Forerunner of the Coalition MTG Card


Forerunner of the Coalition - Rivals of Ixalan
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Pirate
Released2018-01-19
Set symbol
Set nameRivals of Ixalan
Set codeRIX
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number72
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJames Ryman

Key Takeaways

  1. Acts as a tutor for pirate cards, enhancing deck consistency and strategic play.
  2. Enables instant speed interactions and potential surprise plays in matches.
  3. Specific mana cost and discard requirement may restrict its versatility in some decks.

Text of card

When Forerunner of the Coalition enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a Pirate card, reveal it, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it. Whenever another Pirate enters the battlefield under your control, each opponent loses 1 life.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The “Forerunner of the Coalition” acts as a powerful tutor, allowing you to search your library for a Pirate card and put it on top of your library. This ensures that you draw into your key pirates more consistently and maintain a solid hand.

Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes exceptionally well with Pirate decks, potentially accelerating your board state as it can enable combos by fetching the right Pirate. The consistent tutor effect can serve as a pseudo card draw, indirectly accelerating your resources.

Instant Speed: While “Forerunner of the Coalition” itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it can effectively set up instant speed interactions by tutoring Pirates that can be cast at instant speed. This interaction allows for reactive gameplay and can keep opponents guessing about your next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Forerunner of the Coalition card comes with a conditional play aspect, needing you to discard another card which could deplete valuable hand resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The Casting cost for Forerunner of the Coalition is restrictive due to its specific mana symbols, making it less versatile and harder to fit into multicolor decks without solid mana base support.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: One must evaluate this card’s four mana cost against its potential impact on the game. There are alternatives that might provide similar benefits without such a heavy mana investment, making it less appealing for streamlined decks.


Reasons to Include Forerunner of the Coalition in Your Collection

Versatility: Forerunner of the Coalition integrates well into pirate-themed decks or those capitalizing on creature tutors. Its ability to search for another pirate card upon entering the battlefield offers seamless deck manipulation, enhancing consistency in gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card opens up opportunities for intricate combos by pinpointing key pirates in your deck, setting the stage for powerful synergies. It works excellent with cards that trigger upon a pirate’s arrival or benefit from the wide array of pirates’ abilities.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames evolve, a card like Forerunner of the Coalition can adapt by targeting the most pertinent pirate for any given situation. Whether you need disruption, speed, or brute force, this flexibility can give you an edge over decks that might be dominating your local scene.


How to beat

The Forerunner of the Coalition is a tactical addition to pirate decks in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a creature card that stands out by allowing you to search your library for a Pirate card and put it on top, thereby increasing your chances of drawing a powerful synergy card on your next turn. Once on the battlefield, this card ensures that whenever another Pirate enters the fray under your control, each opponent loses one life—a subtle yet persistent threat.

Overcoming the advantages that Forerunner of the Coalition provides requires a strategic approach. The key is to disrupt the pirate synergy it enables. This can be done through removal spells, which could eliminate the Forerunner before it establishes a strong board presence. Counter spells also prove effective at preventing the Forerunner’s ability from triggering, cutting off the potential chain of pirate plays. Another tactic involves using graveyard shuffle effects to prevent the searched pirate card from being the definite next draw.

Victory against decks featuring the Forerunner of the Coalition lies in denying them the ability to build momentum. By staying one step ahead and countering their plays with precision, you can maintain control of the game and sail to triumph.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deepening your MTG prowess requires understanding cards like Forerunner of the Coalition, which can be a keystone in pirate-themed decks. Its ability to fetch the perfect pirate ally enhances both consistency and impact on the battlefield, setting you up for a tide of strategic moves. If pirate plunder and tactical gameplay excite you, consider this card a treasure for your collection. It’s not just about having powerful cards, but knowing when and how to use them. Sail into deeper strategy discussions, deck building tips, and card analysis with us. Discover hidden gems and chart the course to victory with BurnMana.


Cards like Forerunner of the Coalition

Forerunner of the Coalition presents players with a unique tactical edge in pirate-themed decks within MTG. It’s reminiscent of cards like Goblin Matron, which allow for a specific creature type to be fetched from one’s library. However, Forerunner of the Coalition adds another layer by also adding to the strategic plunder of your pirate gameplay, with each pirate played subsequently dealing damage to opponents.

Comparably, there’s Stoneforge Mystic, facilitating equipment card tutoring, yet Forerunner of the Coalition’s impact resonates with each new pirate played, creating potential for incremental damage over time. Unlike Stoneforge Mystic however, the Forerunner doesn’t offer the same immediate utility of putting equipment cards into play.

In the realm of tribal support cards, Forerunner of the Coalition holds its ground by offering both search utility and a form of passive damage that scales with the game, setting it apart as a noteworthy consideration in decks that aim to amass a crew of marauding pirates and chip away at the opponent’s life total with each new member that joins the board.

Goblin Matron - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Goblin Matron - Portal Second Age (P02)
Stoneforge Mystic - Grand Prix Promos (PGPX)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Forerunner of the Coalition MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan, 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 Forerunner of the Coalition and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Forerunner of the Coalition has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-01-19 If an effect refers to a “
-ubtype] spell” or “
-ubtype] card,” it refers only to a spell or card that has that subtype. For example, March of the Drowned is a card that benefits Pirates and features Pirates in its illustration, but it isn’t a Pirate card.
2018-01-19 In a Two-Headed Giant game, the last ability of Forerunner of the Coalition causes the opposing team to lose 2 life.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks