Tin Street Cadet MTG Card


Tin Street Cadet rewards combat aggression with card draw, bolstering your hand during play. Requires careful hand management due to its discard effect, adding strategic depth. Its red mana cost restricts it to certain decks but amplifies red strategies effectively.
Tin Street Cadet - Arena Beginner Set
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin
Released2020-08-13
Set symbol
Set nameArena Beginner Set
Set codeANB
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number87
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJarel Threat

Text of card

Whenever Tin Street Cadet becomes blocked, create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token.


Cards like Tin Street Cadet

The addition of Tin Street Cadet to the repertoire of red creature cards in Magic: The Gathering offers players a unique blend of traits. This goblin warrior shares similarities with other one-mana red creatures like Raging Goblin. Both cards are designed to hit the ground running, enabling a quick aggressive opening, but Tin Street Cadet has an edge with its loot ability—granting the opportunity to draw a card when it deals combat damage to a player, which Raging Goblin lacks.

Another comparable card is Goblin Arsonist, which also costs one red mana but offers a different type of utility. Upon death, Goblin Arsonist deals one damage to any target, which can be pivotal in the early game, while Tin Street Cadet focuses more on resource advantage over direct damage.

Examining their roles in the red aggression archetype, it’s clear that Tin Street Cadet provides a more sustained benefit through card advantage, while others like Raging Goblin and Goblin Arsonist offer immediate but finite effects. In this comparison, Tin Street Cadet stands out for its ability to potentially influence the game’s momentum and card flow, a valuable asset in the fast-paced environment of MTG.

Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Arsonist - MTG Card versions
Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Arsonist - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Tin Street Cadet by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
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Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Digging Team - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Goblin Artisans - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Roc Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Kird Ape - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tin Street Cadet’s potential to draw cards upon dealing combat damage provides a strategic advantage, allowing players to keep their hand replenished and apply pressure on the opponent through increased options.

Resource Acceleration: Although Tin Street Cadet does not directly accelerate resources, it does support strategies that thrive on casting numerous low-cost creatures, thus indirectly promoting a swift development of board presence.

Instant Speed: While Tin Street Cadet is not an instant itself, it benefits from the flexibility of instant-speed spells. Casting buffs or protection at instant timing can ensure the Cadet connects with an opponent, triggering its valuable card draw ability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Tin Street Cadet requires you to discard a card, which may result in a loss of valuable hand advantage. This can be particularly detrimental in the early game when your resources are limited. Carefully considering when to play the card to avoid unintended setbacks is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a mana cost that requires one red mana. This specificity means it fits primarily in red or multi-color decks that can produce red mana. Decks that do not support red mana production will find Tin Street Cadet incompatible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its abilities, Tin Street Cadet can be less appealing compared to other creatures in the same mana range. Players often evaluate the cost-to-benefit ratio of their cards, and Tin Street Cadet might not always come out as the optimal choice when building a deck on a mana efficiency basis.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tin Street Cadet is a card that can seamlessly blend into various red-based aggro or token-generation decks, tailoring to the preference for swift, impactful plays.

Combo Potential: The ability to produce a token on attack makes it an asset in combos that revolve around creatures entering the battlefield or leaving play, pairing well with sacrifice mechanics or cards boosting creature counts.

Meta-Relevance: Within a meta that favors quick, aggressive game plans, Tin Street Cadet shines by applying early pressure and sustaining momentum, especially valuable in red decks aiming for a high-tempo playstyle.


How to beat

Tin Street Cadet may seem inconspicuous as a mere one-drop creature in Magic: The Gathering, yet its ability to create card advantage when it deals combat damage can become quite problematic for an opponent. It nudges the player to take a more defensive stance, especially if the Cadet is backed by buffs or equipment that enhance its survivability and striking power.

Negating the Cadet’s potential demands an early response, and removal spells are the most straightforward method. Cheap spells like Shock or Fatal Push can promptly dispatch the Cadet before it provides any value. Another strategy involves preventing combat damage altogether. Here, cards with the “fog” effect, such as Holy Day or Ethereal Haze, can be key, especially if you foresee a game where the Cadet is consistently buffed and pushing for damage.

Additionally, employing blockers with higher toughness can consistently stop the Cadet in its tracks without losing your creatures. Creature control is also essential. Forcing your opponent to attack into unfavorable situations using cards like Alluring Siren or leveraging deathtouch creatures deters attacks from the Cadet. Each of these approaches can ensure that Tin Street Cadet does not lead to a snowballing card advantage for your opponent.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tin Street Cadet MTG card by a specific set like Arena Beginner Set, 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 Tin Street Cadet and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tin Street Cadet has restrictions

FormatLegality
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
TimelessLegal