Yuan Shao's Infantry MTG Card

Yuan Shao's Infantry - Portal Three Kingdoms

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Released	1999-05-01
Set symbol
Set name	Portal Three Kingdoms
Set code	PTK
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	129
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	White
Illustred by	Lin Yan

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage through persistent board presence and creature generation capabilities.
Enables resource acceleration when combined with creature-focused mechanics and strategies.
Instant speed deployment adds tactical flexibility and potential to disrupt opponent strategies.

Text of card

Whenever Yuan Shao's Infantry attacks and no other creatures do, Yuan Shao's Infantry can't be blocked.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Yuan Shao’s Infantry provides a strategic edge, offering a persistent board presence that can potentially translate into card advantage. As it brings more creatures to your side, it lets you maintain hand resources while committing threats to the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes with mechanics that capitalize on the number of creatures you control, leading to resource acceleration. This can catapult your game state by enabling more potent plays or unlocking abilities that require a robust army.

Instant Speed: Its ability to be deployed at instant speed gives you the flexibility to adapt to your opponent’s moves. This surprise factor can disrupt their strategy, making Yuan Shao’s Infantry a tactical choice in response to developing situations on the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Yuan Shao’s Infantry’s ability necessitates discarding another card, which could put you at a card disadvantage, particularly in the later stages of the game when your hand may be depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both red and white mana. This limits its inclusion to specific decks that can easily produce or accommodate these mana colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Charging four mana for an effect that provides conditional creature advantage can be taxing, especially in decks aiming for high tempo plays. There are alternatives that may produce a more immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include Yuan Shao’s Infantry in Your Collection

Versatility: Yuan Shao’s Infantry fits seamlessly into a variety of red-based decks. Its ability to enable aggressive strategies while providing defensive options makes it a flexible choice for players looking to adapt to the changing tides of gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize well with effects that benefit from having multiple creatures on the field, such as those that power up creature tokens or grant advantages for each attacking creature. Its potential to create a wide battlefield presence can turn the tide in combo-centric decks.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low mana cost and the advantage it can create by having a consistent board presence, Yuan Shao’s Infantry is quite relevant in meta-games that are tempo-oriented or where board control is crucial. This card could be a key player in the current competitive landscape where establishing and maintaining a board presence is essential.

How to beat

Yuan Shao’s Infantry invites strategic gameplay for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. This card, with its ability to become unblockable when paired with another creature, urges players to think tactically about their defense. A reliable method to counter this card involves utilizing removal spells that can target Yuan Shao’s Infantry before it declares its attack. Spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently handle threats like these before they manifest on the battlefield.

Moreover, board wipes are especially effective against such creatures that rely on synergy. By clearing the board with spells like Wrath of God, you remove the prospect of Yuan Shao’s Infantry becoming a direct threat. Additionally, considering this card’s dependency on partnering with other creatures, utilizing enchantments that restrict creatures from attacking, such as Ghostly Prison, can prevent the situation where the Infantry slips through your defenses unblocked.

Recognizing the card’s strengths and identifying the right moment to disrupt your opponent’s plan is imperative. With careful planning and well-timed removal, Yuan Shao’s Infantry can be managed before it becomes an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

Cards like Yuan Shao's Infantry

Yuan Shao’s Infantry is an enchanting creature card that brings unique dynamics to the battlefield, evoking similarities with other cards in Magic the Gathering. It echoes the strategies found in other cards that also focus on bolstering the ranks of your army, such as the tokens generated by Raise the Alarm. However, Yuan Shao’s Infantry stands out with its potential to scale up the strength of your forces over time, adding layers of strategic depth to your game.

Another card that players might draw parallels with is Goblin Instigator, which also specializes in offering additional bodies on the field, yet does so in a different color shard, touching on the variety inherent within deck-building approaches. Where Yuan Shao’s Infantry may offer sustained force amplification, Goblin Instigator gives you immediate impact with its creature tokens upon entering the battlefield. These distinctions matter when players are curating their decks and planning their strategies for upcoming confrontations.

The value judgement between cards such as Yuan Shao’s Infantry and its peers ultimately boils down to the deck’s overarching theme and a player’s tactical preferences. Each card brings to the field a unique set of advantages, reinforcing the complex and rewarding nature of Magic the Gathering’s strategic gameplay.

Cards similar to Yuan Shao's Infantry by color, type and mana cost

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Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Yuan Shao's 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 Yuan Shao's Infantry and other MTG cards: