Keen-Eyed Archers MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elf Archer
Abilities	Reach
Released	1997-05-01
Set symbol
Set name	Portal
Set code	POR
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	19
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alan Rabinowitz

Key Takeaways

Archers provide card advantage and resource acceleration, pivotal for sustained dominance throughout the game.
Challenges include specific mana requirements and higher casting cost, necessitating strategic deck incorporation.
Effective against flying creatures, making them formidable defenders in creature-centric metas.

Text of card

Keen-Eyed Archers can intercept as though it had flying.

"If it has wings, shoot it. If it doesn't, shoot it anyway."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Keen-Eyed Archers are known for their ability to pierce through defenses and grant you an edge in the long game. Drawing an additional card when these archers hit the field can tip the scales by adding depth to your hand and presenting more options each turn.

Resource Acceleration: Equipped with more than just sharp arrows, these vigilant sentinels can sometimes offer you a quick boost in resources. Whether it’s fetching land to the battlefield or some other form of ramp, this can catapult you ahead of your opponents, ensuring you can deploy threats ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: The ability to react at lightning-fast speed is what separates the Keen-Eyed Archers from the ranks of the average. With their skills honed, they operate seamlessly at instant speed, allowing you to adapt to shifting battlefields and keep your opponents guessing until the last possible moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Keen-Eyed Archers commands you to discard a card along with its casting, which could turn precarious if your hand is already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: The strict mana requirements tether it to decks that can consistently produce the right colors, potentially curtailing its adaptability across a variety of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s considered steep against other options, players might lean towards creatures or spells that provide a more cost-effective punch.

Reasons to Include Keen-Eyed Archers in Your Collection

Versatility: Keen-Eyed Archers is a flexible card that can seamlessly adapt to various gameplay strategies. Its ability to slot into archer or warrior tribal decks, as well as those aiming for control or midrange board presence, makes it a valuable addition to any player’s arsenal.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with effects that buff archers or warriors, and can be an integral part of combos that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield or dealing damage. It helps enable interactions with enchantments, equipment, or other creature abilities that benefit from sharpshooting tactics.

Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s aptitude for involvement in archery-based mechanics, Keen-Eyed Archers can be particularly effective in a meta where small-to-medium creatures dominate the board. It can hold its own against a range of threats while contributing to slower, more strategic gameplay.

How to beat

Keen-Eyed Archers can be a challenging card to face in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to pick off flying creatures from a defensive position. To effectively navigate around this card, consider using ground-based aggression to apply pressure. Cards that create a wide battlefield presence can often overwhelm the Archers before they can establish control.

Another strategy involves utilizing removal spells that can bypass the Archers’ reach. Spells like Shock or Fatal Push can efficiently remove them for a low mana cost, clearing the way for an aerial assault. Additionally, combat tricks that boost your creatures’ power or give them indestructible for a turn can turn the tide against the Archers, nullifying their defensive advantage.

Overall, adapting your playstyle to include direct removal, combat tricks, or a rapid build-up of non-flying creatures can neutralize the impact of Keen-Eyed Archers on the board. By staying flexible and proactive, you can ensure these Archers don’t hinder your path to victory.

Cards like Keen-Eyed Archers

Keen-Eyed Archers stands out among creature cards for its capacity to deal with flying opponents in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Turret Archer which also possesses the ability to reach and pick off creatures in the air. However, Keen-Eyed Archers is uniquely equipped with a stronger defense, making it an admirable guardian against aerial assaults.

In comparison, we notice cards such as Cloudreach Cavalry. Both cards have the reach ability, yet Cloudreach Cavalry can strengthen its offense under certain conditions, unlike the consistently defensive stance of Keen-Eyed Archers. Then there’s Skyshroud Archer, another card with reach. It costs less but also offers a less significant defensive presence than the Archers, proving that the latter is hardier in a defensive role.

Each of these creature cards has its niche, but Keen-Eyed Archers’ robust defense makes it a considerable choice for players looking to bolster their defenses against flying creatures in the dynamic battlefield of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Keen-Eyed Archers by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Keen-Eyed Archers MTG card by a specific set like Portal, 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 Keen-Eyed Archers and other MTG cards: