Satyr Grovedancer MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Satyr Shaman |
| Released | 2014-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Journey into Nyx |
| Set code | JOU |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 139 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jason A. Engle |
Text of card
When Satyr Grovedancer enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
"Some of my kin dance for themselves, without greater purpose. Nylea gives me purpose, and with it strength."
Cards like Satyr Grovedancer
Satyr Grovedancer finds its kinship among creatures that bolster your forces when they enter the battlefield. Comparable to cards like Elvish Visionary, this enchanting creature offers a unique twist on battlefield presence. While both cards serve to enrich your game the moment they touch the field, Elvish Visionary draws you a card, ensuring your hand remains primed for future turns. Satyr Grovedancer, contrarily, straightaway nurtures your creatures or strengthens your hero with its +1/+1 counter bonus upon entry.
Moving into the realm of enhancing permanents, Ainok Bond-Kin is similarly aligned, providing an immediate benefit of bolstering another creature when it enters the fray. Unlike the Satyr Grovedancer, its impact is persistent, offering the chance to confer first strike on creatures with +1/+1 counters. Yet, Ainok Bond-Kin requires a pre-established creature to be truly effective, where the Grovedancer does not.
Comparatively, Satyr Grovedancer offers a subtle yet immediate advantage, potentially turning the tide by incrementally strengthening your position on the battlefield. Each of these creatures enhances your deck’s synergy in their unique way, making Satyr Grovedancer a versatile addition to decks focusing on ongoing growth and accumulation of power.
Cards similar to Satyr Grovedancer by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you play Satyr Grovedancer, not only do you add a creature to the battlefield but its ability also offers a slight card advantage by strengthening another creature in your arsenal. This can turn a modest board presence into a more formidable one without the need to spend more cards from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Grovedancer itself isn’t a direct source of mana acceleration, its low casting cost can help you establish or maintain a board presence early in the game. This can accelerate your game plan as you’re able to start applying pressure or developing your board state sooner.
Instant Speed: While Satyr Grovedancer doesn’t operate at instant speed, the creature’s ability to bolster another creature as it enters the battlefield can be used tactically, similar to instant speed buffs. This offers flexibility in how you manage combat scenarios, potentially turning a losing battle into a victory with the right strategic placement of the +1/+1 counter.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the context of Satyr Grovedancer, while there is no direct discard requirement, it’s important to note that any creature card not immediately bolstering your battlefield may be a missed opportunity or a card you’ll need to discard later to effects that force you to pare down your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Satyr Grovedancer has a specific mana requirement that includes green. This characteristic locks it into green-inclusive decks, potentially limiting its overall application across the diverse range of deck types and strategies that MTG offers.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost and the modest effect upon entering the battlefield, it demands evaluation against alternatives. Some players may find that there are other creatures or spells available that provide more strategic value or a stronger board presence, making Satyr Grovedancer a costly choice for the benefit it confers.
Reasons to Include Satyr Grovedancer in Your Collection
Versatility: Satyr Grovedancer is a two-fold boon to green mana decks – it’s a creature that contributes to your board presence while enhancing your subsequent creature plays. Its ability to place a +1/+1 counter on a target creature can be relevant at any game stage, whether it’s early aggression or late-game growth.
Combo Potential: This card excels in synergistic environments, working well with mechanics that capitalize on counters like proliferate or abilities that trigger upon creatures entering the battlefield. It’s easy to weave it into strategies focusing on building large threats or enhancing key creatures.
Meta-Relevance: With a format that appreciates creatures that offer immediate value, Satyr Grovedancer can fit into decks that aim to outpace removal-heavy opponents. It serves as a useful piece in strategies that need to establish and maintain a board presence against various control tactics.
How to beat Satyr Grovedancer
Satyr Grovedancer may not be the most formidable creature in MTG, but it offers a strategic advantage with its ability to strengthen other creatures as it enters the battlefield. The Grovedancer’s capability to give a +1/+1 counter to target creature means it can act as a minor threat amplifier, changing the board state in favor of your opponent. However, the key to overpowering this card lies in timing and removal efficiency.
Since Satyr Grovedancer has a modest 1/1 body, direct removal spells can efficiently handle it. Cards like Fatal Push or Shock can eliminate the Grovedancer before its ability becomes a recurring issue. In addition, keeping board wipes or mass removal tools in your arsenal can ensure that the Grovedancer’s buffing effect doesn’t escalate. Cards such as Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act can reset the game state, negating the minor advantages gained through Satyr Grovedancer’s enter-the-battlefield trigger.
Ultimately, treating Satyr Grovedancer as a potential enabler rather than a direct threat, and responding with timely removal can easily keep this creature in check, ensuring it doesn’t turn into a stepping stone for your opponent’s victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Satyr Grovedancer MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Satyr Grovedancer and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Satyr Grovedancer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |