Hardy Veteran MTG Card

Excels at early-game defense, discouraging attacks and helping to maintain card quality and life totals. Its sorcery speed play reinforces the importance of strategic thinking to leverage its defensive capabilities. Demands commitment to green mana, which may restrict its use in multi-colored deck strategies.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Warrior
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

As long as it's your turn, Hardy Veteran gets +0/+2.

For the Sun Empire, the Immortal Sun is a symbol of national identity. When they reclaim it, the Empire will flourish once more.

Cards like Hardy Veteran

Hardy Veteran stands out as an intriguing creature card for players who are keen on building a strong defensive frontline. It draws parallels to other MTG cards like Elvish Rejuvenator, which also provides a sturdy presence on the board with its ability to search for lands. However, what makes Hardy Veteran special is its toughness boost during your turn, making it a reliable blocker that can survive multiple combat phases.

Another card worth mentioning is Gatecreeper Vine, which, like Hardy Veteran, offers a defensive wall but also comes with the utility of fetching a land card. Its defensive capabilities are static, unlike Hardy Veteran’s conditional toughness increase. Centaur Courser is yet another creature card that shares similar stats to Hardy Veteran when blocking, but lacks the dynamic defense fluctuation that Hardy Veteran embodies.

Assessing these comparisons, Hardy Veteran can be valued not just as a protective creature but also as a strategic asset. Its capacity to become tougher on your own turn gives it a unique advantage and offers players an excellent defense that represents a challenge for opponents to overcome.

Elvish Rejuvenator - MTG Card versions
Gatecreeper Vine - MTG Card versions
Centaur Courser - MTG Card versions
Elvish Rejuvenator - MTG Card versions
Gatecreeper Vine - MTG Card versions
Centaur Courser - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Hardy Veteran doesn’t directly offer card draw, it can aid in maintaining card quality on the battlefield. It can deter opponents from attacking, effectively helping you to preserve your resources and precious life tally.

Resource Acceleration: While Hardy Veteran is not a direct source of mana, its low casting cost makes it an easily deployed creature that can solidify your presence on the board early in the game. This can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by allowing you to commit fewer resources for a robust defense.

Instant Speed: Hardy Veteran operates at sorcery speed, which reinforces the need for strategic play during your own turn. However, by understanding when to deploy this stalwart defender effectively, players can still maximize their instant-speed interactions without compromising board stability.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hardy Veteran’s utility might be reduced for players when faced with effects that force discard, lessening the number of creatures available for a defensive front.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both green mana symbols, Hardy Veteran asks for a commitment to green, potentially hampering its inclusion in multicolored or splash decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though only two mana, in an environment rife with efficient one-drop creatures, this cost can sometimes be seen as a stretch for the stats and abilities provided.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hardy Veteran stands out as a solid choice for deck builders seeking a resilient early-game creature. Its ability to gain a toughness boost on the defensive turn allows it to thrive in a variety of green decks, particularly those that could use a dependable blocker in the early stages of the game.

Combo Potential: As a creature with the potential to reach greater toughness during your opponents’ turns, Hardy Veteran works well with strategies that exploit toughness-related mechanics. Its enhanced survivability makes it a great enabler for cards that key off of creatures surviving damage or combat.

Meta-Relevance: With metas that often include aggressive early plays, Hardy Veteran can serve as an affordable counterbalance against such threats. Its sturdy presence on the battlefield helps to stabilize your position while setting up for more powerful plays in the later stages of the match.

How to beat

Hardy Veteran finds its niche as a steadfast blocker on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Standing out with its toughness boosting ability during your turn, this card turns into a reliable guard against incoming creatures. Overcoming this card’s resilience can be a real puzzle during combat phases. However, there are strategies you can employ to outmaneuver its defensive stance.

Utilizing spells that deal damage regardless of toughness, such as Lava Coil or Shivan Fire, can efficiently remove Hardy Veteran from the field. Additionally, evasive abilities like flying or trample enable your creatures to bypass Hardy Veteran’s fortified presence. Enchantments that diminish its abilities or tap abilities that prevent it from blocking are also viable methods. Employing combat tricks which allow your creatures to outclass it in power for a decisive strike can turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Ultimately, recognizing Hardy Veteran’s sturdy during-turn trait and countering its ability before it becomes a blockade can ensure your MTG game plan remains unimpeded. By combining damage spells, evasion techniques, and strategic combat manoeuvres, this card’s toughness turns from an obstacle into a surmountable challenge.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hardy Veteran MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Mystery Booster, 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 Hardy Veteran and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Hardy Veteran Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Suzanne Helmigh.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 1322015NormalBlackSuzanne Helmigh
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 12332015NormalBlackSuzanne Helmigh
32020-09-26The ListPLST RIX-1322015NormalBlackSuzanne Helmigh

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hardy Veteran has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hardy Veteran card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2018-01-19 Hardy Veteran gets +0/+2 for the entire duration of your turn. If it’s dealt damage or gets -X/-X until end of turn, those will wear off before your turn is over.