Swift Warkite MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2015-03-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dragons of Tarkir |
| Set code | DTK |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 233 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Izzy |
Key Takeaways
- Swift Warkite offers card advantage by reanimating creatures, augmenting field presence without drawing.
- The card enables resource acceleration, allowing mana allocation elsewhere while maintaining board pressure.
- When incorporated wisely, Swift Warkite’s instant-speed creature effects can serve as formidable surprises in play.
Text of card
Flying When Swift Warkite enters the battlefield, you may put a creature card with converted mana cost 3 or less from your hand or graveyard onto the battlefield. That creature gains haste. Return it to your hand at the beginning of the next end step.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you cast Swift Warkite, its ability to return a creature card with converted mana cost 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield not only bolsters your field presence but also essentially draws you a card by bypassing your hand. This intrinsic value can help you stay ahead in the attrition game, making each play more impactful.
Resource Acceleration: Swift Warkite’s ability can be considered a form of resource acceleration. By reanimating a creature directly to the battlefield, you effectively bypass the mana cost of that creature. This allows you to utilize your mana resources elsewhere, maintaining pressure on your opponent and optimizing your turn efficiency.
Instant Speed: Though Swift Warkite itself is not an instant-speed spell, the creature it reanimates could have instant-speed abilities or effects that become immediately available. This synergy can catch an opponent off guard, granting you the benefit of surprise and the potential for immediate interaction on the board. Prioritizing creatures with flash or other instant-like attributes can maximize the return on your investment with Swift Warkite.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the key drawbacks of Swift Warkite is that upon playing another card with it, you must have a creature card to discard. This can be a setback for players with a depleted hand who might be unable to maximize its potential.
Specific Mana Cost: Swift Warkite has a specific mana cost that requires both black and red mana. This may restrict the card’s integration into a variety of decks, particularly those that do not run this exact color combination, hindering its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Swift Warkite sits on the higher end of the mana curve. There are alternative creatures or spells in the same mana range that may provide immediate impact or stronger board presence, which may lead players to choose those options over Swift Warkite for strategic reasons.
Reasons to Include Swift Warkite in Your Collection
Versatility: Swift Warkite offers a dynamic play for dragon-themed decks or those looking to utilize graveyard synergies. Its ability to reanimate a smaller creature when it comes into play allows for a variety of tactical plays across multiple game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card can set the stage for powerful combo plays, particularly in decks that cycle or discard creatures. By bringing back creatures with enter-the-battlefield triggers or those who can attack immediately, it leverages both board presence and utility.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where tempo and reanimation strategies are prevalent, Swift Warkite can be a game-changer. It aligns well with fast-paced play and can catch opponents off guard, making it a timely addition to your arsenal.
How to beat
If you’re facing off against the Swift Warkite in a game of Magic: The Gathering, you know it’s no small adversary. This formidable dragon not only swoops into play with haste, but it also disrupts the battlefield by bringing another creature along with it from your graveyard, albeit with a temporary stay. Overcoming this flying threat requires a multifaceted strategy, just as you would with any high-impact card.
To combat the Swift Warkite, consider holding up removal spells that can handle both the Warkite and the creature it reanimates. Instant-speed interaction like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider are excellent choices because they can address the threat immediately. Counter spells are also effective to prevent it from ever hitting the field. It’s also crucial to manage your life total, as the Warkite can clock in a significant amount of damage.
Lastly, sweepers like Supreme Verdict can reset the board after a Warkite onslaught, providing a clean slate. Playing around the Swift Warkite involves careful timing and resource management but can be accomplished with the right blend of answers and tactics.
Cards like Swift Warkite
Swift Warkite carves a unique niche among flying creatures in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It stands toe-to-toe with creatures like Flametongue Kavu, a card renowned for its ability to dispense with a threat upon entry to the battlefield. Swift Warkite too offers a forceful entrance, although it chooses instead to reanimate a smaller creature from your graveyard, poised for a quick offensive. Unlike the Kavu, Swift Warkite requires that the resurrected creature is bounced back to your hand at the end phase, adding a twist to your strategic deployment of forces.
Stormwing Entity shares a similarity with Swift Warkite in its flying ability and the fact that it can be played at a reduced cost under the right conditions. However, while Stormwing Entity leans toward enhancing spellcasting with scry abilities, Swift Warkite focuses on battlefield presence and recurring creatures for immediate impact. This leads to diverse strategic approaches – one lays the groundwork for future turns, while the other seizes the moment with haste.
Evaluating Swift Warkite against its kindred conjures a clear image of its role in the vast tapestry of Magic: The Gathering. It’s an aggressive and tactical choice for deck builders keen to capitalize on aerial superiority and creature recursion synergies.
Cards similar to Swift Warkite by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Swift Warkite 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 Swift Warkite 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 Swift Warkite 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 Swift Warkite 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 | The creature you put onto the battlefield will be returned to your hand only if it’s still on the battlefield as the delayed triggered ability resolves during the next end step. If it leaves the battlefield before then, it will remain wherever it is. |
| 2015-02-25 | The delayed triggered ability that returns the creature to your hand will trigger even if Swift Warkite leaves the battlefield before the next end step. |
| 2015-02-25 | You can’t put creatures onto the battlefield face down this way. |
