Yotian Soldier MTG Card

Vigilance of Yotian Soldier can deter attacks, offering a strategic defensive edge. Despite versatility, its lack of card draw can hinder later game stages. Artifact synergy and meta relevance make it a useful collection addition.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Soldier
Abilities Vigilance
Power 1
Toughness 4

Text of card

Attacking does not cause Yotian Soldier to tap.

After Kroog was destroyed while most of its defenders were at his side, Urza vowed that none of his allies would ever need to fear for their own defense again, even while laying siege to a city far from their homes.

Cards like Yotian Soldier

Within the vast compendium of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Yotian Soldier presents itself as a classic artifact creature, reminiscent of other durable staples in the artifact category. Its direct counterparts include cards like Silver Myr, which also offers utility in mana acceleration but lacks the battle resilience granted by Yotian Soldier’s vigilance ability. The permanence and combat endurance provided by the Yotian Soldier make it a reliable piece, especially in formats favoring artifacts.

Comparing it to a more contemporary artifact creature, Myr Enforcer, brings to light differences in scale and cost-efficiency. Despite Yotian Soldier’s lower casting cost, Myr Enforcer boasts a formidable power and toughness, arriving as a larger threat on the board. A trade-off exists between the immediate presence of an inexpensive creature such as Yotian Soldier and the later-game impact of a Myr Enforcer. Each has unique offerings depending on the strategic direction of your deck.

Analyzing these and other artifact creatures reveals the subtle yet significant balance between cost, abilities, and overall impact in MTG. Yotian Soldier proves to be an evergreen choice for players who prioritize steady board presence and strategic versatility in maintaining a leading position on the battlefield.

Silver Myr - MTG Card versions
Myr Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Silver Myr - MTG Card versions
Myr Enforcer - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Yotian Soldier’s ability to stay on the battlefield can indirectly lead to card advantage. Its vigilance enables it to defend without tapping, potentially deterring opponents from attacking and saving your other creatures and spells for more critical moments.

Resource Acceleration: While the Yotian Soldier itself doesn’t directly provide mana or accelerate resources, its low casting cost allows for a swift board presence, enabling you to allocate resources elsewhere more quickly.

Instant Speed: The swift deployment of Yotian Soldier complements instant-speed strategies. Its vigilance allows you to maintain an attacking and defensive posture without sacrificing the ability to react at a moment’s notice with other instant-speed interactions during your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Yotian Soldier poses a challenge as it doesn’t require a discard, but its lack of card advantage ability means you’re not replenishing your hand upon deployment which can be detrimental mid to late game.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact creature demands a colorless mana for casting, which is advantageous for its flexibility, however, its presence in specific decks that synergize with artifacts is where its true potential lies, making it less optimal in decks that do not capitalize on such themes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Yotian Soldier comes with a relatively high mana cost for its vanilla attributes. With one power and four toughness for three mana, there may be other creature options that give you more combat presence or additional abilities for a similar or lower investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Yotian Soldier’s status as an artifact creature allows it to seamlessly slot into various deck archetypes, particularly those that synergize with artifacts or require steadfast blockers in the early game.

Combo Potential: This artifact soldier can work well in synergistic settings, benefiting from buffs or being utilized in conjunction with mechanics that take advantage of artifact creatures, like improvise or affinity.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where offensive rushes are common, Yotian Soldier serves as a resilient defensive option, capable of deterring early aggressive plays thanks to its vigilance, aiding in the stabilization of the board as you set up your late-game strategies.

How to beat

Yotian Soldier stands as a reliable defender in Magic: The Gathering due to its vigilance attribute, allowing it to attack without tapping. This characteristic makes it a persistent obstacle for aggressive strategies. Nonetheless, overcoming this steadfast artifact creature can be straightforward with the right approach.

Penetrating through the defenses of Yotian Soldier can be done efficiently by employing removal spells. Cards such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile effectively handle the Soldier, swiftly eliminating it from the battlefield without incurring much cost. Additionally, exploiting its modest power and toughness stats, creatures with higher stats can overpower and trounce it in combat.

Further exploiting its weaknesses, players can also capitalize on its artifact nature using artifact removal like Abrade or Naturalize, instantly neutralizing Yotian Soldier and clearing the path for their own offensive. As such, encountering a Yotian Soldier doesn’t spell an impasse; strategic removal and strength in numbers can ensure its defeat, allowing players to maintain the momentum and tempo of their game plan.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Yotian Soldier MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Fourth Edition, 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 Yotian Soldier and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Yotian Soldier Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-03-04AntiquitiesATQ 791993NormalBlackChristopher Rush
21995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 3601993NormalWhiteChristopher Rush
31995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 3601993NormalBlackChristopher Rush
41995-08-01RenaissanceREN 1701993NormalBlackChristopher Rush
51995-08-01RinascimentoRIN 1501993NormalBlackChristopher Rush
62003-10-02MirrodinMRD 2772003NormalBlackLuca Zontini
72011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 2401997NormalBlackChristopher Rush
82018-06-08BattlebondBBD 2492015NormalBlackLuca Zontini
92020-09-26The ListPLST BBD-2492015NormalBlackLuca Zontini

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Yotian Soldier has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.