Soltari Guerrillas MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 272
2015-05-06 - Number 212
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Soltari Soldier |
| Abilities | Shadow |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Soltari Guerrillas provides card advantage by removing threats without depleting your hand.
- Its instant speed ability offers surprise tactics and flexibility in matches.
- The card’s specific mana requirements may limit deck compatibility and versatility.
Text of card
Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.) If Soltari Guerrillas assigns combat damage to any opponent, you may redirect that damage to target creature.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The utility of Soltari Guerrillas in MTG cannot be understated when it comes to tactical flexibility. This card lets players remove key threats from the opponent’s side of the battlefield without using up additional cards from their hand. This creates implicit card advantage as you effectively deal with an opponent’s card while maintaining your own card count.
Resource Acceleration: While Soltari Guerrillas itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it can indirectly affect resource management. By pressuring your opponent’s creatures, it can free up your mana and other resources to be used for further development of your board, instead of having to constantly deal with threats.
Instant Speed: Soltari Guerrillas’ ability functions at instant speed, which is a significant advantage. This creates opportunities for surprise tactics during combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn, making it a flexible and unpredictable card to play against. The instant speed of its ability means you can tactically navigate around your opponent’s moves and disrupt their strategy at crucial moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Soltari Guerrillas can be a strong addition to any deck that meets its specific needs, one of the drawbacks to consider is its discard requirement. This card interaction requires you to give up another potential play or crucial hand advantage in order to activate certain abilities, which may put you at a disadvantage in the long term, particularly if your hand is already strained.
Specific Mana Cost: The Soltari Guerrillas inhabit a very particular niche, requiring both red and white mana to cast. This specific mana cost can pose a substantial restriction, pigeonholing it into certain types of decks and limiting its versatility in a broad range of strategies. Decks that don’t run these colors or that have a shaky mana base may find including this card to be more of a liability than an asset.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Boasting a mana cost that reaches a total of four, including both colored and generic mana, the Soltari Guerrillas command a significant investment for their effect. When evaluating cards for your deck, it’s crucial to weigh them against others of similar cost. There are several other creatures or spells available at or below this mana threshold that may offer more immediate impact or value, making the Soltari Guerrillas a potentially less efficient choice in your lineup.
Reasons to Include Soltari Guerrillas in Your Collection
Versatility: Soltari Guerrillas finds its place in a variety of decks, capitalizing on its unique abilities like shadow to always hit opponents, tricky damage redirection to remove threats, and complement aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate into decks that revolve around dealing damage. It works exceptionally well with effects that double damage or with cards that provide numerous targets for its tap ability.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, especially one where evasive creatures are key to victory, Soltari Guerrillas can be a game-changer. It bypasses creature-heavy defenses while also being a handy tool against artifact-laden opponents.
How to Beat
The Soltari Guerrillas card presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This creature’s ability to deal damage directly to target creature or player when it becomes blocked can turn the tide in games. Understanding its strengths is key to developing a strategy against it. Spot removal spells are effective in taking out the Guerrillas before they can use their ability. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can remove the Guerrillas with little cost and prevent any potential damage.
Additionally, since the Soltari Guerrillas are reliant on being blocked to trigger their ability, utilizing tactics that avoid blocking them can help. This includes opting for creature spells with ‘cannot be blocked’ abilities or using spells that tap creatures without engaging in combat. Cards with damage prevention effects or those that provide protection from red can also nullify the Guerrilla’s impact. Remember that being vigilant and maintaining control over the field will decrease the opportunities for your opponent to leverage the Guerrillas’ abilities to their advantage.
With the right preparation and reaction, the Soltari Guerrillas can be overcome, allowing you to maintain the upper hand in your MTG matches.
Cards like Soltari Guerrillas
The Soltari Guerrillas card is an interesting piece in the realm of MTG for players who enjoy tactical combat strategies. Comparable to cards such as Firefist Striker, the Soltari Guerrillas provide a method to manipulate combat by redirecting damage. Unlike Firefist Striker, which restricts an opponent’s creature from blocking, the Soltari Guerrillas can directly deal damage to target creature or player when it becomes tapped.
Another similar card is the Prodigal Sorcerer, famously nicknamed ‘Tim,’ which also allows direct damage dealing, albeit to one target at a time and without needing to tap another creature. While the Prodigal Sorcerer may offer more flexibility with repeated use due to its tap ability, the Soltari Guerrillas’ combat redirection and Shadow ability—allowing it to be virtually unblockable—renders it uniquely advantageous in player-versus-player skirmishes.
Analyzing these comparisons, it’s apparent that the Soltari Guerrillas stand out in MTG for their blend of combat versatility and potential for direct damage, establishing themselves as a valued card for players seeking to control the battlefield tactically.
Cards similar to Soltari Guerrillas by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Soltari Guerrillas MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Soltari Guerrillas 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
Printings
The Soltari Guerrillas Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Val Mayerik.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 272 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Val Mayerik | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 212 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Val Mayerik |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Soltari Guerrillas has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Soltari Guerrillas card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | Regardless of when the ability is activated, it will apply to the defending player at the time Soltari Guerrillas tries to deal combat damage to them. |
