Depala, Pilot Exemplar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Dwarf Pilot
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Depala offers consistent card advantage through a specialized filtering method, enhancing dwarf and vehicle decks.
  2. The card boosts both creatures and artifact vehicles, providing a notable acceleration in resource strength.
  3. Although restricted by mana type and high cost, Depala’s versatility and meta-relevance make her a worthy addition.

Text of card

Other Dwarves you control get +1/+1. Each Vehicle you control gets +1/+1 as long as it's a creature. Whenever Depala, Pilot Exemplar becomes tapped, you may pay . If you do, reveal the top X cards of your library, put all Dwarf and Vehicle cards from among them into your hand, then put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Depala, Pilot Exemplar offers a unique card filtering method. Whenever it becomes tapped, you can pay X mana to look at the top X cards of your library, putting any Dwarves or Vehicles from among them into your hand. This ability not only increases the number of cards in your hand but ensures they’re relevant to your strategy.

Resource Acceleration: This card is a powerhouse for a Dwarf and Vehicle-centric deck; Depala’s ability to give other Dwarves you control +1/+1 and Vehicles she crews +1/+1 as long as they’re artifacts accelerates your board presence and can overwhelm opponents quickly.

Instant Speed: While Depala’s abilities are not used at instant speed, the synergy with vehicles can create instant-speed-like effects. Crewing at any time before combat or blockers are declared can create unpredictability for your opponents, much like an instant would.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Depala, Pilot Exemplar asks you to pay an additional cost – both mana and card discard – when using her ability to seek Dwarves and Vehicles from the top of your deck. This demand can be challenging, particularly if your hand is already stretched thin on options.

Specific Mana Cost: Depala’s casting requirement restricts her to decks that can produce both red and white mana. This specific cost can make deckbuilding less flexible, limiting her inclusion to only certain types of decks that can accommodate this need.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a three mana value that includes two different colors, Depala isn’t the cheapest option available. Considering other commanders or pivotal creatures that might be deployed for the same cost, her effectiveness relative to her mana investment is a matter worth weighing.


Reasons to Include Depala, Pilot Exemplar in Your Collection

Versatility: Depala, Pilot Exemplar is a unique inclusion for players who enjoy a diverse gameplay experience. As a Dwarf and Vehicle-supporting card, it slots seamlessly into decks focused on synergy and tribal themes, granting both power buffs and the potential for card advantage.

Combo Potential: Depala enhances strategies that rely on Vehicle artifacts. By crewing Vehicles or simply being on the battlefield, it allows for powerful interactions and increases the chance of drawing crucial Dwarves or Vehicles to maintain momentum.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where artifact and tribal strategies are prominent, Depala provides an edge. Its ability to pump up other Dwarves and Vehicles can be a game-changer, making it a relevant choice for competitive play in certain metagames.


How to beat

Depala, Pilot Exemplar is a unique commander that revs up the engine of any vehicle-themed deck in Magic: The Gathering. Known for her ability to bolster Dwarves and Vehicles with a +1/+1 while she’s on the battlefield, she’s often the linchpin in artifact-heavy strategies. To dismantle such a deck, it’s crucial to disrupt the synergy Depala creates. Targeted removal that can quickly eliminate Depala before her ability can be activated is key. Moreover, since Vehicles rely on creatures to become animated, sweepers that clear the board will effectively neutralize multiple threats at once.

Artifact destruction spells are also highly efficient against a Vehicle-based strategy, as they deal with the gear Depala needs to drive her strategy forward. Enchantment-based control that prevents creatures from attacking ensures that even if Vehicles are animated, they’re stalled in their tracks. Countering key Vehicles when they hit the stack is also a viable strategy. Another tactic is attacking a player’s mana base, hampering their ability to cast Depala and her mechanical cohort. Ultimately, keeping Depala off the battlefield and strategically dismantling the deck’s resources should allow you to cruise to victory against this formidable foe.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG enthusiasts and strategic deck builders know the power that specfic cards can add to their game. Depala, Pilot Exemplar is a card that offers both specialized enhancement for Dwarves and Vehicles and the potential for card advantage. Perfect for players who value synergy and powerful combos, Depala can be a worthy addition to your MTG collection. If you’re looking to escalate your play or infuse your deck with innovative tactics, understanding and integrating cards like Depala is key. Ready for a deeper dive into strategic deck building and effective gameplay? Explore with us and solidify your status as a skilled player in the MTG community.


Cards like Depala, Pilot Exemplar

Depala, Pilot Exemplar carves a unique niche in Magic: The Gathering as a dwarf pilot that boosts vehicles and other dwarves. Comparable to cards like Sram, Senior Edificer, she offers an advantage with each vehicle becoming a potent force on the battlefield. While Sram rewards players for casting vehicles, among other artifacts, with card draw, Depala directly improves their combat capabilities by providing a stat boost.

Another related card is Aradara Express, which embodies the raw power vehicles can bring to the game. However, it doesn’t inherently benefit from synergy with dwarf creatures or provide additional boosts to comrades without Depala’s leadership. Yet, it’s a standalone strength on the battlefield.

Looking at Always Watching, a non-vehicle card that provides a similar anthem effect by giving creatures you control +1/+1 and vigilance, we see a broad parallel. However, its lack of focus on the vehicle and dwarf synergy marks a distinct departure from Depala’s targeted support. Nonetheless, this enchantment can affect the board significantly, underscoring the value of such static bonuses.

Evaluating these cards, Depala, Pilot Exemplar stands out as an archetype-defining card that fosters powerful synergies with certain MTG deck types, accentuating the specialized strategies players might pursue.

Sram, Senior Edificer - MTG Card versions
Aradara Express - MTG Card versions
Always Watching - MTG Card versions
Sram, Senior Edificer - Aether Revolt Promos (PAER)
Aradara Express - Kaladesh (KLD)
Always Watching - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Depala, Pilot Exemplar MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Promos, 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 Depala, Pilot Exemplar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Depala, Pilot Exemplar Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 1782015normalblackGreg Opalinski
22016-09-30Kaladesh PromosPKLD 178s2015normalblackGreg Opalinski
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 4642015normalblackWayne Reynolds
42020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 1922015normalblackGreg Opalinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Depala, Pilot Exemplar has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-09-20 Depala, Pilot Exemplar's last ability is a triggered ability, not an activated ability. It doesn't allow you to tap Depala whenever you want; rather, you need some other way of tapping it, such as by attacking.
2016-09-20 For the ability to trigger, Depala has to actually change from untapped to tapped. If an effect attempts to tap Depala, but it was already tapped at the time, this ability won't trigger.

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