Dromoka Captain MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Abilities	Bolster,First strike
Released	2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set name	Dragons of Tarkir
Set code	DTK
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	12
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Stewart

Key Takeaways

Dromoka Captain excels in creature growth, boosting board presence through its bolster ability during battles.
Its specific mana requirement and higher cost may reduce its compatibility with certain swift-paced decks.
Represents a robust option for strategies focused on creature enhancement and sustained board control.

Text of card

First strike Whenever Dromoka Captain attacks, bolster 1. (Choose a creature with the least toughness among creatures you control and put a +1/+1 counter on it.)

"We fight not out of fear, but for honor."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dromoka Captain thrives on bolstering your forces as it leads your army to victory. By continually upgrading another of your creatures whenever it attacks, this stalwart Captain helps churn out stronger units, effectively making every assault a chance to enhance your battlefield presence and maintain card quality through strategic creature growth.

Resource Acceleration: It’s not just about power; it’s about speed too. Dromoka Captain offers a tactical advantage by potentially speeding up your combat effectiveness. As part of a renowned mechanic, each successful attack accelerates your board state, swarming the field with increasingly dangerous threats that can overwhelm opponents before they stabilize.

Instant Speed: While Dromoka Captain itself is not an instant, its impact on combat and creature utility behave in a sort of ‘instant’ manner. Once committed to the fray, the aggressive tempo and bolster triggered by the Captain’s attacks act on a similar principle as instant speed interactions, disrupting your opponent’s calculations and forcing them to deal with an ever-scaling threat that doesn’t wait for a full turn cycle to become menacing.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Dromoka Captain demands a specific combination of mana, including white mana, which narrows down the types of decks it can seamlessly slot into. For players not running a deck with white or a deck that can produce white mana efficiently, this can pose a significant limitation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Dromoka Captain brings the bolster mechanic to the table, its mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other three-drop creatures. This can lead to a slower pace in deploying threats on the board and may not align well with more aggressive strategies that aim for a lower curve.

Discard Requirement: Although Dromoka Captain itself does not have a discard requirement, it’s worth considering that playing a deck that supports this card might push players to include other supporting cards that do. Such requirements could be detrimental in the long run if one’s hand is consistently running low on cards, thus affecting overall performance.

Reasons to Include Dromoka Captain in Your Collection

Versatility: Dromoka Captain offers itself as a dynamic choice for decks that focus on bolstering creatures. As an efficient creature that can boost others while attacking, it offers tactical flexibility in both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: When involved in combat, this card thrives by empowering other creatures on your battlefield. It synergizes well with cards that benefit from +1/+1 counters, turning any engagement into an opportunity for enhancement.

Meta-Relevance: For those in a game environment heavy on creature-based strategies, Dromoka Captain’s ability to consistently strengthen your creatures makes it a formidable choice, potentially tipping the scales in your favor during prolonged board states.

How to Beat

Dromoka Captain presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, bolstering your opponent’s forces with every strike it delivers. As a renowned grower among the ranks of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, this card can quickly escalate the power of your adversary’s creatures, creating a formidable army if left unchecked.

To suppress this escalating threat, tactical removal spells are crucial. Keeping Dromoka Captain off the board is key, and swift answers like Fatal Push, Path to Exile, or Lightning Bolt are essential to disrupt your opponent’s game plan. Focus on timing these spells to stop the Captain before combat or in response to the renowned trigger to prevent any bolstering from occurring. In metagames filled with creatures, sweepers like Supreme Verdict or Wrath of God could reset the board and provide relief from not only Dromoka Captain but other accumulated threats as well.

Furthermore, in matchups where your opponent relies heavily on bolstering mechanics, consider sideboarding options that negate such strategies. Cards that prevent counters, like Solemnity, or alter combat dynamics, such as Maze of Ith, can be invaluable. With careful play and the right responses, you can ensure Dromoka Captain doesn’t command the game.

Cards like Dromoka Captain

The intriguing Dromoka Captain is a standout card in MTG, inviting comparison with other renowned creature spells. Like the Captain, Ainok Bond-Kin offers a boost to other creatures with its first strike ability, yet it doesn’t have the same momentum-building prowess as the renowned Captain that bolsters its allies. While both inhabit the synergy-rich world of bolster mechanics, Dromoka Captain uniquely escalates the power through each successful combat.

Another card, Elite Scaleguard, plays a distant cousin to our Captain, setting its sights on tapping opposing forces while bolstering its comrades. Although both are valuable in their knack for combat manipulation, the Scaleguard’s reach doesn’t extend to aggressive board presence growth in the way Dromoka Captain’s does through its renowned attribute. Similarly, the renowned front-runner Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit also serves to strengthen fellow creatures, yet unlike the Dromoka Captain, it requires the player to have a more substantial board presence to capitalize on its ability.

When examined amongst its peers, Dromoka Captain holds its ground as a desirable piece within MTG’s creature-centric decks. It not only emboldens your forces but also thrives with every clash, exemplifying an escalating threat that can dominate the battlefield if left unchecked.

Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit - MTG Card versions

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

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dromoka Captain MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Dromoka Captain and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dromoka Captain has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-02-25	Bolster itself doesn’t target any creature, though some spells and abilities that bolster may have other effects that target creatures. For example, you could put counters on a creature with protection from white with Aven Tactician’s bolster ability.
2015-02-25	You determine which creature to put counters on as the spell or ability that instructs you to bolster resolves. That could be the creature with the bolster ability, if it’s still under your control and has the least toughness.