Errand of Duty MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates a 1/1 Knight with banding, providing strategic options both offensively and defensively.
  2. Instant speed allows for surprise tactics, potentially altering the course of a game.
  3. Banding can optimize creature usage, but the discard cost requires careful consideration.

Text of card

Put a Knight token into play. Treat this token as a 1/1 white creature with banding.

"Call every able sword to our side. Kjeldor will stand triumphant!" —King Darien of Kjeldor


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Errand of Duty generates a 1/1 white Knight creature token with banding, which can serve not only as a blocker or attacker but also emphasizes strategic field presence, potentially acting as a deterrent against enemy assaults while preserving your hand.

Resource Acceleration: This knight can play a key role in resource acceleration as it may be combined with other creatures to enhance the strength of an attack or defense. Banding, although a complex and often misunderstood ability, enables more efficient use of your creatures during combat, essentially accelerating your battlefield impact without additional mana expenditure.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Errand of Duty allows for tactical flexibility, letting you wait to see how your opponent plays their turn. This can create surprise blocking scenarios or even spur end-of-turn plays that can catch an opponent off guard and shift the momentum in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Errand of Duty’s gameplay mechanic involves a discard action that could potentially deplete valuable hand assets. This implies that players must weigh the benefit of summoning a Knight creature against the cost of losing another card in their hand, which could be critical for their strategy or for maintaining card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both white mana and generic mana, Errand of Duty might not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks or those that emphasize a more diverse mana base. This limitation means that it targets players who are committed to a white-heavy or mono-white deck, which could deter others from incorporating it into their strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Creating a single Knight creature token with Errand of Duty comes with a relatively steep two mana (one white, one generic) cost. This is considered a considerable investment when there are other options available in the card pool that could summon creatures with similar or better abilities for a similar or lower mana investment. This factor could relegate Errand of Duty to a lesser position when deck builders are considering their optimal lineup of cards.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Errand of Duty offers a dynamic edge, seamlessly incorporating into various decks. Its ability to create Knight tokens supports strategies revolving around creature summons and tribal synergies.

Combo Potential: The instant-speed token generation can be the key to unlocking powerful interactions, pairing well with cards that thrive on the number of creatures you control or those that are sacrificed for greater effects.

Meta-Relevance: With a focus on creature-based tactics in many competitive environments, Errand of Duty can be a tactical inclusion, enabling swift responses to your opponent’s plays or bolstering your defenses on the fly.


How to beat

Understanding how to handle Errand of Duty in your Magic: The Gathering matches could be a crucial aspect of your gameplay strategy. This card allows players to create Knight tokens, adding a layer of defensive presence on the battlefield. The key to overcoming Errand of Duty lies in preemptive actions and the clever use of removal spells. Strategies that include board wipes can be particularly effective, as they can clear multiple tokens with a single spell, negating the advantage Errand of Duty offers.

Adding to your strategy, spot removals can dismantle your opponent’s defenses by targeting key tokens, making it possible for your forces to breakthrough. Think about employing flexible removals that can handle both creatures and enchantments to maintain pressure by removing Errand of Duty directly from the field. Cards that hinder token generation or penalize opponents for creating tokens may also tip the scales in your favor. In essence, combining removal spells and continuous control of the board state is a tried-and-true method to diminish the impact of Errand of Duty and keep your opponent on their heels.


Cards like Errand of Duty

Errand of Duty is an intriguing card within Magic: The Gathering, offering players a creative way to inject loyalty onto the battlefield. Comparable to cards like Raise the Alarm, Errand of Duty shares the ability to create tokens quickly and efficiently. However, Raise the Alarm excels in summoning two creatures at once, potentially giving players a faster board presence for the same cost.

Knight’s Pledge stands in relation, granting a sturdy enhancement but focusing on bolstering a single creature rather than adding to the troops. Errand of Duty shines in its flexibility, creating a Knight that can inherit benefits from other cards designed to power up the Knightly order. Benalish Marshal, in contrast, doesn’t produce tokens but does offer a static boost to all creatures you control, which can be significant in a swarm strategy.

To encapsulate, Errand of Duty holds its ground in MTG by offering a unique blend of token generation and tribal synergy. It presents a useful tool for any deck looking to capitalize on the strengths of Knight creatures, standing as a testament to the versatility and tactical advantages of token generation cards.

Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Knight's Pledge - MTG Card versions
Benalish Marshal - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - Mirrodin (MRD)
Knight's Pledge - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Benalish Marshal - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)

Cards similar to Errand of Duty by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blow - MTG Card versions
Sacred Boon - MTG Card versions
Invulnerability - MTG Card versions
Remedy - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Shield - MTG Card versions
Samite Ministration - MTG Card versions
Shield Wall - MTG Card versions
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Razor Barrier - MTG Card versions
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Bathe in Light - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Divine Offering - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Alabaster Potion - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Lightning Blow - Ice Age (ICE)
Sacred Boon - Ice Age (ICE)
Invulnerability - Tempest (TMP)
Remedy - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Rhystic Shield - Prophecy (PCY)
Samite Ministration - Invasion (INV)
Shield Wall - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Life Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Shelter - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Equal Treatment - Torment (TOR)
Aura Extraction - Onslaught (ONS)
Raise the Alarm - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Razor Barrier - Mirrodin (MRD)
Test of Faith - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Echoing Calm - Darksteel (DST)
Bathe in Light - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Dawn Charm - Commander Legends (CMR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Errand of Duty MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Alliances, 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 Errand of Duty and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Errand of Duty Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Julie Baroh.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-06-10AlliancesALL 2a1993normalblackJulie Baroh
21996-06-10AlliancesALL 2b1993normalblackJulie Baroh
32008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 121997normalblackJulie Baroh

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Errand of Duty has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Errand of Duty card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2008-10-01 A maximum of one nonbanding creature can join an attacking band no matter how many creatures with banding are in it.
2008-10-01 Creatures in the same band must all attack the same player or planeswalker.
2008-10-01 If a creature with banding attacks, it can team up with any number of other attacking creatures with banding (and up to one nonbanding creature) and attack as a unit called a “band.” The band can be blocked by any creature that could block a single creature in the band. Blocking any creature in a band blocks the entire band. If a creature with banding is blocked, the attacking player chooses how the blockers’ damage is assigned.
2009-10-01 If a creature in combat has banding, its controller assigns damage for creatures blocking or blocked by it. That player can ignore the damage assignment order when making this assignment.

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