Auriok Glaivemaster MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Released | 2004-02-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Darksteel |
| Set code | DST |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 1 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | John Matson |
Key Takeaways
- It indirectly leads to card advantage by making opponents allocate more resources to combat it.
- Offers crucial early game plays by accelerating resource usage, especially pertinent for equipment decks.
- Enhanced by equipment, its instant-speed interaction potential can unexpectedly strengthen its offensive and defensive capabilities.
Text of card
As long as Auriok Glaivemaster is equipped, it gets +1/+1 and has first strike.
"Give me a bit of steel and I'll deliver it into the hearts of my enemies."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Auriok Glaivemaster doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its ability to potentially become a bigger threat can force the opponent to use more resources to handle it, indirectly leading to card advantage. Pairing with equipment enhances the value of each card.
Resource Acceleration: An early drop in decks focused on equipment, Auriok Glaivemaster can speed up your gameplay, ensuring that any equipment cards drawn later have an immediate target. This acceleration is crucial to outpace opponents in the critical early stages of the game.
Instant Speed: Although Auriok Glaivemaster itself is not an instant, its ability to benefit from equipments at instant speed can catch opponents off guard. Attaching equipment during the combat phase or at the end of an opponent’s turn can improve its combat capabilities suddenly and turn the tides of battle in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Auriok Glaivemaster doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, it may compel players to utilize Equipment cards to make it effective. Constantly equipping and possibly re-equipping after board wipes can diminish your hand, indirectly functioning as a discard requirement.
Specific Mana Cost: Auriok Glaivemaster demands white mana, which can restrict its inclusion strictly to white or at least white-inclusive decks. Players not running white may find this a hindrance to the card’s versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering that Auriok Glaivemaster is a 1/1 creature for a single white mana, it stands at a reasonable cost. Nevertheless, the investment in making it a formidable presence on the battlefield—requiring additional mana and cards for Equipment—can be viewed as high when compared to other creatures that are effective without additional support.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Auriok Glaivemaster can seamlessly adapt to a variety of deck builds. As a Humans or Soldiers tribal synergies enabler, it shines in decks that capitalize on these types.
Combo Potential: Its ability to gain first strike when equipped makes it synergize well with equipment cards, transforming it into a formidable early-game threat that can also scale well into the later stages of a match.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the fluctuating nature of metagames, Auriok Glaivemaster’s low casting cost and combo versatility allow it to remain a relevant addition, providing options for players navigating through an equipment-heavy meta or seeking cost-effective creatures.
How to beat
Auriok Glaivemaster is an intriguing creature card that becomes particularly potent in MTG when equipped with artifacts. It gains substantial power, morphing into a more formidable threat on the battlefield. To strategically outmaneuver this card, one effective method involves inhibiting its ability to bond with equipment. Artifact removal spells are your allies here, disrupting the synergy and reducing the Glaivemaster to a mere 1/1 creature.
Another tactic is to control the board through sweepers or targeted removal before the glaive-wielding warrior can be adequately armed. Patience is key; allowing an opponent to invest resources into equipping Auriok Glaivemaster before neutralizing both the creature and the equipment with a well-timed removal can swing momentum in your favor.
Ultimately, the Glaivemaster’s strength is directly tied to the presence of equipment on the field. Sever that connection, and you essentially disarm the card’s primary advantage, tilting the scale of the duel back into your control. Recognizing the crucial timing to execute these plays makes all the difference in triumphing over Auriok Glaivemaster in your MTG matchups.
Cards like Auriok Glaivemaster
Auriok Glaivemaster steps onto the battlefield as a flavorful infantry character within Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the traits of other low-cost creatures like Elite Vanguard, sharing the same mana cost but differing in secondary abilities. Unlike Elite Vanguard, Auriok Glaivemaster receives a boost if equipped, making it a formative addition in an equipment-themed deck.
It’s mirrored by cards like Leonin Den-Guard, which also gains strength when armored with equipment. Though at a similar mana value, Leonin Den-Guard’s base stats are higher, potentially giving it an edge in combat from the get-go. With Auriok Glaivemaster, the emphasis is on the synergy with other card types and the strategic advantage it can provide once properly equipped.
Regarding boosting potential, we see a comparison with the Kor Duelist. When equipped, it doubles its assault capabilities, showcasing that every equipment-related creature brings unique tactical nuances to a game. Auriok Glaivemaster’s ability to become a first striker sets it apart, balancing the playing field with the potential for a more defensive strategy in early-game scenarios.
Thus, in constructing a deck with a focus on equipment synergies, Auriok Glaivemaster positions itself as a base that, with the right support, can mature into a formidable threat that upholds its value among similar MTG cards.
Cards similar to Auriok Glaivemaster by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Auriok Glaivemaster MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 Auriok Glaivemaster and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Auriok Glaivemaster has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |