Arrogant Poet MTG Card

Arrogant Poet - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)

Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
2021-04-23 - Number 63

Arrogant Poet // Arrogant Poet - Strixhaven Art Series (ASTX)

Strixhaven Art Series (ASTX)
2021-04-23 - Number 7

Strixhaven Art Series (ASTX)
2021-04-23 - Number 7s

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Warlock
Power	2
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Arrogant Poet’s ability is versatile, enhancing aggressive or defensive tactics in black-aligned decks.
It thrives in life-payment strategies but requires black mana and hand resources.
Competes with similar two-mana cards that provide flying without life cost.

Text of card

Whenever Arrogant Poet attacks, you may pay 2 life. If you do, it gains flying until end of turn.

"I would be kinder to my peers, Professor, but I simply don't have any."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arrogant Poet can contribute to card advantage in certain deck builds, particularly those that capitalize on self-mill or graveyard synergies, by presenting an early threat that requires an answer.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration but pairs well with cards that do, enabling a faster and more aggressive board presence that can pressure opponents into unfavorable trades or plays.

Instant Speed: While Arrogant Poet itself isn’t an instant, it benefits from being played alongside instant speed spells. Its ability can be activated at instant speed, which can unexpectedly modify combat calculations in your favor during the combat phase.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Arrogant Poet demands that you discard a card to activate its ability, possibly depleting your hand and reducing the options available during your turns.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires black mana, therefore it can only be optimally utilized in decks that are built around or can accommodate black mana sufficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its abilities, some players might find the cost of Arrogant Poet a bit steep. There are alternative creatures that bring more value or versatility to the battlefield for the same or a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Arrogant Poet offers flexibility to Black-aligned decks, enabling either aggressive tactics with its ability to fly or enhancing defensive strategies as a useful blocker when needed.

Combo Potential: Its life payment mechanism can seamlessly integrate into decks that thrive on paying life for gains, synergizing with cards that reward life spenditure or benefit from creatures dying.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame with a focus on fast-paced play, Arrogant Poet can be a cost-effective way to apply pressure early on, potentially tipping the scales in your favor from the outset.

How to Beat Arrogant Poet

Arrogant Poet can be a tricky card to face in Magic: The Gathering due to its cost-effective way of enabling early aggressive plays and its potential to deliver life loss through flying. When considering strategies to counter this card, look for effective removal spells that can handle low-toughness creatures. Spells like Shock or Fatal Push are excellent examples of how you can swiftly deal with Arrogant Poet before it begins chipping away at your life total.

Moreover, leveraging creatures with reach or flying to block Arrogant Poet can neutralize its offensive capabilities. Remember, playing the game isn’t just about taking down creatures. It’s about crafting a strategy that deals with threats efficiently. Therefore, maintaining board control with defensive creatures or instant-speed interaction ensures you’re well-equipped to handle the Poet and similar threats.

Ultimately, the key is to anticipate and adapt. Having a balanced deck with a mix of removal, board control, and blockers will not only help you tackle Arrogant Poet but also prepare you for the myriad of challenges your opponent might present.

Cards like Arrogant Poet

Arrogant Poet finds its place among the distinctive flight enablers in the realm of Magic the Gathering. Its closest relative could arguably be Skyship Plunderer; both require two mana to cast and have the ability to take to the skies. The distinctive feature of Arrogant Poet, however, is its payment of life to gain flying until the end of turn. While Skyship Plunderer can fly without additional cost, it doesn’t offer the same flexibility and quick altitude gain, which could be a tactical advantage during the play.

Another comparison could be drawn with Gust Walker, a card that also costs two mana to cast and can obtain flying. Unlike Arrogant Poet, Gust Walker gains its flying conditionally upon exertion which also means it doesn’t untap during the next untap step. This presents a trade-off between the immediate impact and long-term board presence. Arrogant Poet, without the untap penalty, provides a more persistent threat.

These comparisons provide insights into the useful dynamics of Arrogant Poet. By taking into account its synergy with life payment strategies and its ability to provide consistent pressure on opponents, Arrogant Poet carves out a niche in decks that value speed and resilience.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arrogant Poet MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages and Strixhaven Art Series, 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 Arrogant Poet and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Arrogant Poet Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Billy Christian.

#	Release	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2021-04-23	Strixhaven: School of Mages	STX	63	2015	normal	black	Billy Christian
2	~~2021-04-23~~	Strixhaven Art Series	ASTX	7	2015	art_series	borderless	Billy Christian
3	~~2021-04-23~~	Strixhaven Art Series	ASTX	7s	2015	art_series	borderless	Billy Christian

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arrogant Poet has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arrogant Poet card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2021-04-16	You choose whether or not to pay 2 life as the ability resolves. Once you make that choice, no one can respond before Arrogant Poet gains flying.