Hanweir Militia Captain // Westvale Cult Leader MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Transform
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides self-sustaining card advantage through token generation, bolstering your army without depleting resources.
  2. Indirectly speeds up resources for decks that thrive on high creature counts, aiding in executing powerful plays.
  3. Forces opponents to respond or risk being overwhelmed by a growing threat that strengthens each turn.

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control four or more creatures, transform Hanweir Militia Captain.

Her reputation inspires both loyalty and adoration.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hanweir Militia Captain offers a strategic edge once transformed into Westvale Cult Leader by significantly boosting your creature count. This card mechanism creates a self-sustaining loop of card advantage, as every creature token brought into play strengthens your board presence, ensuring you’re never short on army numbers.

Resource Acceleration: Although Hanweir Militia Captain itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its ability to create additional creature tokens can work indirectly in your favor. With more creatures on the field, you increase the effectiveness of other cards in your deck that might benefit from a high creature count, potentially unlocking new mana sources and plowing the road towards high-impact plays earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: While Hanweir Militia Captain operates at sorcery speed, its consistent token generation compensates for this by beefing up your defenses and deterring opponents from attacking. Each turn, as your militia grows, you maintain pressure on your opponent, forcing them to deal with an increasingly dangerous army of tokens, which may cause them to hesitate or misallocate resources – a strategic advantage that can be as valuable as instant speed interaction.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hanweir Militia Captain asks for a significant board presence to transform, which could oblige you to overcommit and leave you vulnerable to board wipes.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both white mana for casting narrows the decks it can easily slot into, often locking it into specific archetypes that can support white mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a two mana 2/2 is fair, the card only really shines after transformation, the requirement for which may take several turns, potentially making it a slower option in fast-paced games.


Reasons to Include Hanweir Militia Captain in Your Collection

Versatility: Hanweir Militia Captain can be a foundational piece in a variety of white-based decks, seamlessly fitting into token strategies or as a standalone threat that becomes stronger as your board presence increases.

Combo Potential: With its ability to transform into Westvale Cult Leader when you control four or more creatures, this card synergizes well with cards that generate multiple tokens, effectively becoming a powerful engine for creature generation each turn.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments that favor creature-heavy decks or in metas where board state is critical, the continuous strength boost and creature production can turn the tides, making it a robust inclusion, especially in white token or human tribal decks.


How to beat

Hanweir Militia Captain is an intriguing card to navigate in a game of MTG, given its ability to become an impactful creature upon transformation. Notably, it pivots from a modest 2/2 creature to Westvale Cult Leader, growing stronger with each creature you control. What sets it apart is its creature token creation ability, which can rapidly swing the game in favor of the player who controls it.

Dealing with the Hanweir Militia Captain effectively requires an understanding of its triggers and timing. Removal spells are key, preferably cast before the beginning of your opponent’s upkeep once they control four or more creatures to prevent the transformation into Westvale Cult Leader. Board wipes can also reset the creature buildup, negating the multiplying effect of the Cult Leader. Control strategies, such as counter spells or instant removal, can disrupt the opponent’s momentum and handle the threat during your opponent’s turn, just before their upkeep begins.

In essence, an early response is critical when facing Hanweir Militia Captain. Through calculated removal and keeping the number of creatures on your opponent’s battlefield in check, one can effectively mitigate the card’s potential and maintain an upper hand in the duel.


BurnMana Recommendations

If Hanweir Militia Captain piqued your interest, it’s clear you value a strategic edge in MTG. This card can be a powerhouse in the right deck, providing not just brute strength but also the tactical advantage of token generation. Enhancing your board presence or exploring synergies with other token-friendly cards, it’s a versatile asset for any white-based strategy. Embrace the challenge of optimizing your deck with this evolving threat and harness its full potential. Our platform offers deeper insights into strategies and deck building tips. Enhance your collection and gameplay by learning more with us today.


Cards like Hanweir Militia Captain // Westvale Cult Leader

Hanweir Militia Captain is an intriguing creature card that players love to use in their MTG decks. This particular card shares similarities with other creature cards that thrive on a building board presence, such as Mentor of the Meek. Both cards reward you for controlling a multitude of creatures, but the Hanweir Militia Captain takes it a step further by actually transforming into Westvale Cult Leader when you control four or more creatures. The Cult Leader then grows in power and toughness with each turn, proportional to the number of creatures you control.

Another card that runs parallel in concept is Thalia’s Lieutenant, which not only gets stronger with more creatures hitting the field but also bolsters your human creatures immediately upon entering the battlefield. The precinct captain is also comparable, owing to its ability to generate creatures. While the Hanweir Militia Captain requires a significant number of creatures for its transformation, Precinct Captain requires successful combat to create additional creature tokens.

Each of these cards can set the stage for a dominant gameplay if used effectively. However, Hanweir Militia Captain uniquely stands out with its transformative ability, offering an evolving threat that demands an answer from opponents as your army grows.

Mentor of the Meek - MTG Card versions
Thalia's Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Precinct Captain - MTG Card versions
Mentor of the Meek - MTG Card versions
Thalia's Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Precinct Captain - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hanweir Militia Captain // Westvale Cult Leader MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad Promos and Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Hanweir Militia Captain // Westvale Cult Leader and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hanweir Militia Captain // Westvale Cult Leader Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by David Palumbo.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 21s2015TransformBlackDavid Palumbo
22016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 212015TransformBlackDavid Palumbo
32021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 902015TransformBlackDavid Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hanweir Militia Captain // Westvale Cult Leader has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hanweir Militia Captain // Westvale Cult Leader card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-04-08 If you don’t control four or more creatures (including Hanweir Militia Captain itself) at the moment your upkeep begins, its ability doesn’t trigger. You can’t wait for other effects in your upkeep to provide creatures.
2016-04-08 If you don’t control four or more creatures as Hanweir Militia Captain’s ability resolves, it won’t transform.
2016-04-08 Once Hanweir Militia Captain has transformed into Westvale Cult Leader, controlling fewer than four creatures won’t cause it to transform back.
2016-04-08 Westvale Cult Leader’s first ability counts itself, so it will normally be at least 1/1.
2016-07-13 For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics).

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