piece."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Tenth District Guard doesn’t directly offer card draw, its presence on the battlefield can lead to a card advantage by efficiently blocking and neutralizing threats. This could potentially save spells in your hand that you might have used for removal, thereby indirectly contributing to maintaining your hand’s resources.
Resource Acceleration: Although Tenth District Guard doesn’t provide resource acceleration in the form of mana or tokens, it does allow you to deploy a steady board presence with minimal mana investment. This two-mana 2/2 creature helps establish your game without hindering your mana curve, which can be essential for keeping pace with your opponent and setting the stage for more impactful plays.
Instant Speed: While the Tenth District Guard itself isn’t an instant, playing creatures like this during your second main phase can be a strategic move. It keeps mana available for actual instant speed interaction on your opponent’s turn. This vigilant commitment of resources can psychologically pressure your opponent, as they must consider potential combat tricks or removal you might have at the ready.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Tenth District Guard doesn’t demand discarding from your hand, the quandary lies within its inherent replaceability in a deck. Its potential absence may force you to discard more valuable cards to make room for essential spells or creatures.
Specific Mana Cost: Tenth District Guard requires a precise mana combination to cast. This locks the card into decks that can generate white mana, possibly restricting its integration into multicolored or specific theme decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given that the Tenth District Guard costs two mana for a 2/2 creature with no additional abilities, one could argue that its casting cost is steep compared to other options. With many alternatives offering more bang for your buck, players might find the cost of this District Guard a bit too taxing for its ordinary stats.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tenth District Guard is a reliable defender in Limited formats. With its simple mana cost and solid defensive stats, it can be easily slotted into any white-based deck that needs a steadfast blocker to protect more valuable creatures or preserve player life.
Combo Potential: Although not known for its combo capabilities, Tenth District Guard’s ability to give another creature +0/+1 until end of turn can be utilized in niche situations to fortify a key creature during a critical turn, potentially shifting the tide of battle in subtle but effective ways.
Meta-Relevance: As decks evolve, adaptable creatures that serve as straightforward defensive pieces can gain unexpected relevance. The Tenth District Guard stands ready to hold the line against aggressive strategies, its presence ensuring your more impactful spells have the time they need to turn the game in your favor.
How to beat Tenth District Guard
Tenth District Guard may not be the most formidable creature on the battlefield, but its enters-the-field ability to bolster other creatures’ defense can present an unexpected hurdle. This common creature from the Ravnica sets is often used to enhance a defense strategy, ensuring your opponents have to work a bit harder to break through your lines.
To effectively counter Tenth District Guard, removal spells are a straightforward approach. Swift cards like Shock or Dead Weight can easily handle its modest stat line without much investment. If the Guard is part of a synergistic deck focused on “enter the battlefield” effects or creature buffs, it might be wise to hold onto your removal for more threatening targets while you develop board presence. Alternatively, evasion tactics such as flying or trample can simply bypass the Guard, rendering its defensive buff inconsequential.
Managing resources effectively and recognizing the right moment to act are key. In many cases, the Tenth District Guard serves as a minor speed bump rather than a serious threat. Keeping this perspective helps you maintain control over the game and prevent your opponent from capitalizing on its defensive capabilities.
Cards like Tenth District Guard
The Tenth District Guard serves as a reliable inclusion in decks necessitating a defensive creature early in the game. This card, like other steadfast defenders in MTG, plays a pivotal role in deterring early aggressive strategies by providing a quick creature on the board. A comparable card, Loyal Sentry, also presents an early defense mechanism, but it comes with the ability to destroy any creature it blocks, trading its life for potential game-swaying removal.
Inspecting another relative, Concordia Pegasus, we note its flying ability offering an aerial edge over Tenth District Guard. While not as robust with only one power, the ability to evade ground blockers can prove advantageous. Then there’s Dutiful Attendant, a creature designed to return another target creature from the graveyard to your hand after it dies, providing long-term value beyond its initial defensive application. Although the Tenth District Guard lacks this utility, it compensates with an extra point of toughness.
In assessing the playability and deck compatibility of these creatures, the Tenth District Guard holds its ground as a solid early game defender. It is especially potent in decks that benefit from having a sturdy yet inexpensive blocker to protect life totals or key permanents.
Cards similar to Tenth District Guard by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tenth District Guard 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 Tenth District Guard 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 MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tenth District Guard 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 |
