Dauntless River Marshal MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Released	2014-07-18
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2015
Set code	M15
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	8
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Winters

Key Takeaways

Dauntless River Marshal excels in tempo play, controlling match flow with its tapping ability.
Its synergy with land-fetch mechanics can amplify its tactical advantage on the field.
Subject to debate, its mana cost and color requirements may influence deck inclusion.

Text of card

Dauntless River Marshal gets +1/+1 as long as you control an Island. : Tap target creature.

"Thieves and squid squirm the same way when you capture them."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dauntless River Marshal provides utility in managing the battlefield. While it may not directly allow you to draw cards, its ability to tap target creatures can indirectly maintain card advantage by restricting your opponent’s options and preserving your board state.

Resource Acceleration: In a mana-heavy deck or decks that focus on land control, the Marshal can become a persistent threat. Its strength grows if you have the necessary plains or Island, reinforcing your position without the need for additional mana investment each turn. This synergy can act as a sort of acceleration as it enhances what’s already available on your board.

Instant Speed: The ability of Dauntless River Marshal to tap down opponents’ creatures can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s tactics during their turn. This instant speed capability allows you to efficiently manage your mana and forces your opponent to be wary of their attacks and blocks.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dauntless River Marshal necessitates a steady stream of land cards to maintain its ability to tap target creatures. This requirement can lead to a depletion of land cards in hand, which could otherwise be used for playing spell or developing the board, therefore reducing your overall resource flexibility.

Specific Mana Cost: Demanding both white and blue mana, the Dauntless River Marshal is suitable primarily for Azorius or multicolored decks, thus potentially restricting its integration into a variety of mono-colored or decks not aligned with its color identity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, which includes a white and generic mana, the Marshal might compete with other two-drop creatures or spells that offer immediate impact or utility. Considering deck building strategies, the cost-effectiveness of this card may come under scrutiny when pitted against others with equivalent or lower mana costs that provide similar or enhanced effects.

Reasons to Include Dauntless River Marshal in Your Collection

Versatility: Dauntless River Marshal offers a solid addition to any deck focusing on a blue-white color scheme. Its ability to lock down opponents’ creatures increases its utility across various match-ups, making it adaptable to your strategic needs.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with land-fetching mechanics, enhancing its tap-down ability by ensuring lands enter the battlefield regularly. Moreover, in a deck where lands are aplenty, Dauntless River Marshal becomes a consistent control tool.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where tempo plays a crucial role, Dauntless River Marshal can swing games by slowing down aggressive enemies or disrupting combo setups. Its presence can significantly impact how your opponent navigates their strategy.

How to Beat

Dauntless River Marshal is a unit that can impose a tactical dilemma on the battlefield with its ability to tap down your creatures, potentially turning the tide of combat. To counter this, one strategy is to remove the Marshal before it can become a recurring nuisance. Direct removal spells like ‘Murder’ or ‘Doom Blade’ can dispatch it quickly, particularly before your opponent achieves the landfall condition to activate its ability.

Alternatively, cards with ‘flash’ enable you to play creatures during your opponent’s turn, sidestepping the Marshal’s tapping ability and regaining control of the combat phase. Watch out for the lands your opponent plays, and adjust your strategy accordingly. If you’re managing a control deck, counterspells are another effective way to prevent the Marshal from ever hitting the table, thereby nullifying the threat entirely.

On the broader spectrum, focusing on maintaining card advantage and controlling the tempo of the game usually outmaneuvers the Marshal’s local effect. Being prepared with multi-purpose answers in your deck can make Dauntless River Marshal less daunting and more manageable in the course of a match.

Cards like Dauntless River Marshal

Dauntless River Marshal stands out in Magic: The Gathering’s array of creatures for its combination of power and utility. It shares some similarities with cards like Ainok Bond-Kin, both creatures bolstered in strength by certain conditions on the battlefield. However, the River Marshal brings a unique control aspect to the table – tapping down opponent’s creatures as long as you control an Island.

When contrasting it with Oreskos Swiftclaw, we note that while both carry a two mana cost, the Marshal’s additional control ability gives it an edge in defensive maneuvers and stalling strategies. Unlike the Swiftclaw’s straightforward aggression, the River Marshal has a strategic utility, aligning with decks that benefit from tempo control.

Lastly, looking at Loyal Pegasus, we find a creature with a flying advantage but it requires an accompanying creature to attack. The Dauntless River Marshal, although devoid of the flight ability, doesn’t share this dependency, offering consistent utility even as a standalone card. Analyzing these traits, the Marshal indeed carves a niche within the creature lineup of Magic: The Gathering, offering both an offensive presence and a tactical advantage.

Cards similar to Dauntless River Marshal by color, type and mana cost

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Lavinia, Azorius Renegade - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dauntless River Marshal MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015, 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 Dauntless River Marshal and other MTG cards: