Alert Shu Infantry MTG Card

Alert Shu Infantry - Portal Three Kingdoms

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Abilities	Vigilance
Released	1999-05-01
Set symbol
Set name	Portal Three Kingdoms
Set code	PTK
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	1
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	White
Illustred by	Solomon Au Yeung

Key Takeaways

Alert Shu Infantry ensures strong battlefield presence by providing card and resource advantages.
Instant speed plays enable strategic combat surprises disrupting opponent strategies.
The card requires careful deck building due to mana and discard constraints.

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Attacking doesn't cause Alert Shu Infantry to tap.

Kongming's predecessor helped Liu Bei win the battle of Fancheng by recognizing and defeating Cao Ren's use of the dreaded "Eight Gold Locks" formation.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Alert Shu Infantry provides a solid addition to your hand, with its potential to keep your army strong or substitute for favorable trades during battle sequences.

Resource Acceleration: Its relatively low casting cost can be leveraged as an efficient resource in your game plan, enabling a more rapid deployment of further threats on the board and keeping the pressure on your opponent.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of playing Alert Shu Infantry at instant speed allows for strategic combat tricks and surprises, disrupting the opponent’s calculations and potentially turning the tides in combat engagement without the need for preemptive commitments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Alert Shu Infantry card demands that players discard another card to unleash its full potential. In the fast-paced world of competitive playing, letting go of valuable hand assets can put a player at a significant disadvantage, especially when every card in hand counts towards achieving a strategic win condition.

Specific Mana Cost: Mana flexibility is a cornerstone of building a responsive deck, and the Alert Shu Infantry’s mana cost comes with a stringent requirement. Necessitating a precise combination of mana types to deploy this infantry onto the battlefield might not always align with the fluid nature of a player’s mana base, potentially leading to missed opportunities or casting delays.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When resource optimization is key, the mana cost attached to Alert Shu Infantry becomes a point of contention. While its abilities may be useful, the mana investment does not always correlate with the impact on gameplay. In instances where board presence and tempo hold the reins of victory, this card might not hold its ground against alternatives that offer more bang for the buck mana-wise. Careful deck construction is needed to ensure that its inclusion does not hinder overall performance.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Alert Shu Infantry offers a flexible role in decks that prioritize both offensive and defensive plays. With its ability to function as both an attacker and blocker due to vigilance, it seamlessly adapts to varying in-game situations, allowing for greater strategic depth in gameplay.

Combo Potential: The card’s potential to synergize with strategies that take advantage of tapping and untapping creatures enhances its value. It can serve as an essential component in combo decks that profit from such mechanics, bolstering your board presence and dynamic interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the fluctuating trends of the game, Alert Shu Infantry is well-suited to environments where resilience against aggressive decks is essential. Its steadfastness on the battlefield can be a key factor in outlasting your opponents and establishing control.

How to beat

Alert Shu Infantry emerges as an intriguing combat card within Magic: The Gathering, bearing the propensity to alter the dynamics on the battlefield. This card’s strength lies in its vigilance and reach abilities, presenting a robust defense against both ground and aerial attacks. Players often integrate Alert Shu Infantry to safeguard their life total while maintaining an offensive posture.

To effectively counter this card, adaptation in strategy is essential. Creatures with trample can overshadow Alert Shu Infantry’s defensive capabilities, as trample allows excess damage to spill over even after its toughness is accounted for. Removal spells are a prudent choice as well, with cards like Murder offering a swift resolution to the threat it poses by permanently eliminating it from the game. Additionally, utilizing enchantments or artifacts that restrict a creature’s ability to block can neutralize Alert Shu Infantry’s vigilance, thus diminishing its utility on the battlefield.

Understanding the dual nature of this card is key. While it excels in defense, it lacks in offensive power. Capitalizing on this shortfall grants you the upper hand, ensuring that Alert Shu Infantry’s presence does not dictate the flow of the match.

Cards like Alert Shu Infantry

Alert Shu Infantry is an intriguing new entry in the roster of creature cards within the MTG universe. This card bears a resemblance to the numerous two-mana creatures that have historically been staple inclusions in many decks. It distinguishes itself with its raid ability, allowing it to become a more robust threat if you’ve attacked this turn. The most similar feature can be observed in cards like Fathom Fleet Cutthroat, which also keys off the raid mechanic, rewarding aggressive playstyles.

When compared, the Daring Skyjek is another creature that gains an ability if you’ve attacked with a creature this turn, in this case, flying. While Alert Shu Infantry gains the benefit of double strike rather than evasion, the comparison helps to showcase the positional advantages of the raid mechanic. Other creatures to consider are Keldon Marauders, which bring about immediate impact on the battlefield through its enters-the-battlefield and leaves-the-battlefield effects, contrasting with Alert Shu Infantry’s ongoing potential to deal damage.

To sum up, while many creature cards vie for the role of aggressive two-drops, Alert Shu Infantry offers a compelling raid-based option for players looking to press the attack and maximize damage output during the combat phase.

Fathom Fleet Cutthroat - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Alert Shu Infantry by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Alert Shu Infantry MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms, 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 Alert Shu Infantry and other MTG cards: