Valeron Wardens MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Monk
Abilities	Renown
Released	2015-07-17
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Origins
Set code	ORI
Power	1
Toughness	3
Number	203
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Howard Lyon

Key Takeaways

Valeron Wardens excels in card draw, potentially swaying game momentum in your favor after combat.
Its ability indirectly boosts your resource pool by accelerating card access, crucial in MTG.
Combining Valeron Wardens with instant-speed tricks can create sudden and impactful advantages.

Text of card

Renown 2 (When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn't renowned, put two +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes renowned.) Whenever a creature you control becomes renowned, draw a card.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Valeron Wardens shine in their ability to provide a steady stream of card draw. Whenever they partake in combat and survive, it triggers their renowned ability to bolster your hand, potentially changing the tide of the game.

Resource Acceleration: In the realm of MTG, pacing can dictate the victor. Valeron Wardens don’t directly produce mana, but by accelerating your card draw, they indirectly boost your resource pool, allowing you to play more lands and cast more spells over time.

Instant Speed: Although Valeron Wardens operate at sorcery speed, their impact when combined with instant-speed combat tricks can be immediate and devastating. They encourage a playstyle that keeps opponents guessing and can lead to advantageous battlefield states when timed correctly.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Valeron Wardens requires a precise combination of mana to cast. The need for both green and white mana can restrict its inclusion only to decks that comfortably generate both colors, potentially limiting the card’s versatility across various deck archetypes.

Discard Requirement: While Valeron Wardens itself does not require discarding as part of its cost, it is vital to consider the broader context of its Renown mechanic. Some strategies that rely on enabling Renown might force discards or deck manipulation to ensure Valeron Wardens connects with the opponent, which can lead to card disadvantage, especially if your hand is already depleted.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a cost of three mana, Valeron Wardens can be seen as an investment when evaluating the speed of your deck’s development on the battlefield. In formats where tempo is crucial, there may be hesitation in choosing Valeron Wardens over lower-cost creatures that provide immediate benefits or stronger ones that are worth the higher mana investment.

Reasons to Include Valeron Wardens in Your Collection

Versatility: Valeron Wardens slips effortlessly into decks that thrive on +1/+1 counters. This creature offers not only a solid presence on the battlefield but also rewards you with card draw, fitting into any strategy emphasizing growth and advantage.

Combo Potential: With the ability to draw a card whenever it’s bolstered, this card is ripe for synergies in any deck that can consistently place counters. This opens the door to numerous combos and interactions, deepening your strategic toolset.

Meta-Relevance: For environments that favor long games and incremental advantages, Valeron Wardens holds its ground. It’s at home in a meta that allows you to set up its ability and leverage the card advantage it provides effectively.

How to beat

Valeron Wardens is a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering the potential for card advantage with its renowned renown ability. When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn’t renowned, it becomes renowned and gets a +1/+1 counter, which triggers its ability to let you draw a card whenever a creature you control becomes renowned.

To successfully navigate against Valeron Wardens, consider removal options that prevent combat damage from occurring, thus obstructing the renown trigger. Spells that can exile creatures, such as Path to Exile, ignore the Warden’s increased toughness post-renown. Alternately, keeping the board clear with sweepers like Wrath of God ensures that the Wardens never get the chance to attack and trigger renown. Finally, using cards that can bypass combat like direct damage spells or those that prevent targeting, such as Pacifism, can effectively neutralize Valeron Wardens’ ability without having to directly engage it in combat.

Understanding and interrupting the synergy Valeron Wardens relies on with your strategic plays can significantly reduce the card advantage it could provide to your opponent, turning the tide of the game in your favor.

Cards like Valeron Wardens

Valeron Wardens is an intriguing card that offers players a mix of creature benefits and card draw potential in MTG. This card can be compared to the likes of Mentor of the Meek, another creature that enables card draw, albeit through a different trigger. Where Valeron Wardens earns a card upon the renowned creature attacking, Mentor of the Meek allows for drawing whenever another creature with power three or less enters the battlefield. This gives both creatures their unique advantages in terms of when the card drawing occurs.

Another similar card, Tuskguard Captain, shares the Outlast ability with Valeron Wardens which makes both a strategic fit for counters-based decks. However, Tuskguard Captain differs by granting creatures you control with a +1/+1 counter trample, instead of a card draw benefit. Both offer a tactical angle for bolstering your creatures on the battlefield.

Ultimately, when it comes to enhancing your gameplay experience with a solid combination of creature upgrades and card draw, Valeron Wardens has a distinctive role. It aligns well with strategies that capitalize on creature combat maneuvers to keep your hand replenished throughout the game.

Cards similar to Valeron Wardens by color, type and mana cost

Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions

Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions

Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Valeron Wardens MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins, 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 Valeron Wardens and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Valeron Wardens has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Valeron Wardens card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2015-06-22	If a creature with renown deals combat damage to its controller because that damage was redirected, renown will trigger.
2015-06-22	If a renown ability triggers, but the creature leaves the battlefield before that ability resolves, the creature doesn’t become renowned. Any ability that triggers “whenever a creature becomes renowned” won’t trigger.
2015-06-22	Renown won’t trigger when a creature deals combat damage to a planeswalker or another creature. It also won’t trigger when a creature deals noncombat damage to a player.