Dueling Coach MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Monk |
| Released | 2021-04-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Strixhaven: School of Mages |
| Set code | STX |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 15 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Caio Monteiro |
Key Takeaways
- Dueling Coach can fetch key creatures, speeding up your path to a commanding board presence.
- Instant speed leveling allows for surprise enhancements, changing the tide during your opponent’s turn.
- Notably high mana cost limits its playability but compensates with potent board impact and versatility.
Text of card
When Dueling Coach enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. , : Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dueling Coach shines at enhancing your hand’s options by providing a built-in tutor effect. This enables you to search for the perfect creature card to dominate the battlefield and maintain pressure on your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impactful on mana, Dueling Coach works as a form of resource acceleration by allowing quicker buildup of a powerful board state, effectively accelerating your path to victory.
Instant Speed: Though Dueling Coach operates at sorcery speed, its leveling up ability can be utilized at instant speed. This versatility allows you to adapt swiftly during battle and potentially surprise an opponent with an unexpected power boost during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Dueling Coach demands a card to be discarded for its ability to initiate, potentially depleting your hand when you need those cards most.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise combination of mana to cast, making it less flexible and compromising its suitability across a variety of decks that may not run this mana setup.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost resting on the higher side for its effects, many players might contemplate other options that provide similar benefits without the steep resource investment.
Reasons to Include Dueling Coach in Your Collection
Versatility: Dueling Coach is a unique addition to decks that thrive on +1/+1 counter synergies or look to bolster their creatures. Its ability to instantly strengthen a creature on the battlefield makes it a valuable asset in both aggressive and midrange decks.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with mechanics that benefit from counters, such as proliferate or evolve. Additionally, Dueling Coach’s second ability offers a late-game advantage, giving every creature you cast thereafter a permanent boost, thus amplifying its combo potential.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies prevail, Dueling Coach has its place. The ability to create more robust creatures can tip the scales in matches, and since it affects all creatures summoned after its second ability is activated, its relevance stretches throughout the entire game, providing persistent value.
How to Beat
Dueling Coach is a unique card in the MTG arsenal, often seen boosting the power of creatures as it hits the battlefield. Effectively countering this card requires a few strategic moves. Firstly, removal spells are key. Since Dueling Coach’s impact is felt immediately upon entering play, instant-speed removal spells that can be cast in response to its summoning can mitigate its effect. Think along the lines of Doom Blade or Path to Exile, which are specifically designed to take out creatures.
Another tactic is to utilize counterspells to prevent Dueling Coach from ever taking the field. Cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak fit perfectly with this game plan. In addition, controlling the battlefield is crucial. If you maintain a state where your opponent’s creatures are sparse or weakened, Dueling Coach’s ability to distribute +1/+1 counters becomes considerably less impactful. Board wipes like Wrath of God can help clear the slate and render the coach’s skills ineffective.
Remember, adapting to the playstyle and outmaneuvering cards like Dueling Coach is part of the diverse and dynamic challenge that makes MTG so engaging. With the right approach and timing, the advantage Dueling Coach brings to your opponent can be completely neutralized.
Cards like Dueling Coach
Dueling Coach is an intriguing addition to the creature-based strategies in MTG. It can be likened to cards like Veteran Swordsmith, as both offer a boost to other creatures. Dueling Coach goes one step further by allowing you to put a +1/+1 counter on target creature when it enters the battlefield, a feature that can be a game-changer in limited formats or creature-heavy decks.
Another card to consider is Ainok Bond-Kin, which brings a similar combat advantage to the table. While Ainok Bond-Kin also supports a counters strategy, it focuses on providing creatures with first strike rather than directly increasing their size. Obelisk of Urd should be mentioned too; it’s a non-creature spell that bolsters creatures of the chosen type significantly. However, it demands a higher mana investment and a convoke mechanic to reduce its cost.
Each of these cards offers unique advantages, but Dueling Coach’s ability to immediately impact the board by augmenting a creature’s power makes it a valuable card for players looking to gain an edge in combat without delay.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dueling Coach MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Dueling Coach 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 MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dueling Coach has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
