Daru Warchief MTG Card


Daru Warchief - Scourge
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Released2003-05-26
Set symbol
Set nameScourge
Set codeSCG
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number6
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byTim Hildebrandt

Key Takeaways

  1. Daru Warchief reduces soldier spell costs, enabling card advantage and quicker army deployment.
  2. As a cornerstone in soldier decks, it requires a soldier-rich hand and stable white mana.
  3. Its inclusion offers versatility and can dramatically influence your MTG deck’s competitiveness.

Text of card

Soldier spells you play cost less to play. Soldiers you control get +1/+2.

His victories speak for him.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Daru Warchief not only positions you to dominate the battlefield with Soldiers, but its ability to reduce the cost of Soldier spells provides you with an undeniably stronger grip on the game. This reduction can be leveraged to cast more spells per turn, maintaining a card advantage while swarming opponents with troops.

Resource Acceleration: The resource acceleration provided by Daru Warchief is subtle but powerful. By decreasing the mana cost of Soldier spells, it effectively accelerates your resource output. This enables a faster deployment of your army, getting more value from your lands and mana sources.

Instant Speed: Although Daru Warchief operates at sorcery speed, its strategic advantage amplifies your instant speed plays. With saved resources from cost reduction, you’re able to respond with combat tricks or control measures at critical moments, keeping your adversaries on their heels.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Daru Warchief does not necessitate a discard to play, it places a heavy reliance on the presence of other soldiers in your hand. Without an ample number of these cards, its potential is significantly diminished, making it crucial to maintain a soldier-rich hand to reap the full benefits.

Specific Mana Cost: Daru Warchief’s requirement of two white mana can sometimes be restrictive. Players will need to ensure a stable source of white mana, thus potentially limiting the card’s compatibility with multi-color decks that may have mana access issues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to summon, Daru Warchief might be a steep investment in the early game. Decks aiming for a more aggressive early play may find this card’s cost hinders their tempo, especially when there are other cards that bolster an army’s power at a lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Daru Warchief has the adaptability to empower various white-creature based strategies, particularly those focused on the Soldier tribe. Its ability to reduce the casting cost of Soldier spells makes it a must-have for tribal synergies.

Combo Potential: This card opens up potential for intricate combos with other Soldier-themed cards that can benefit from its cost-reduction effect or its static boost to Soldiers’ strength and toughness, enabling a more aggressive playstyle or bolstering defenses.

Meta-Relevance: As meta evolves, cards that offer tribal boosts, like Daru Warchief, can suddenly jump into prominence. If Soldiers become a prevalent deck archetype or if a meta is heavy with decks susceptible to tribal strategies, Daru Warchief’s inclusion in any collection can be advantageous for its ability to enhance and potentially outpace competing decks.


How to beat

Understanding the dynamics of Daru Warchief in a game of MTG is crucial for developing effective counter strategies. This creature, celebrated among soldier tribal decks, reduces the cost of other soldier spells and bolsters their strength. Its power is in the synergy it creates, uniting soldier-type creatures into a formidable force at a reduced casting cost.

Overcoming the advantage Daru Warchief provides requires a careful approach, focusing on removing it from the battlefield swiftly. Targeted removal spells that bypass the potential increased toughness, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, are excellent options. It’s also beneficial to employ board wipes like Wrath of God to clear multiple threats in one fell swoop. Keeping in mind that timing is critical—removing Daru Warchief before it can generate a critical mass of soldiers will ensure it doesn’t tip the scales too drastically in your opponent’s favor.

Conclusively, while Daru Warchief can be an anchor for soldier decks, swift elimination and strategic use of removal spells can mitigate its impact, preserving the balance of the game and maintaining your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Daru Warchief serves as a linchpin in MTG soldier decks, enabling cost-effective plays and bolstering your forces. Its unique ability to reduce mana costs for Soldier spells creates opportunities for more expansive and strategic gameplay. For those looking to construct a cohesive and resilient lineup, incorporating this card can be a game-changer. If you’re aiming to command a powerful soldier army or enhance your current strategy, understanding and utilizing Daru Warchief is pivotal. Its potential for building a dominating presence on the battlefield shouldn’t be underestimated. Learn more about synergizing Daru Warchief with your deck for victorious marches and tactical supremacy.


Cards like Daru Warchief

Daru Warchief is a notable figure among soldier tribal cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest counterpart is Field Marshal, which also grants a bonus to soldiers, though it is limited to a simple +1/+1 boost. What distinguishes Daru Warchief is the cost reduction ability for soldier spells, ensuring a steady stream of troops on the battlefield at a more efficient mana cost.

Another analogous card is Preeminent Captain. This card synergizes well with soldier decks by allowing you to put soldier cards from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. While Preeminent Captain focuses on the offensive strategy, Daru Warchief is beneficial in a broader set of scenarios, reducing mana costs and enhancing soldier survivability with the +1/+1 bonus.

Finally, Captain of the Watch stands out as a powerful soldier ally, delivering an immediate army with three 1/1 soldier tokens and a similar +1/+1 bonus to all soldiers. However, its higher mana cost and single occurrence of token generation contrast with Daru Warchief’s ongoing mana reduction and stat benefits for soldiers.

In essence, while other cards offer enticing benefits for soldier decks, Daru Warchief remains a cornerstone for its cost-effective troop deployment and overall enhancement of your soldier forces on the battlefield.

Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Preeminent Captain - MTG Card versions
Captain of the Watch - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)
Preeminent Captain - Morningtide (MOR)
Captain of the Watch - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Daru Warchief by color, type and mana cost

Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Teroh's Vanguard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Leonin Abunas - MTG Card versions
Kami of Old Stone - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Blinking Spirit - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Veteran of the Depths - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - Revised Edition (3ED)
Moorish Cavalry - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Witch Hunter - Chronicles (CHR)
Carrier Pigeons - Alliances (ALL)
Tormented Angel - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Seasoned Marshal - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Coalition Honor Guard - Apocalypse (APC)
Teroh's Vanguard - Torment (TOR)
Mangara, the Diplomat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Akroma's Devoted - Legions (LGN)
Leonin Abunas - Mirrodin (MRD)
Kami of Old Stone - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Aven Cloudchaser - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Blinking Spirit - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Seht's Tiger - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Valor - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Veteran of the Depths - Lorwyn (LRW)
Guardian Seraph - Magic 2010 (M10)
Lightkeeper of Emeria - Worldwake (WWK)
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - Salvat 2011 (PS11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Daru Warchief MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Daru Warchief and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Daru Warchief has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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