Recruiter of the Guard MTG Card


Recruiter of the Guard offers significant card advantage by enabling targeted creature searches from your deck. Its ability favors decks focused on strategy and resource acceleration, despite mana cost considerations. Adaptability and synergy with combo and control decks ensure its continuing relevance in varied metagames.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Recruiter of the Guard enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a creature card with toughness 2 or less, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.

Before a cause can have supporters, it has to have a voice.


Cards like Recruiter of the Guard

Recruiter of the Guard is an influential card in Magic: The Gathering, sharing its vast potential with a classic like Stoneforge Mystic. Both shine in the realm of creature tutoring, with Stoneforge Mystic honing in on Equipment cards and Recruiter of the Guard extending its reach to creatures with toughness 2 or less. Although Recruiter lacks the direct Equipment synergy, its broader search ability can be a pivotal advantage in creature-based strategies.

In comparison, Imperial Recruiter also touches on a similar mechanic, fetching creatures with power 2 or less to your hand. While Imperial Recruiter casts a wider net by focusing on power instead of toughness, Recruiter of the Guard offers players access to a broader array of defensive creatures, potentially favoring control decks where sturdy blockers are valued. Additionally, the recruitment strategy that Recruiter of the Guard enables can mesh seamlessly with decks focused on creature synergies and combos.

Through this lens, Recruiter of the Guard demonstrates its strength and versatility among its counterparts, making it a standout choice for players crafting decks that lean heavily on intricate creature interactions and precise tutoring capabilities.

Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Recruiter of the Guard. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Death and TaxesDeath and Taxes LegacyDeath and TaxesLegacy League 2024-04-24
WUBWUB LegacyLegacy League 2024-04-22
Orzhov StonebladeOrzhov Stoneblade LegacyOrzhov StonebladeLegacy Challenge 32 2024-04-27
Abzan StonebladeAbzan Stoneblade LegacyAbzan StonebladeLegacy Challenge 64 2024-04-28
Esper ScamEsper Scam LegacyEsper ScamLegacy League 2024-05-06
Azorius StonebladeAzorius Stoneblade LegacyAzorius StonebladeLegacy League 2024-04-24
Death & TaxesDeath & Taxes LegacyAbzan StonebladeLisbon Legacy League 2024 // 6th Qualifier

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Recruiter of the Guard shines in providing card advantage. Its ability to search your library for a creature card with toughness 2 or less puts you at an immediate advantage, ensuring that you can consistently access key pieces of your strategy or defensive options whenever you need them.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in terms of mana, Recruiter of the Guard excels in resource acceleration by allowing you to streamline your deck’s functionality. It efficiently tutors necessary creatures to your hand, which can lead to more successful plays and an accelerated path to victory.

Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant itself, it interacts favorably with effects and abilities that you can use at instant speed. Recruiter of the Guard’s ability to fetch creatures with flash or those that can be deployed at instant speed, gives you a considerable tactical edge, allowing you to adapt to the unfolding game and outmaneuver your opponents.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside to Recruiter of the Guard is that it does not have a direct discard mechanic but instead may inadvertently cause card disadvantage. As you reveal a card and put it into your hand, it becomes known to your opponent and may force strategic discards later on to protect that key creature from targeted removal spells or thoughtsieze-type effects.

Specific Mana Cost: Recruiter of the Guard’s mana cost is specifically white and double generic, which could be restrictive. Decks heavy on colorless mana or those that operate on a multicolor base might find it challenging to consistently cast this creature on turn three, which is critical to establishing early board presence or disrupting opponents.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a three-mana 1/1 creature that tutors for another creature may sound reasonable, in some competitive formats, the cost is considered high. Considering the pace of modern and legacy formats, by the time you can cast and use Recruiter of the Guard’s ability, faster decks could already be at a significant advantage or you may need more immediate board impact that cheaper creatures could provide.


Reasons to Include Recruiter of the Guard in Your Collection

Versatility: With its ability to search your library for a creature card with toughness 2 or less, Recruiter of the Guard slots into a wide range of decks. From utility creatures to key combo pieces, this card has the flexibility to fetch exactly what you need when you need it.

Combo Potential: Recruiter of the Guard has immense synergies within various combo-oriented decks. Its tutoring effect can set up vital interactions or chain together creatures for a game-winning sequence, making it a linchpin in numerous strategies.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames fluctuate and new strategies emerge, Recruiter of the Guard remains relevant by adapting to the needs of the moment. Its ability to search out crucial sideboard cards or main deck silver bullets makes it invaluable in ever-changing competitive environments.


How to beat

Recruiter of the Guard has carved a niche for itself in Magic: The Gathering as a utility creature that can search for specific pieces within a deck. Its strength lies in the ability to find creatures with two or less toughness, tailoring your board state to what the game situation demands. However, this doesn’t make it unbeatable.

One strategy to counteract the Recruiter of the Guard is through timely removal. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently dispatch the Recruiter before its ability is used. You could also employ counterspells such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto when your opponent attempts to cast the Recruiter, thus preventing it from hitting the board altogether.

Another effective measure is to limit the Recruiter’s search capability by reducing the pool of creatures it can target. Graveyard-hate cards like Rest in Peace can diminish the effectiveness of the Recruiter in decks that rely on recursion strategies. By understanding the key mechanics and having answers to them ready in your deck, you can overcome the challenges posed by Recruiter of the Guard.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving deeper into MTG’s strategic depths, Recruiter of the Guard stands out as a card that expertly morphs to fit numerous deck archetypes. Essential for those seeking precise tools in a single draw, it can guide you towards victory by fetching the right creature at the right moment. Whether it’s strengthening your defenses or setting up for a combo, this card is a resourceful addition to any collection. With shifts in meta and playstyles, its relevance endures, making it a must-have for competitive and casual players alike. Expand your deck’s potential—embrace the strategic advantage of Recruiter of the Guard.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Recruiter of the Guard MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown and Treasure Chest, 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 Recruiter of the Guard and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Recruiter of the Guard Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-08-26 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 222015NormalBlackJason Rainville
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 52015NormalBlackJason Rainville
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 2062015NormalBlackJason Rainville
42020-09-26The ListPLST CN2-222015NormalBlackJason Rainville
52024-06-14Modern Horizons 3MH3 3951997NormalBlackEric Wilkerson
62024-06-14Modern Horizons 3MH3 2662015NormalBlackEric Wilkerson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Recruiter of the Guard has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal