Standing Troops MTG Card
1998-06-15 - Number 22
1999-04-21 - Number 44
2001-04-11 - Number 48★
2001-04-11 - Number 48
2003-07-28 - Number 48★
2003-07-28 - Number 48
2015-02-27 - Number 25
2015-05-06 - Number 36
2017-04-15 - Number 4
Text of card
Attacking does not cause Standing Troops to tap.
The less you have, the harder you fight for it.
Cards like Standing Troops
Standing Troops presents an interesting dynamic as a reliable defensive creature within the world of Magic: The Gathering. Its key feature, vigilance, allows it to attack without tapping, meaning it can still be used to block enemy creatures. This makes it somewhat akin to the Sentry of the Underworld. While the Sentry boasts flying and vigilance, making it a formidable blocker, it requires additional mana to keep it on the board.
Contrastingly, Gallant Cavalry offers a different approach, providing two bodies on the field with its vigilance token creature upon entering the battlefield. Though each token individually is weaker compared to a single Standing Troops, the cumulative power and ability to block multiple attackers can be advantageous. Another card worth mentioning is the Veteran Armorsmith which, although doesn’t have vigilance, strengthens other soldiers significantly, making the troops harder to overcome in battle.
When considering effectiveness and utility across various decks in Magic: The Gathering, Standing Troops has its merits especially in soldier-themed decks or those that benefit from its ever-ready blocking capability. Its place is assured due to its simplicity and steadfastness in the defensive line of any player’s army.
Cards similar to Standing Troops by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Standing Troops may not directly provide card draw, but their vigilance allows for consistent board presence while not hindering your ability to cast other spells. This helps maintain card parity through presence rather than card draw.
Resource Acceleration: Although Standing Troops doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, its low mana cost efficiency enables you to deploy other strategies more quickly and makes it a reliable play early in the game.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Standing Troops can act at instant speed due to vigilance. This characteristic allows you to engage in combat without tapping, keeping your defenses up for surprising interactions and maintaining a formidable battlefield stance at all times.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Standing Troops does not require a card to be discarded, allowing players to maintain their hand while deploying defenders.
Specific Mana Cost: Standing Troops requires two white mana in its casting cost, which necessitates a commitment to white mana-producing lands or sources in your deck.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing three mana might seem low, for a card that offers a simple 1/4 creature with vigilance, there may be alternative creatures or spells that could provide a higher impact in the battlefield for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Standing Troops in Your Collection
Versatility: Standing Troops is a solid addition to decks that prioritize defensive strategies or look for reliable blockers. As a card that stays on the battlefield ready to defend multiple times, it brings consistent value over several turns.
Combo Potential: With its vigilance, Standing Troops offers synergy with cards that capitalize on creatures being untapped, either to enhance defensive capabilities or to interact with mechanics such as convoke, allowing you to use them for casting other spells without compromising defense.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment that sees aggressive creature-based decks, Standing Troops serves as an efficient low-cost creature able to negate multiple attacks. Its presence in your collection means you have a ready response to shifts in the competitive scene favoring swarm strategies.
How to beat
Standing Troops may not seem like a formidable threat at first glance in MTG. With its steady vigilance attribute, it offers a defensive utility that allows it to both attack and defend without tapping. This can often lead to a stalemate situation where attacking becomes unfavorable due to its capacity to block without consequence. In order to navigate around this, there are several tactics players might consider.
One effective method is utilizing removal spells that bypass its vigilance, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile. These spells can swiftly clear the Standing Troops from the board, nullifying its defense upside. Additionally, taking advantage of spells that impose -1/-1 counters can systematically weaken and eventually eliminate these troops without requiring a direct confrontation. Engulfing the card under a sea of tokens also proves to be a solid strategy, as the card can only block one creature at a time. Lastly, capitalizing on it being a low-threat card, players can focus on overwhelming the opponent with high-value creatures or amplifying their board state with enchantments and artifacts that outpace the utility of a single vigilant soldier.
Understanding the nuances of MTG combat and card interactions is key, and with the right approach, Standing Troops becomes a minor obstacle on your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Standing Troops MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Standing Troops 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Standing Troops Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2017-04-15. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-06-15 | Exodus | EXO | 22 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 44 | 1997 | Normal | White | Daren Bader | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 48★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Gary Ruddell | |
| 4 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 48 | 1997 | Normal | White | Gary Ruddell | |
| 5 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 48★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 6 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 48 | 2003 | Normal | White | Daren Bader | |
| 7 | 2015-02-27 | Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora | DDO | 25 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 8 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 36 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 9 | 2017-04-15 | Welcome Deck 2017 | W17 | 4 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Standing Troops has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.