Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer MTG Card
2021-09-24 - Number 235p
2021-09-24 - Number 235
2021-09-24 - Number 322
2021-09-24 - Number 235s
2022-01-28 - Number 235
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Flying,Haste |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Grants card draw and game adaptability through damage-dealing spells targeting him.
- Enhances value of spells, elevating gameplay efficiency and resource utilization.
- Instant-speed flexibility allows for strategic combat buffs and opponent disruption.
Text of card
Flying, haste If a spell would deal damage to you or another permanent you control, prevent that damage. If a spell would deal damage to an opponent or a permanent an opponent controls, it deals that much damage plus 1 instead.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer’s ability to deal damage to each opponent whenever you cast another spell that targets him allows players to potentially draw cards if they are using card-draw spells or abilities that trigger from dealing damage. This synergistic aspect enables players to maintain a healthy hand size, crucial for adapting to the evolving state of the game.
Resource Acceleration: This stalwart slayer may not produce additional mana directly, but his presence on the battlefield can accelerate your game plan. His abilities enhance the value of your targeting spells, effectively giving you more bang for your buck and allowing you to utilize your resources more efficiently, potentially turning simple buff spells into powerful swing turns.
Instant Speed: One of the intrinsic benefits of utilizing a commander like Rem Karolus lies in the flexibility offered by instant-speed interaction. With the capability to protect him from harm or buff him during combat, you ensure that you’re optimizing the timing of your spells. This strategic depth increases his survival rate and allows you to leverage surprise to your advantage, disrupting opponent strategies at key moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the hurdles players face when including Rem Karolus in their deck is the prerequisite of having another card to discard in order to utilize its flash ability. This can pose a considerable drawback when your hand is depleted, and you’re aiming to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Rem Karolus requires a precise mana configuration to be cast. With a cost demanding both white and red mana, the card’s inclusion is mostly restricted to Boros decks or those with a robust mana base, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its mana cost standing at three (one colorless, one white, and one red) might be considered steep for its effects. While providing a potentially game-swinging passive ability, players might find alternative cards at a lower mana cost that can provide similar benefits or better suit their strategic needs.
Reasons to Include Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer in Your Collection
Versatility: Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer is a flexible addition to numerous deck builds, notably those that thrive on a strong defensive strategy while still providing offensive capabilities.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to prevent noncombat damage to itself and other permanents you control can be paired with cards or abilities that deal damage to all creatures, allowing your board to remain unscathed.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where direct damage spells or abilities are prevalent, Rem Karolus serves as a robust counter, safeguarding your key creatures and increasing your resilience against such strategies.
How to beat
Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, setting a high bar for MTG enthusiasts trying to navigate around his damage prevention abilities. This formidable Human Knight prevents noncombat damage to other creatures you control, which means strategies relying on dealing damage to multiple creatures—often referred to as “sweepers”—are less effective. Understanding the card’s strengths is key to forming a winning strategy against it.
One reliable method is to rely on targeted creature removal spells that don’t deal damage, such as Depose // Deploy or Path to Exile, to bypass his protective aura. Additionally, using -X/-X effects or spells that force a sacrifice, like Liliana’s Triumph, can be pivotal in taking down this robust champion. Another strategy is managing to overshadow Rem’s static abilities by building a wide and more potent board presence before he becomes an overwhelming threat.
Keeping these tactics in mind ensures that you retain the upper hand against Rem Karolus and maintain a strategic edge in your matches. Adaptability and careful card selection are central to outmaneuver opponents who bring this stalwart slayer into play.
Cards like Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer
Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer has carved out a niche in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable human knight with a unique set of abilities. It stands out among creatures that provide damage prevention, much like Boros Reckoner, for its ability to shield your other creatures and Planeswalkers from some of the harm typically expected from noncombat damage sources. However, Rem Karolus doesn’t stop there. It also delivers a solid punch by allowing you to deal extra damage whenever you target it with a spell.
When considering counterparts, Tajic, Legion’s Edge springs to mind. Tajic offers similar protection by preventing noncombat damage to other creatures you control. But unlike Rem Karolus, Tajic’s ability doesn’t extend to Planeswalkers, nor does it deal additional damage when targeted. Another potential competitor, Truefire Captain, echoes this concept of responding to damage but is more reactive, dealing damage back to the opponent rather than proactively increasing its own threat level.
In the broader context of creature spells in Magic: The Gathering, Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer distinguishes itself with a balance of offensive buffing and a defensive shield, making it a versatile card that fits seamlessly into decks looking to maximize synergy between creatures and instant or sorcery spells.
Cards similar to Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, 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 Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer 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
Printings
The Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos | PMID | 235p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Francisco Miyara | |
| 2 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 235 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Francisco Miyara | |
| 3 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 322 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andy Brase | |
| 4 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos | PMID | 235s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Francisco Miyara | |
| 5 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 235 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Francisco Miyara |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-09-24 | If another effect modifies how much damage a spell would deal to an opponent or a permanent they control, including preventing some of it, the player being dealt damage or the controller of the permanent being dealt damage chooses an order in which to apply those effects. If all of the damage is prevented, Rem's effect no longer applies. |
| 2021-09-24 | If damage dealt by a source you control is being divided or assigned among multiple permanents an opponent controls or among an opponent and one or more permanents they control, divide the original amount before adding 1. For example, if you cast a spell that deals 4 damage divided among any number of targets and you choose to have it deal 2 damage to a creature and 2 damage to that creature's controller, that spell will deal 3 damage to each of them instead. |
| 2021-09-24 | Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer's last two abilities apply only to damage dealt by spells on the stack. A spell that becomes a permanent and then deals damage won't be affected. |
| 2021-09-24 | Some spells cause other objects to deal damage, such as spells that cause two creatures to fight. Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer's last two abilities don't apply to damage from such effects. |
| 2021-09-24 | The additional 1 damage is dealt by the original source of damage. The additional damage isn't dealt by Rem Karolus. |
