Savior of Ollenbock MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Training
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage by copying targeted creatures, negating opponent’s actions and bolstering your battlefield.
  2. Instant speed ability transforms battlefield dynamics, creating surprise blockers or doubling key creatures.
  3. Requires a card to be discarded to transform, which may be a strategic setback in some scenarios.

Text of card

Training (Whenever this creature attacks with another creature with greater power, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.) Whenever Savior of Ollenbock trains, exile up to one other target creature from the battlefield or creature card from a graveyard. When Savior of Ollenbock leaves the battlefield, put the exiled cards onto the battlefield under their owners' control.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Savior of Ollenbock can provide a significant card advantage by creating token copies of creatures you control that were targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control. This ability not only negates the potential loss from such targeting but also turns it into a benefit as it can potentially double the presence of your key creatures on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly producing mana or tokens, Savior of Ollenbock accelerates your board state by potentially multiplying your creatures. This can be especially powerful in decks that focus on synergies between creatures or that benefit from having multiple creatures with the same name in play.

Instant Speed: The triggered ability of Savior of Ollenbock functions at instant speed, meaning it can surprise your opponent during their turn by creating unexpected blockers or duplicating valued creatures in response to their actions. This instant-speed reaction can be a game-changer, offering tactical depth and advantage during key moments of interaction.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Savior of Ollenbock requires that a player discard another card as part of its transforming condition. In the heat of the game, this requirement might strain your hand, effectively giving your opponent an edge if you’re unable to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting a card like Savior of Ollenbock means you need to have access to both white and three other mana sources. This specificity could potentially hinder the card’s inclusion in a multicolored deck that’s not heavily weighted towards white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of three, its initial output may not seem overly expensive. However, when considering the additional cost of discarding a card, the overall investment may seem high compared to other creatures at a similar cost that provide immediate value without needing to discard.


Reasons to Include Savior of Ollenbock in Your Collection

Versatility: Savior of Ollenbock brings a level of flexibility to decks that are centered around creature strategies. Its ability to bolster your forces by creating a token copy of other nontoken creatures offers diverse gameplay options, adapting to various in-game scenarios with ease.

Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous combo possibilities, especially in decks that thrive on enter-the-battlefield effects or require a specific creature type for synergy. By duplicating key creatures, Savior of Ollenbock can significantly tip the balance in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: It’s vital for a card to resonate with the current gaming landscape, and Savior of Ollenbock fits well into a meta that appreciates resilient and continuous threats. With its capacity to generate value over time and its deterrent status against removal spells, it’s a significant asset in both offense and defense.


How to beat

The Savior of Ollenbock is a formidable card that presents a challenge to overcome in MTG. Its ability to protect other creatures makes it a key piece in control and mid-range decks. To effectively counter this card, players should focus on strategies that can either bypass its protective abilities or remove it before its benefits can be fully utilized. Removal spells that do not target, such as board wipes, are particularly effective as they sidestep Savior of Ollenbock’s ability to grant indestructible to others. Hand disruption is also a strong tactic, as it allows players to address the threat before it hits the battlefield.

Another strategy is to use effects that change the base characteristics of creatures, such as those reducing a creature’s toughness to zero. This method avoids targeting and therefore bypasses the protective measures provided by Savior of Ollenbock. Moreover, players can get ahead in the game by utilizing their own powerful threats that demand an answer, thereby stretching the resources of an opponent trying to leverage Savior of Ollenbock’s abilities.

Understanding and planning around your opponent’s strategy is crucial when facing this card. By anticipating the deployment of Savior of Ollenbock, one can hold the necessary answers and maintain pressure, ensuring it doesn’t become an insurmountable obstacle in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the mechanics of Savior of Ollenbock introduces exciting strategic layers to your gameplay. Whether you aim to amplify your board presence or seek to outmaneuver opponents’ targeting spells, this card offers both protection and potential for growth in creature-centric decks. Understanding its strengths and weaknesses, along with the card’s interactions with the current MTG meta, can vastly improve your game. Dive deeper into the nuances of effective deck construction and in-game tactics with us. Enhance your collection with informed choices and refine your strategies to navigate the battlefield like a seasoned player.


Cards like Savior of Ollenbock

Savior of Ollenbock stakes a notable claim in the roster of specialized creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. Much like other transform cards, such as Huntmaster of the Fells, it brings dynamic gameplay that evolves over the course of the match. Huntmaster of the Fells also transforms, offering dual utility in creature and planeswalker control. Nevertheless, Savior of Ollenbock stands out with its life-saving mechanic, sheltering a creature from harm’s way and later returning it as a stronger version, bolstered by additional +1/+1 counters.

Comparatively, we look at cards like Restoration Angel which, reminiscent of Savior of Ollenbock’s protective theme, can blink another creature to save it or re-trigger enter-the-battlefield effects. However, Restoration Angel doesn’t offer the same power boost upon the creature’s return. Another card entering the fray is Taranika, Akroan Veteran, which has a similar ability to untap another creature and buff it, though it lacks the transformative and delaying tactics that define the strategic essence of Savior of Ollenbock.

In the broader picture of creature-focused mechanics, the inherent transformation and protective functionality of Savior of Ollenbock provide a unique combination that can pivot the direction of a match, showcasing its distinct role in MTG’s complex gameplay.

Restoration Angel - MTG Card versions
Taranika, Akroan Veteran - MTG Card versions
Restoration Angel - Avacyn Restored Promos (PAVR)
Taranika, Akroan Veteran - Theros Beyond Death (THB)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Savior of Ollenbock MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 Savior of Ollenbock and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Savior of Ollenbock Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 952752015normalblackAaron J. Riley
22021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 342015normalblackAaron J. Riley
32021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 3522015normalblackAaron J. Riley
42021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 3302015normalborderlessJohannes Voss
52022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 3012015normalblackAaron J. Riley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Savior of Ollenbock has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-11-19 A creature “trains” when a +1/+1 counter is put onto it at as a result of its training ability resolving.
2021-11-19 A creature's training ability triggers only when both that creature and a creature with greater power are declared as attackers. Increasing a creature's power after attackers are declared won't cause a training ability to trigger.
2021-11-19 Once a creature's training ability has triggered, destroying the other attacking creature or reducing its power won't stop the creature with training from getting a +1/+1 counter.

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