Legion Vanguard MTG Card


Offers consistent card advantage, crucial for maintaining a strong hand throughout the game. Activates at instant speed, allowing for reactive play and opportunistic decision-making. Demanding sacrifice can be a setback, especially when behind on the board.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Vampire Soldier
Abilities Explore
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

, Sacrifice another creature: Legion Vanguard explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)

It takes guts to be a trailblazer.


Cards like Legion Vanguard

Legion Vanguard is an intriguing creature in the grand tapestry of Magic: The Gathering, inviting comparisons with other similar creature cards. It shares traits with Savannah Lions, a classic creature that also boasts a 2/1 stat line for a single white mana. However, Legion Vanguard steps up the game with the ability to also provide card filtering by sacrificing another creature, thus drawing a card. Savannah Lions does not offer this additional utility.

We also see affinity with cards like Pulse Tracker, a creature that can whittle down an opponent’s life total each time it attacks. Though Pulse Tracker’s impact is immediate on the combat phase, unlike the Vanguard which requires a sacrifice to activate its ability. Another comparative creature is Duskwatch Recruiter, which allows you to look at the top three cards of your library, potentially putting a creature into your hand. However, the Recruiter does not offer the same aggressive stats as Legion Vanguard for the cost.

Assessing the individual strengths, Legion Vanguard confidently holds its ground with versatility and potential for card advantage in MTG, distinctive for a creature of its mana cost and size.

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Pulse Tracker - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Pulse Tracker - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Legion Vanguard by color, type and mana cost

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Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Legion Vanguard in MTG offers a tactical benefit by potentially drawing you a card every turn which can surge you ahead in terms of options and responses during gameplay. This consistent card flow is fundamental to maintaining a strong hand across all phases of the match.

Resource Acceleration: As it allows you to sift through your deck, Legion Vanguard can help churn your lands or other resources into your graveyard, potentially accelerating your access to powerful delve cards or synergizing with graveyard-based strategies that thrive on a well-stocked bin.

Instant Speed: Tied with its ability to attack and exert influence on the board, Legion Vanguard can activate its power at instant speed. This flexibility means you can make pivotal game decisions reactively, adeptly avoiding pitfalls while exploiting fleeting opportunities right before your opponent’s turn concludes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Legion Vanguard demands you to sacrifice another creature, which may deplete your board presence and put you at a disadvantage, especially if you are behind or struggling to maintain a solid lineup of minions.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a combination of black and generic mana, which can restrict its integration into multi-color decks that may not consistently yield the necessary mana types, hence affecting deck flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at two, including one black mana, it competes with other two-drops that might offer immediate impact or better standalone value, potentially making it a less attractive choice in efficient aggro or midrange strategies.


Reasons to Include Legion Vanguard in Your Collection

Versatility: Legion Vanguard is a flexible card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes. Its ability to provide card advantage while offering a solid body for combat makes it a valuable addition to both aggressive and midrange decks.

Combo Potential: With its capacity to sacrifice another creature to draw a card, Legion Vanguard enables numerous combo opportunities. It can serve as a key piece in sacrifice-centric decks, where it complements strategies focusing on death triggers and graveyard synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting landscape of competitive play, a card like Legion Vanguard can hold its ground. It presents itself as a contender in an environment rife with creature-based strategies, offering an advantage through its dual utility as both an attacker and a means of card filtration.


How to beat

Legion Vanguard is a card that demands attention on the battlefield. Battling against this card requires an understanding of its ability to grow and potentially overwhelm you with an endless stream of creature cards. It’s essential to limit its power by preventing its exploration ability. Direct removal spells are a key strategy here—cards like Doom Blade or Murder can take it out before it accrues too much value. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can also be effective in controlling the battlefield presence of cards like the Legion Vanguard.

Alternatively, countering it before it hits the board is another tactic, relying on cards like Counterspell or Essence Scatter to stop the Vanguard in its tracks. Another angle is to outpace the creature’s advantage by using prolific creature tokens generators, putting the pressure back on your opponent. It’s about strategy and timing—keeping the Vanguard in check and the board under control will swing the game in your favor. Always remember, knowing the card’s potential and preparing your deck adequately is the secret to coming out on top.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Legion Vanguard MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Legion Vanguard and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Legion Vanguard Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by John Stanko.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 902015NormalBlackJohn Stanko
22021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 3452015NormalBlackJohn Stanko
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1702015NormalBlackJohn Stanko

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Legion Vanguard has restrictions

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