Valiant Rescuer MTG Card


Valiant Rescuer - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Cycling
Released2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set nameIkoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set codeIKO
Power 3
Toughness 1
Number36
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBram Sels

Key Takeaways

  1. Efficient card advantage through token creation every time you cycle another card leveraging battlefield presence.
  2. Accelerates board presence significantly with the consistent accumulation of 1/1 Human Soldier creature tokens.
  3. Enhances flexibility in gameplay, amplifying cycling benefits – many of which can occur at instant speed.

Text of card

Whenever you cycle another card for the first time each turn, create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

The floating city of Skysail has two rules: don't leave your crewmates behind, and don't mess with the guardrails.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Valiant Rescuer helps bolster your hand by creating a 1/1 Human Soldier creature token every time you cycle another card. This synergistic interaction efficiently converts single card plays into potential multiple threats on the battlefield, thereby enhancing your card advantage in the duel.

Resource Acceleration: While the Valiant Rescuer doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional mana-generating sense, the consistent creation of creature tokens can accelerate your board presence significantly. This steady accumulation of tokens can quickly add up, giving you the necessary resources to pressure your opponent or defend against incoming threats.

Instant Speed: Although the Valiant Rescuer itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability magnifies the benefits of cycling cards – many of which can be cycled at instant speed. This gives you the flexibility to wait until the most strategic moment to cycle, tactically reacting to the game’s flow while simultaneously expanding your army with the Rescuer’s ability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To get the most from Valiant Rescuer’s cycling ability, you need to cycle another card, which inevitably depletes your hand. This can be detrimental during late-game scenarios where every card in hand is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Valiant Rescuer requires both white and generic mana, which can be restrictive for multicolored decks that might struggle with mana fixing, especially in formats where lands entering the battlefield untapped is critical.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For two mana, this card’s impact might not be immediately felt on the battlefield compared to other two-drop creatures. In a game where tempo is key, investing in a creature whose primary benefit is tied to an additional action can be costly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Valiant Rescuer adapts to various deck strategies, proving especially useful in cycling decks where generating additional creature tokens can quickly tilt the game in your favor.

Combo Potential: Working in tandem with other cycling cards, it has the potential to create an overwhelming board presence by repeatedly spawning 1/1 human soldier tokens, adding layers of complexity to your in-game tactics.

Meta-Relevance: In the fluctuating landscape of the game, cards like Valiant Rescuer that support a cycling archetype remain relevant, particularly against slower, control-oriented decks that struggle to manage a steady flow of tokens.


How to Beat Valiant Rescuer

Valiant Rescuer is a unique card that players often incorporate into their cycling decks to generate an army of 1/1 white Human Soldier creature tokens. This tactic can quickly overwhelm an opponent who isn’t prepared. To counter such a strategy, it’s essential to have a plan. First, removal spells come in handy. Cards like Murderous Rider or Heartless Act can directly eliminate Valiant Rescuer from the battlefield. For a wider impact, board-clearing spells such as Shatter the Sky or Wrath of God can reset the playing field by removing all creatures, including those tokens.

Another effective method is to hinder the card’s cycling ability. Cards like Drannith Magistrate prevent the opponent from playing cards from anywhere other than their hands, which can significantly disrupt the synergy of a cycling-based deck. Lastly, controlling your opponent’s graveyard with cards like Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace can limit the benefits they get from cycling and recurring cards, indirectly minimizing the impact of Valiant Rescuer on the game.

When you align your removal tools and control strategies effectively, Valiant Rescuer poses much less of a threat, ensuring you maintain the upper hand throughout the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

As you dive deeper into MTG strategies, remember that optimizing your deck with synergistic cards is key to outmaneuvering opponents. Valiant Rescuer is a fine example of such synergy, especially within cycling decks, enhancing your gameplay by spawning tokens that build up your board presence. While engaging with the game’s complex layers, consider how this card could amplify your strategy, whether you’re assembling an army of tokens or leveraging them for greater combos. Ready to expand your card knowledge and refine your deck-building skills? Join the BurnMana community and unlock new pathways to victory with insights on cards like Valiant Rescuer and beyond.


Cards like Valiant Rescuer

Valiant Rescuer stands out in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering as a reliable card geared towards cycling decks. Its ability to create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token for each first card cycled each turn mirrors the function of other token generators but with a distinct trait tied to cycling. This aspect makes it similar to Monastery Mentor, which also produces tokens—Prowess monk tokens, however, each time you cast a noncreature spell.

Drannith Stinger, another cycling enhancer, provides direct damage to opponents with its cycling effect but doesn’t offer the same token utility. Imposing Vantasaur, while a less direct comparison due to its creature type and lack of token generation, shares the cycling theme and offers a bulky creature upon cycling, presenting a different kind of board impact. Then we take into account Flourishing Fox, which becomes stronger with each cycle rather than generating tokens, showcasing a unique synergy with cycling mechanics within a game.

Therefore, Valiant Rescuer may fulfill a pivotal role within cycling-based strategies, providing creature tokens to fortify your presence on the battlefield, a trait that cements its place in a deckbuilder’s arsenal when crafting a deck around this mechanic.

Monastery Mentor - MTG Card versions
Drannith Stinger - MTG Card versions
Imposing Vantasaur - MTG Card versions
Flourishing Fox - MTG Card versions
Monastery Mentor - MTG Card versions
Drannith Stinger - MTG Card versions
Imposing Vantasaur - MTG Card versions
Flourishing Fox - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Valiant Rescuer MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Valiant Rescuer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Valiant Rescuer has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 Some cards with cycling have an ability that triggers when you cycle them, and some cards have an ability that triggers whenever you cycle any card. These triggered abilities resolve before you draw from the cycling ability.
2020-04-17 Triggered abilities from cycling a card and the cycling ability itself aren’t spells. Effects that interact with spells (such as that of Cancel) won’t affect them.
2020-04-17 You can cycle a card even if it has a triggered ability from cycling that won’t have a legal target. This is because the cycling ability and the triggered ability are separate. This also means that if either ability is countered (with Disallow, for example), the other ability will still resolve.

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