Precinct Captain MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities First strike
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides a growing army with every attack, enhancing your board presence.
  2. Mana-intensive card, best for mono-white or dual-colored decks.
  3. Great synergy potential and meta-adaptable, elevating your deck’s competitiveness.

Text of card

First strike Whenever Precinct Captain deals combat damage to a player, put a 1/1 white Soldier creature token onto the battlefield.

"In troubled times, we all need someone to watch our back."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Precinct Captain is a versatile card that creates a creature every time it deals combat damage to a player. This not only increases your creatures on the field but also provides you with a consistent source of possible blockers or attackers, aiding in card advantage throughout your game.

Resource Acceleration: This versatile creature’s ability to summon a 1/1 white soldier creature token offers a unique form of resource acceleration. Every successful attack from Precinct Captain means additional firepower on your side of the field, potentially creating new avenues for attack or defense strategies.

Instant Speed: Though Precinct Captain does not operate at instant speed itself, its impact is often felt instantly. Each successful offensive strike bolsters your army immediately, providing instant returns that can dramatically alter the battlefield’s balance and momentum.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Precinct Captain seems like a dependable card, its usage comes with a stringent requirement. For it to truly shine in a game, you may need to discard a card as an additional cost, making it a risky choice if you’re already low on hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a certain specificity when it comes to mana cost. It is heavy on white mana, restricting its flexibility to only those decks that can support this color in adequate quantity. This specific mana cost could limit your strategic options during gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Precinct Captain requires two white mana to deploy. While it offers the enticing ability to create soldier tokens, there are indeed other cards in MTG that allow similar or even more versatile effects at a cheaper or more evenly distributed mana cost. This makes Precinct Captain’s cost somewhat steeper when you consider its potential alternatives.


Reasons to Include Precinct Captain in Your Collection

Versatility: Precinct Captain plays a key role in various deck styles, thanks to its first strike capability and token-generating feature. Whether running aggressive strategies or creating a defensive fortress, this card is suitable for all situations.

Combo Potential: Paired with other cards favoring token generation, Precinct Captain can quickly amass an impressive army of soldier tokens. With the right synergies, the power of each assault can significantly increase.

Meta-Relevance: If the current meta-game involves strategies that focus on creature-based tactics, the consistent token generation offered by Precinct Captain could be a game-changer. This card is thus an excellent choice in terms of adapting to the ever-changing environment of MTG.


How to beat

Precinct Captain being a dynamic part of the MTG landscape makes it desirable in many player decks. Its double-strike ability works well, removing enemy creatures during combat while spawning more Soldier tokens. However, even the most valiant captains can be dealt with, strategically.

A reliable strategy involves prioritizing removal spells, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile. These spells will help you keep the board clean, even when your opponent is generating tokens. Silencing Precinct Captain before it starts taking a toll on your field is a worthwhile tactic. Likewise, larger creatures can also prove effective; they’ll not only withstand the captain’s attacks but eliminate him in any battle.

Another method is using cards with the prevent damage feature, such as Fog or Healing Salve. These can pause or stop the double-strike attack and the subsequent token generation. Similarly, cards with the ‘Pacifism’ effect will also handle the captain, as he cannot attack or block while under this spell.

In the end, countering Precinct Captain hinges on understanding and exploiting its abilities and vulnerabilities – a lynchpin of the intriguing strategy that defines Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Precinct Captain is a card that can become the cornerstone of your MTG deck, bolstering your battlefield presence turn after turn. Its ability to create tokens adds both offense and defense, aligning with various strategies. Its limitations in mana cost and deck adaptability, however, mean that integrating the Captain requires careful planning. Whether you’re looking to enhance your collection with a flexible first-striker or want tips on besting this soldier in combat, diving deeper into strategies and card synergies is essential. For those seeking a tactical edge in their gameplay, understanding the unique attributes of cards like Precinct Captain is key. Discover more about deck building and strategy optimization here, where your MTG expertise can grow with every match.


Cards like Precinct Captain

Let’s draw the attention to the impressive card Precinct Captain in Magic: The Gathering. This remarkable card can be equated to various others like the renowned Benalish Commander. The Benalish card also levels up by creating soldiers, similar to how Precinct Captain creates tokens when it deals combat damage. Nevertheless, the Captain’s prowess in escalating his forces more rapidly, thanks to its First Strike feature, gives it an upper hand in comparison.

Another correlate could be the Dryad Militant, which competes in the same cost bracket. Even though the Militant lacks the token-creating attribute, it does have the power to hinder graveyard strategies which can be a valuable weapon. Comparing both, each has unique abilities, and choosing one will largely depend on the player’s strategy.

However, let’s not forget the Frontline Medic card, renowned for its battalion ability. It can prevent damage to attacking creatures, a highly beneficial feature when confronting your opponents head-on. Despite the Medic’s crowd control ability, the token creation trait of the Precinct Captain can quickly overwhelm opponents, making it a formidable opponent in MTG.

Wrapping up, when examining the abilities and value of varying alternatives, Precinct Captain indeed holds a strong position within soldier-creating cards in Magic: The Gathering, due to its fast proliferation of tokens and strategic game play advantage.

Benalish Commander - MTG Card versions
Dryad Militant - MTG Card versions
Frontline Medic - MTG Card versions
Benalish Commander - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Dryad Militant - Return to Ravnica Promos (PRTR)
Frontline Medic - Gatecrash (GTC)

Cards similar to Precinct Captain by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Soul Shepherd - Weatherlight (WTH)
Soltari Monk - Tempest (TMP)
Talon Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Keeper of the Light - Exodus (EXO)
Faith Healer - Urza's Saga (USG)
Angelic Page - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Avenger en-Dal - Nemesis (NEM)
Spirit Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Flumph - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cloudreach Cavalry - Legions (LGN)
Samite Healer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kor Firewalker - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Precinct Captain MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora, 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 Precinct Captain and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Precinct Captain Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2017-06-16. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 172003normalblackSteve Prescott
22015-02-27Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. KioraDDO 222015normalblackSteve Prescott
32017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 182015normalblackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Precinct Captain has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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