Daru Stinger MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Soldier
Abilities	Amplify
Released	2003-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Legions
Set code	LGN
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	10
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Greg Staples

Key Takeaways

Can provide card advantage through strategic deck thinning, enabling more precise plays in your MTG matches.
Acts as a force multiplier by utilizing the Amplify mechanic, expanding your on-board presence effectively.
Offers flexibility in deck building, with potential for powerful combos within Soldier-themed strategies.

Text of card

Amplify 1 (As this card comes into play, put a +1/+1 counter on it for each Soldier card you reveal in your hand.) : Daru Stinger deals damage equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on it to target attacking or blocking creature.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Daru Stinger offers a potential card advantage by allowing you to reveal a card with a mana value of X from your hand, which then lets the Stinger deal X damage to any target. This interaction can be a strategic way to thin out your deck and set up for future plays.

Resource Acceleration: While Daru Stinger does not directly produce additional resources, its Amplify ability can help you make the most of the soldiers or other creature cards in your hand, acting as a force multiplier which can accelerate your board presence and put pressure on your opponent.

Instant Speed: Daru Stinger doesn’t operate at instant speed itself. However, its flexibility lies in its synergy with other cards that do. When paired with flash creatures or instant spells that put creatures into your hand, Daru Stinger can suddenly become a more formidable threat during your opponent’s turn or at the end of their turn, setting up for a powerful untap phase.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Daru Stinger requires an additional cost of revealing a soldier card from your hand, making it less flexible. If you’re holding a strategic card you’re not willing to reveal or simply don’t have a soldier card at the ready, you might not be able to leverage the amplifier ability when you need it.

Specific Mana Cost: Daru Stinger demands both white and generic mana, which can sometimes be restrictive, particularly in multi-color decks that may struggle with mana consistency. Ensuring you have the right mana at the right time to play it can be a tactical challenge.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two specific white mana, the Daru Stinger can be a heavy investment in the early game. Other cards at a similar mana cost may offer more immediate impact on the battlefield, which can be a deciding factor in fast-paced matches.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Daru Stinger has the adaptability to slide into various deck builds, particularly those that capitalize on bolstering creature numbers. Its Amplify ability enhances its strength and toughness, making it a flexible addition for an aggressive strategy or a defensive setup.

Combo Potential: This creature’s Amplify mechanic can synergize with other cards that care about counters, enabling powerful combinations in decks that exploit these interactions. By revealing specific creature cards from your hand, you can increase its power while potentially setting up potent plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Daru Stinger can serve as both an offensive threat and a means of controlling the battlefield. Its presence can shift the dynamics of matches, especially when paired with cards that benefit from or add to the soldier tribal theme.

How to beat

Daru Stinger continues to create strategic depth within MTG, known for its Amplify ability which could potentially make it a significant threat on the battlefield. As you stack up your army with Soldier cards, Daru Stinger can become more formidable, presenting a challenge for your opponents to tackle. Its power growth relies on revealing Soldier cards from your hand, a tactic that pairs well with decks packed with these types of creatures.

To counteract Daru Stinger effectively, one should employ removal spells before it gets too strong, which is achievable by targeting it early in the game. Spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile are excellent for this purpose. Another approach is to utilize cards that limit the player’s ability to reveal multiple Soldiers, thereby reducing the Amplify effect. Cards like Thoughtseize or Duress that disrupt the opponent’s hand can be quite effective in this situation. Moreover, dealing with decks that heavily feature Daru Stinger also involves using creature sweepers like Wrath of God to reset the board and mitigate the amassed power.

Understanding the mechanics at play with Daru Stinger and being prepared with the right counters will give you a distinct advantage. It’s all about timing and strategic spell use to ensure that this potentially powerful creature doesn’t dominate the game.

Cards like Daru Stinger

Daru Stinger stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique creature card with the amplify ability, enabling it to get stronger with every other Soldier card revealed upon its arrival. When drawing comparisons, Loyal Sentry is another Soldier creature that can have a major impact on the battlefield by destroying any creature it blocks. However, Loyal Sentry lacks the scalability of Daru Stinger, which can become a much larger threat over time as you reveal Soldiers.

Additionally, Precinct Captain bears resemblance as it’s also a Soldier that can create an advantage by generating 1/1 Soldier creature tokens upon dealing combat damage to a player. While it helps in building an army, it doesn’t have the potential for immediate board impact in terms of power that Daru Stinger possesses when amplified.

Weighing the abilities and growth potential against other Soldier cards in MTG, Daru Stinger offers a more dynamic play option. It can potentially become a high-power creature capable of influencing the game’s outcome shortly after it’s played, especially in a deck densely populated with Soldiers.

Cards similar to Daru Stinger by color, type and mana cost

Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions

Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions

Veteran of the Depths - MTG Card versions

Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Daru Stinger MTG card by a specific set like Legions, 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 Daru Stinger and other MTG cards: