Ironpaw Aspirant MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Cat Warrior |
| Released | 2023-11-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
| Set code | LCI |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 18 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dan Scott |
Key Takeaways
- Ironpaw Aspirant can improve board presence and offer potent synergy with creature-focused strategies.
- Fits well into resource-optimizing decks, speeding up tempo and enabling instant-speed spell flexibility.
- Though its activations may be costly, the potential for growth and meta impact makes it valuable.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ironpaw Aspirant MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Ironpaw Aspirant 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
Text of card
When Ironpaw Aspirant enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
"Train your mind and your muscles with equal ferocity, cub. Without wisdom, even a mighty warrior is nothing but a bully." —Sovereign Okinec Ahau
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ironpaw Aspirant enhances the player’s board presence by providing a cost-effective creature that can become an asset in various gameplay strategies. Additionally, in certain decks, it synergizes with card mechanics that grow stronger as you play more creatures, thus indirectly contributing to gaining card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly offering traditional mana acceleration, Ironpaw Aspirant fits well into decks that optimize their resources by playing low-cost, high-value creatures. This can speed up the deck’s tempo, allowing a faster execution of the player’s overall game plan.
Instant Speed: While the card itself does not have an instant speed ability, its low casting cost enables it to be played at a moment’s notice, leaving mana open for actual instant speed spells in the player’s hand. This versatility allows players to remain adaptable during a match, responding efficiently to an opponent’s actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Ironpaw Aspirant demands sacrificing another permanent or discarding a card to activate its potential, a steep price when your hand or field is sparsely populated.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires one red mana to cast, which could be a challenge in multicolor decks craving a diversified mana base for optimal flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its abilities are intriguing, allocating three mana for a 3/2 creature could be suboptimal compared to other options that provide immediate impact or larger stat lines for the same investment.
Reasons to Include Ironpaw Aspirant in Your Collection
Versatility: Ironpaw Aspirant is a flexible card that can be integrated into a variety of decks with its low mana cost and the ability to enhance your creatures’ power.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to grant a permanent power boost when paired with cards that untap creatures or generate multiple tokens can create formidable synergies in your gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: Given the pace of current competitive environments, a card that offers a quick and ongoing power increase, such as Ironpaw Aspirant, can be a significant asset against a range of deck styles.
How to beat Ironpaw Aspirant
Ironpaw Aspirant emerges as a noteworthy creature card for players to grapple with in MTG. It boasts a unique ability to grow stronger with your devotion to two colors, which can quickly turn it into a formidable force on the battlefield. The key to countering this burgeoning threat is to manage it before it grows out of control. Efficient removal spells are your best line of defense; consider options such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile that can dispatch the creature for a low mana cost, irrespective of its size. Keeping the Aspirant in check before your opponent manages to amass a significant amount of devotion is crucial.
Alternatively, countermeasures that include gameplay strategies can be just as effective. Disrupting your opponent’s devotion, by targeting the sources itself, can make the Aspirant a less effective combatant. Engaging cards like Unmoored Ego to exile key pieces from their deck, or utilizing board wipes like Supreme Verdict can reset the field to your advantage. Containment is another strategy; enchantments like Pacifism minimize the aspirant’s impact, rendering it unable to attack or block despite its power level.
Employing the right strategy and quick action can ensure that Ironpaw Aspirant remains a minor threat, allowing you to maintain the upper hand in your MTG matches. Keep these tactics in mind and the Aspirant’s climb becomes a more manageable one.
Cards like Ironpaw Aspirant
Ironpaw Aspirant enters the vast landscape of creature cards in MTG with a distinctive set of abilities. It shares common ground with cards like Bloodthirsty Adversary in the sense that both have strength-boosting mechanisms. Ironpaw Aspirant, with its martial prowess, enhances its power temporarily through its ability to train another creature, put a +1/+1 counter and thereby grow stronger with each attack.
Another card worth examining is Fencing Ace, a creature that, much like Ironpaw Aspirant, benefits from double strike. However, Fencing Ace lacks the ability to self-improve, putting it a step behind in terms of scalability. Mentor of the Meek also presents an interesting comparison, as it too can synergize with other creatures, granting card draw when creatures enter the battlefield. But one would notice it does not affect the board state as directly as the growing threat of Ironpaw Aspirant.
Assessing Ironpaw Aspirant alongside these contenders, it becomes clear that what sets it apart is its potential for consistent power increase, situating it as a valuable creature in MTG that can become a formidable force over time through strategic play and combat.
Cards similar to Ironpaw Aspirant by color, type and mana cost
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ironpaw Aspirant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |