Straw Soldiers MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Creature — Scarecrow Soldier |
Released | 1999-05-01 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Portal Three Kingdoms |
Set code | PTK |
Power | 1 |
Toughness | 3 |
Number | 54 |
Frame | 1997 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | White |
Illustred by | Cai Tingting |
Cards like Straw Soldiers
Straw Soldiers is an engaging piece in player decks that utilize creatures designed for quick tactical plays in Magic: The Gathering. When compared to other similar cards, Straw Soldiers stands out for its specific creature synergy. Take Icatian Javelineers as an example; it offers a one-time damage ability upon entering the battlefield, but lacks Straw Soldiers’ recurrent potential in creature-based strategies.
Another card worth considering is Dragon Bell Monk, which boasts vigilance and the prowess ability, enhancing its strength whenever you cast a noncreature spell. However, Straw Soldiers invites a different kind of deck-building, emphasizing repetitive assaults rather than scaling prowess. Wall of Omens is in the mix too, offering a defensive form with its card draw ability upon entry, contrasting with Straw Soldiers’ offensive nature.
To sum it up, Straw Soldiers provides an interesting option for players who favor recurring aggressive strategies over single-use effects or defensive approaches. It encourages a unique playstyle within the realm of creature-focused decks in Magic: The Gathering, making it a notable card for players to consider in their army of spells.
Cards similar to Straw Soldiers by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Straw Soldiers delivers an edge by creating multiple creature tokens. This capability to multiply forces on the battlefield not only extends your army but also paves the way for advantageous trades or increased pressure on your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: With its ability to produce several creature tokens, Straw Soldiers can effectively be used to ramp up your resources. These tokens can act as blockers, attackers, or can synergize with other cards that benefit from having multiple creatures in play to accelerate your game plan.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Straw Soldiers at instant speed should not be overlooked. This allows savvy players to wait until the ideal moment during an opponent’s turn to deploy their forces, thereby avoiding telegraphing their strategy and maintaining an element of surprise that could disrupt the opponent’s tactics.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Straw Soldiers, with its unique gameplay dynamic, necessitates discarding another card as part of its casting conditions. This can unwittingly deplete your hand, particularly when you’re contendending with a strategy focused on maintaining card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a precise mana allocation, Straw Soldiers binds you to include specific mana sources in your deck. This constraint might limit the flexibility of your deck’s overall mana base, making it less adaptable to evolving game situations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The summoning cost for Straw Soldiers is on the higher side when benchmarked against other creatures of similar power and abilities. The investment of resources may not equate to an immediate impact on the battlefield, potentially slowing down your gameplay strategy.
Reasons to Include Straw Soldiers in Your Collection
Versatility: Straw Soldiers is a card that can be seamlessly integrated into numerous deck archetypes. Its low casting cost and defensive capabilities make it beneficial for decks looking to establish early game presence.
Combo Potential: This card can work well in conjunction with sacrifice mechanics or card effects that capitalize on creature death, opening up synergistic gameplay styles that can tip the scales in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-heavy decks are common in many metagames, having Straw Soldiers can provide strategic advantage through chump blocking or as an enabler for death-triggered abilities, making it a relevant choice in various competitive scenes.
How to beat
Straw Soldiers, a unique card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, presents a distinct blend of challenge and opportunity. Understanding the intricacies of its vulnerability can give players an upper hand. This card, noted for its low summoning cost and ability to create multiple token creatures, can be quite formidable in the right deck. To turn the tides against Straw Soldiers, consider employing spells or abilities that can deal with multiple creatures simultaneously. Board-clearing spells like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act are particularly effective, as they can wipe out all the tokens generated by Straw Soldiers in one fell swoop. Additionally, using spot removal on key creatures that support or enhance the tokens can drastically reduce the impact of Straw Soldiers. Focus on maintaining control of the board and be proactive in keeping the token population to a minimum.
Another strategy to consider is leveraging graveyard manipulation. Since Straw Soldiers often relies on creature cards returning from the graveyard, cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can disrupt this mechanic and prevent tokens from amassing. It is important to remember that timing is everything, and understanding the strategic moments to deploy these counters will make the difference in overcoming the challenge posed by Straw Soldiers.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Straw Soldiers MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms, 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 Straw Soldiers 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Straw Soldiers has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |