Veteran of the Depths MTG Card
2007-10-12 - Number 46
2020-09-26 - Number LRW-46
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Capitalizing on card draws, it can pivot the tide by securing continuous resource access.
- An instant-speed play provides surprise tact and flexible response to the evolving game.
- Demands careful mana alignment for play, challenging non-blue centric decks’ consistency.
Text of card
Whenever Veteran of the Depths becomes tapped, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it.
In the backwaters of the Merrow Lanes lie stones scarred with tallies of countless generations, each representing a victory of merrow soldiers.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Veteran of the Depths shines in decks that capitalize on card draw. Its presence can become a pivotal point in the game, ensuring continued access to your arsenal while potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy.
Resource Acceleration: The card’s ability to synergize with other cards that untap permanents can lead to increased mana availability. This can be indispensable in casting more significant spells earlier in the game, establishing a strong board presence, and taking decisive control of the game’s pace.
Instant Speed: The utility of being able to deploy Veteran of the Depths at instant speed cannot be overstated. It provides flexibility and the element of surprise, allowing you to adapt to the game’s evolving dynamics, whether that’s countering an opponent’s play or maximizing your own turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of Veteran of the Depths, a strategy that maximizes its potential might require you to part with valuable cards from your hand. This discard element can strain your resources at critical moments, especially if you’re aiming to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Veteran of the Depths demands a particular alignment of mana sources, given its specific mana cost that includes blue. Players not running a deck with a strong blue mana base might find it challenging to summon this creature consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the abilities of Veteran of the Depths can turn the tide of battle, its comparably high mana cost can make it a less appealing choice during deck construction. Players often assess the cost-to-benefit ratio of a card, and there are instances where other creatures or spells might offer a similar impact for less mana, allowing for a more streamlined and efficient deck build.
Reasons to Include Veteran of the Depths in Your Collection
Versatility: Veteran of the Depths shines in its adaptability. This card can be a staple in various blue decks, particularly those that need a sturdy defender or want to capitalize on its merfolk synergy.
Combo Potential: Its ability to gain +1/+1 counters not only makes it a growing threat but also works well with cards that interact with counters. It can thrive in combo decks that are built around proliferation or unblockable creatures.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Veteran of the Depths can serve as an effective deterrent. The ability to become stronger each turn makes it a card that opponents cannot ignore for long.
How to beat
Veteran of the Depths is a card known for its significant presence in the battlefield within Magic: The Gathering. This creature often bolstered by its ability to gain +1/+1 counters can become a substantial obstacle. Facing such a unit, it’s crucial for players to consider removal options that circumvent its growth potential. Direct damage spells or those that can exile creatures offer viable solutions, avoiding engagements that would otherwise strengthen Veteran of the Depths through combat.
Strategic planning plays a crucial role when dealing with this creature. Its escalating power makes it important to deal with it swiftly, utilizing cards that can either send it back to the player’s hand or alter the battlefield dynamics to prioritize its removal. Cards with ‘destroy creature’ effects, particularly those that don’t rely on power or toughness to calculate effectiveness, are key tools in handling Veteran of the Depths.
Effective board control, timely removals, and minimizing combat with this unit can help in overcoming the threat it poses. By integrating such tactics, players can reduce the influence Veteran of the Depths has in a game, allowing them to maintain control of the pace and flow of the match.
Cards like Veteran of the Depths
Veteran of the Depths is a card that reminds seasoned Magic: The Gathering players of the strong tradition of merfolk in the game. With its merfolk synergies, it bears similarities to other watery warriors such as Merfolk Sovereign or Master of the Pearl Trident. Like these oceanic allies, Veteran of the Depths grants his fellow merfolk potentially game-shifting advantages once on the board.
However, Veteran of the Depths stands out with its unique ability to grow stronger with every spell cast. This parallels the grow-over-time mechanics seen in cards like Lorescale Coatl, which accumulates power with drawn cards. Though Coatl thrives on card advantage, our aquatic Veteran benefits directly from the number of spells lobbed into play, potentially making it a bigger threat more rapidly, especially in a deck rich with low-cost spells.
Cards like Merrow Reejerey should also be considered when evaluating similar fishy friends. Reejerey triggers upon other merfolk entering the battlefield, offering both a tactical benefit to summoning allies and also functioning as a modest mana disruptor. While Reejerey might not buff itself like Veteran of the Depths, it opens strategic play options that can unsettle opponents. In assessing the sea of choices for merfolk enthusiasts, Veteran of the Depths offers a compelling blend of individual strength and tribal synergy.
Cards similar to Veteran of the Depths by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Veteran of the Depths MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and The List, 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 Veteran of the Depths 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 Veteran of the Depths Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2007-10-12. Illustrated by Daren Bader.
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Veteran of the Depths has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Veteran of the Depths card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-01 | For the ability to trigger, the creature has to actually change from untapped to tapped. If an effect attempts to tap the creature, but it was already tapped at the time, this ability won’t trigger. |
| 2007-10-01 | This is a triggered ability, not an activated ability. It doesn’t allow you to tap the creature whenever you want; rather, you need some other way of tapping it, such as by attacking with the creature. |
