Royal Trooper MTG Card
1999-07-01 - Number 25
2008-09-22 - Number 32
2018-06-08 - Number 104
2020-09-26 - Number BBD-104
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Royal Trooper provides card advantage, aiding in hand buildup for winning MTG strategies.
- With instant speed and resource acceleration, the Royal Trooper amplifies game tempo.
- Despite its benefits, the restrictiveness of mana cost and discard requirement can be limiting.
Text of card
When Royal Trooper blocks, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
"Fortune does not side with the faint-hearted." —Sophocles, *Phaedra*
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Royal Trooper card offers a distinct edge by potentially drawing you additional cards upon fulfilling certain conditions in the game. This can help in building up your hand and providing more options for subsequent turns, which is a key component for winning strategies in MTG.
Resource Acceleration: Deploying the Royal Trooper can boost your resources. It can influence the pace of your game by allowing you to ramp up your mana resources faster or develop your board presence, giving you the upper hand and potentially leading to a faster victory.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast spells at instant speed cannot be overstated. With Royal Trooper in your deck, the versatility of reacting to your opponent’s moves during their turn with pinpoint timing can drastically shift the tide of the match in your favor, often catching them off guard and disrupting their strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Royal Trooper necessitates discarding another card to activate certain abilities, potentially depleting your hand and leaving you at a disadvantage in the late game where card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is color-restricted, requiring a White mana source, which can be prohibitive in multicolored decks that might struggle with mana consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value that’s on the higher side for its effects, players might find themselves choosing between developing their board presence or holding mana for a reactive play, which can be a strategic setback.
Reasons to Include Royal Trooper in Your Collection
Versatility: Royal Trooper is adaptable to a range of strategies, an excellent fit for decks that favor a solid defensive presence on the board.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with equipment and auras, potentially creating formidable combinations that enhance its defensive capabilities.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment filled with aggressive creatures, Royal Trooper can serve as an efficient blocker that can stabilize the board for control and mid-range decks.
How to beat
Royal Trooper can be a resilient threat on the battlefield with its potential to become indestructible whenever it’s blocking. To effectively counter this card, consider using removal spells that don’t require it to be in combat. Spells that exile, such as Path to Exile or Conclave Tribunal, sidestep the Trooper’s indestructible mechanic. Alternatively, forcing a sacrifice through cards like Diabolic Edict nullifies the Trooper’s combat-based protection by not directly destroying it.
Another strategy to beat Royal Trooper involves bypassing it entirely. This can be achieved by employing evasion abilities like flying or trample to minimize the Trooper’s defensive capabilities on the ground. Overloading the board with multiple creatures can also overwhelm a single Royal Trooper, as it can only block one attacker at a time. A strategic combination of evasive maneuvers, overwhelming force, or pinpoint removal can ensure that this stalwart soldier meets its match on the MTG battlefield.
Understanding opponent’s strategies and preparing versatile answers in your deck is pivotal. By focusing on these techniques, you can mitigate the impact of Royal Trooper and maintain the upper hand during your duels.
Cards like Royal Trooper
Royal Trooper stands as a solid creature choice within the broad tapestry of MTG’s combat-focused cards. It can be likened to other low-cost creatures that are designed to bolster a player’s defenses early in the game. For instance, comparable to the Royal Trooper is the Elite Vanguard, a card valued for its identical mana cost and strength, making both cards efficient for early offensive strategies.
In the realm of utility creatures, Loyal Pegasus shares a similar baseline cost but trades defensive capabilities for the potential of aggressive, aerial attacks when not acting alone. While the Royal Trooper excels in defense, particularly after surviving a battle, the Loyal Pegasus offers a different tack, promoting an alliance on the battlefield for greater combat damage. Contrastingly, the Veteran Swordsmith, albeit costing more mana, empowers others by boosting fellow soldiers’ attack power, shifting the focus from individual resilience to collective strength.
After careful comparison, the Royal Trooper provides a reliable defensive asset for any MTG deck. Its ability to potentially grow stronger after combat encapsulates its value among creatures designed for early player protection and a progressively dominant presence on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Royal Trooper by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Royal Trooper MTG card by a specific set like Starter 1999 and Masters Edition II, 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 Royal Trooper and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Printings
The Royal Trooper Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1999-07-01 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 25 | 1997 | normal | white | Scott M. Fischer | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 32 | 1997 | normal | black | Scott M. Fischer | |
| 3 | 2018-06-08 | Battlebond | BBD | 104 | 2015 | normal | black | Scott M. Fischer | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | BBD-104 | 2015 | normal | black | Scott M. Fischer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Royal Trooper has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
