Veteran Swordsmith MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Improves soldiers’ attack power, transforming them into significant threats during combat phases.
  2. Best suited for white or soldier-heavy decks, enhancing their offensive capabilities efficiently.
  3. Optimal inclusion for aggressive strategies in soldier tribal decks to dominate battlefields.

Text of card

Other Soldier creatures you control get +1/+0.

"Truth is a straight, keen edge. There are no soft angles or rounded edges. To fight for truth, we must forge in steel."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Veteran Swordsmith may not directly allow you to draw more cards, its presence on the battlefield enhances your soldiers, potentially keeping them out of common removal range. This interaction stabilizes your board state and indirectly maintains card advantage by protecting your army.

Resource Acceleration: Although Veteran Swordsmith isn’t a direct source of mana or resource acceleration, by boosting your attacking creature’s power, it speeds up the game pace by increasing the damage you deal. This can lead to fewer turns and quicker victories, effectively serving as a different form of acceleration.

Instant Speed: Veteran Swordsmith operates at sorcery speed as a permanent fixture on the board. However, the influence it provides during your combat phase can be as pivotal as instant speed interaction. It creates a constant state of alert for your opponent, who must consider the potential for increased damage during every combat phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although the Veteran Swordsmith does not inherently demand a card be discarded, it can potentially pressure a player to discard other valuable cards to maintain a creature-heavy board presence, which may not always be feasible.

Specific Mana Cost: The cost to summon the Veteran Swordsmith stands at two generic mana and one white mana, which necessitates a commitment to white mana in your deck, potentially limiting its inclusion to mono-white or white-centric multicolor decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exorbitant, the three mana investment for a 3/2 creature might be seen as suboptimal when games are inundated with lower cost creatures that provide similar or greater tactical flexibility. Additionally, in a deck striving for efficiency, there might be cards offering more immediate board impact or utility for the same or lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Veteran Swordsmith shines in decks where creature numbers are abundant. Its bonus to soldier creatures ensures that even the most common tokens can become significant threats on the battlefield, making it a flexible addition to any white-based creature strategy.

Combo Potential: In a soldier tribal deck, Veteran Swordsmith can be a key piece to boost your army’s power. Combine it with cards that produce soldier tokens rapidly, and you’ll swiftly amplify your board presence, turning every soldier into a more formidable combatant.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature combat is prevalent, the buff provided by the Swordsmith can tilt skirmishes in your favor. Especially in a meta with lots of aggro or tribal decks, having your creatures outclass your opponent’s in battle is an undeniable advantage.


How to Beat Veteran Swordsmith

Veteran Swordsmith is a card that bolsters the strength of other soldiers on the battlefield, providing a buff that can easily snowball into a formidable army. To circumvent the advantage the Swordsmith delivers, players should focus on removal strategies. Utilizing cards that can wipe the board clean, such as ‘Wrath of God’ or ‘Damnation,’ can reset the playing field no matter how many buffs have been accumulated. Additionally, targeted removal spells like ‘Doom Blade’ or ‘Path to Exile’ can remove the Swordsmith before its effect can turn the tide of battle.

Preventative measures can also be key. Counterspells like ‘Cancel’ or ‘Mana Leak’ keep Veteran Swordsmith from ever entering play, negating its ability outright. Another approach involves controlling the pace of the game with cards such as ‘Frost Titan’ that can lock down the Swordsmith or potential soldier allies. Lastly, don’t underestimate the impact of direct player interactions—pressuring your opponent’s life total can force them into a defensive position, lessening the impact of their combat-focused cards like Veteran Swordsmith.


Cards like Veteran Swordsmith

Veteran Swordsmith serves as a solid cornerstone for white creature-based decks in Magic: The Gathering. This card echoes the abilities of other creatures like Veteran Armorsmith, which provides a similar boost to defense rather than attack. However, Veteran Swordsmith exclusively increases the attack power of other Soldier creatures, fostering a more aggressive strategy during play. Unlike Veteran Armorsmith, its bonus is solely offensive, which can be crucial for swiftly depleting an opponent’s life total.

When considering other parallels, cards like Field Marshal also come to mind. Field Marshal offers a bump to both the attack and defense of other Soldier creatures and additionally grants them first strike. The comparison showcases how Veteran Swordsmith focuses on a singular aspect of strengthening your forces. While not as multifaceted as Field Marshal, Veteran Swordsmith fits perfectly in decks that benefit from heightened attack power and is a valuable asset for players aiming to overrun their adversaries with sheer force.

In summary, Veteran Swordsmith may be a more linear choice in terms of ability, but its specific focus on increasing attack power makes it a go-to option for aggressive Soldier-themed decks in MTG, particularly when the strategy revolves around a swift offensive to victory.

Veteran Armorsmith - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Veteran Armorsmith - Magic 2010 (M10)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)

Cards similar to Veteran Swordsmith by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Elvish Healer - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Stern Marshal - MTG Card versions
Soltari Crusader - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Prelate - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Kitsune Palliator - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Elvish Healer - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Soltari Crusader - Tempest (TMP)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Sanctum Prelate - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Veteran Swordsmith MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora, 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 Swordsmith and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Veteran Swordsmith Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Michael Komarck.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-07-17Magic 2010M10 392003normalblackMichael Komarck
22015-02-27Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. KioraDDO 282015normalblackMichael Komarck
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 2652015normalblackMichael Komarck
42020-09-26The ListPLST DDO-282015normalblackMichael Komarck

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Veteran Swordsmith has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks