Voldaren Duelist MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 191
2019-11-07 - Number 1099
2019-11-15 - Number 44
2020-09-26 - Number SOI-191
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Vampire Warrior |
| Abilities | Haste |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Haste When Voldaren Duelist enters the battlefield, target creature can't block this turn.
"I have yet to find my equal."
Cards like Voldaren Duelist
Voldaren Duelist is a noteworthy combatant in Magic: The Gathering’s assortment of aggressive creatures. It bears similarity to cards like Ember Hauler, which also thrives in aggressive decks. Voldaren Duelist, a creature that can disable potential blockers on its entry, offers a strategic advantage during attack phases. Ember Hauler lacks this combat-impacting ability but provides a means to deal direct damage instead.
Moving to other comparisons, there’s the Bloodrage Brawler, which exerts raw power as a 4/3 body for two mana. However, unlike Voldaren Duelist, it demands a discard upon entering the battlefield, which could potentially be a disadvantage. Then we have Heir of Falkenrath which transforms into a formidable flyer, offering an alternate aggressive approach. Although without the immediate board influence of the Duelist, it provides long-term airborne pressure.
Summing up, Voldaren Duelist stands out amongst its peers with its enter-the-battlefield ability to impede strategic blockers. It caters to players favoring immediate board impact over static power, making it a compelling option in aggressive MTG decks looking to maintain momentum and control the combat stage.
Cards similar to Voldaren Duelist by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Voldaren Duelist doesn’t directly let you draw cards, its strong impact on the board can effectively diminish your opponent’s card quality, leading to an indirect form of card advantage. Compact power in a single card often means your opponents must spend multiple cards to recover, giving you the upper hand.
Resource Acceleration: Although not a traditional resource accelerator, the Duelist’s ability to tap down a potential blocker can clear the way for accelerated damage. This, in turn, pressures your opponent’s resources, often forcing them to make unfavorable trades or use mana inefficiently.
Instant Speed: The Duelist’s effects aren’t at instant speed, but its presence shifts your opponent’s play patterns as they must consider the risk of leaving mana untapped or playing spells pre-combat. This pseudo instant speed pressure often benefits the rest of your instant speed interactions by making the opponent play around imagined scenarios.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Voldaren Duelist requires a player to discard another card, which can be particularly hindering when hand size is already diminished.
Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates both red mana and generic mana, potentially making it unsuitable for multi-colored decks that might not have the needed mana readily available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be deemed steep for its given abilities, players may opt for more cost-effective creatures to fill their four-mana slot.
Reasons to Include Voldaren Duelist in Your Collection
Versatility: Voldaren Duelist offers a unique combination of abilities, making it a flexible pick for red-based aggressive decks. With the power to hinder your opponent’s blockers on entry, it can adapt to various board states and enhance your offensive tactics.
Combo Potential: Alongside cards that benefit from tapping or incapacitating opponent creatures, Voldaren Duelist can integrate well into strategies aimed at controlling combat outcomes, synergizing with effects that reward you for dealing combat damage to a player.
Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where tempo plays can turn the tide of a game, Voldaren Duelist’s impact on combat can disrupt your opponent’s plans. It’s well-suited for inclusion in a meta where enabling your attackers or temporally locking down potential blockers can secure critical victories.
How to beat
Voldaren Duelist is a creature card that can create significant momentum shifts in MTG matches. Noted for its haste ability, it enables a quick attack upon entering the battlefield, often catching opponents off guard. Understanding its power lies in its surprise factor and immediate impact is crucial. To effectively counter this card, consider preemptive strategies like keeping instant speed removal spells in hand, which can be cast in response to the Duelist’s summoning.
Another viable tactic is maintaining a strong defensive lineup. Creatures with high toughness or those with reach can deter or minimize the damage caused by the Duelist’s aggressive entry. In a broader sense, cards that grant life whenever you cast a spell or control other creatures’ abilities can mitigate the impact of the Duelist’s attack, thus turning the tide back in your favor. Remember, the key is anticipation and maintaining resources that can respond swiftly to threats like the Voldaren Duelist.
Adopting a control archetype within your deck construction is also beneficial against such threats, ensuring that you have consistent answers to aggressive creatures throughout the game. By employing these methods, you can lessen the Duelist’s effectiveness and maintain an advantage over your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Voldaren Duelist MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Mystery Booster, 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 Voldaren Duelist 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Voldaren Duelist Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2019-11-15. Illustrated by Jason Rainville.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 191 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Rainville | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1099 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Rainville | |
| 3 | 2019-11-15 | Game Night 2019 | GN2 | 44 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Rainville | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | SOI-191 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Rainville |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Voldaren Duelist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |