Tempered Veteran MTG Card
2020-07-03 - Number 41
2022-12-02 - Number 254
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
, : Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature with a +1/+1 counter on it. , : Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
"I've been carrying a sword since before you were born. I wouldn't give up my oath for all the peace and comfort in the world."
Cards like Tempered Veteran
Tempered Veteran steps into Magic: The Gathering’s arena as a unique soldier, empowering your army of +1/+1 counter wielders. Delving into the realm of counter manipulation, its abilities echo those of cards like Abzan Battle Priest. The Priest also employs +1/+1 counters to bolster your forces but takes a different approach by providing lifelink to creatures you control with such counters, rather than the Veteran’s ability to place counters directly.
Within the same space, we encounter Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit. This Spirit bolsters another target creature when a non-token creature enters the battlefield under your control — a close cousin to the Veteran’s nurturing nature. However, Anafenza’s bolstering is contingent on creature entrance, while Tempered Veteran’s capacity to add counters can be activated on demand. Then there’s Ainok Bond-Kin, establishing a baseline for creatures that use counters as means to gain additional abilities, in this case, granting first strike to any creature with a +1/+1 counter.
By examining these relationships, it’s clear that Tempered Veteran holds its own niche in MTG. It offers a tactical edge in decks that thrive on counter strategies, providing a steady and versatile source of in-game advantage.
Cards similar to Tempered Veteran by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Tempered Veteran offers a strategic edge as it can increase the effectiveness of your creatures over time. By bolstering your creatures consistently, you create a formidable board presence, turning your units into threats that must be answered by your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Although Tempered Veteran itself does not directly accelerate resources, it maximizes the value gained from your permanents. By continuously putting +1/+1 counters on creatures each turn, you are effectively generating additional power and toughness, which would otherwise require spending more mana on other spells or creatures.
Instant Speed: While Tempered Veteran operates at sorcery speed, its second ability, which can be activated for six mana including a white mana, can be used at instant speed. This allows you to wait until the most opportune moment during the game, such as end of your opponent’s turn or in response to an opponent’s actions, to enhance your creatures and potentially disrupt your opponent’s strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Tempered Veteran can be a powerful asset in the right deck, one of its limitations is the discard requirement that may appear in synergy with other cards. This requirement forces players to discard valuable cards to achieve a desirable effect on the battlefield, reducing their hand size and potential future plays. It is important to consider hand resource management when accounting for this Veteran’s abilities.
Specific Mana Cost: Tempered Veteran’s abilities necessitate a specific mana cost, which includes white mana symbols. This requirement restricts the card primarily to white or white-hybrid decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the broader spectrum of MTG strategies and color combinations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While activating Tempered Veteran’s abilities can prove consequential, the cost demands a significant mana investment. Other cards in the game may offer similar or greater benefits at a lesser mana investment, making Tempered Veteran a potentially less efficient choice in scenarios where mana conservation is crucial for maintaining tempo and board presence.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tempered Veteran can be readily integrated into various deck builds, notably those centered around +1/+1 counters. Its ability to bolster creatures incrementally makes it a solid pick for both aggressive and control strategies.
Combo Potential: This card admirably synergizes with mechanics that proliferate or double counters, opening the door to multiple interactions that can significantly alter the game’s landscape. The opportunities for deck innovation are vast with Tempered Veteran on the board.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-centric decks are often pivotal in the current metagame, Tempered Veteran’s role in fortifying your creatures can be essential to maintaining board dominance. Its low mana cost also ensures it has a place in decks tuned to operate efficiently under various meta conditions.
How to Beat Tempered Veteran
Tempered Veteran offers a considerable challenge on the battlefield when it comes to bolstering the might of creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This card shines in a deck built around +1/+1 counters, constantly powering up creatures each turn. Yet, there are strategic ways to neutralize its impact. Removing Tempered Veteran swiftly is paramount; spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile can handle this with minimal cost and setback to your game plan.
Countering enchantments or artifacts that proliferate counters also cuts off the synergy this card relies on. Cards like Nature’s Claim or Disenchant efficiently dismantle those supporting pieces, limiting how much this creature’s ability can be leveraged. Moreover, direct damage spells like Lightning Bolt can disrupt the strategy early on by targeting Tempered Veteran before the counters begin to accumulate. Additionally, utilizing board wipes or damage-based removal, like Blasphemous Act, can reset the playing field, irrespective of how many counters have been placed.
Ultimately, staying ahead of your opponent’s counter strategy requires a mix of timely removal, countermeasures against supporting artifacts and enchantments, and an awareness of the potential for exponential growth that Tempered Veteran brings to a match in Magic: The Gathering. Manage these elements well, and you’ll mitigate the advantage this powerful creature can provide to your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tempered Veteran MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Tempered Veteran 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
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Printings
The Tempered Veteran Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Izzy.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 41 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Izzy | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 254 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Izzy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tempered Veteran has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |