Orcish Veteran MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Orc
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage by evading specific blockers, promoting favorable exchanges in combat.
  2. The instant speed ability of Orcish Veteran adds depth to combat decisions and player interactions.
  3. The card poses a synergy cornerstone, enhancing red deck strategies in various MTG formats.

Text of card

Cannot be assigned to block any white creature of power greater than 1. oo R First strike until end of turn

Unsuccessful in their early battle for Montford, the Orcs quickly tempered their bloodlust with cowardice.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Orcish Veteran’s ability to bypass creatures without flying or islandwalk can often lead to advantageous trades or direct player damage, effectively diminishing an opponent’s resources while maintaining your own board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Orcish Veteran itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, its low casting cost allows players to deploy other strategic pieces onto the battlefield swiftly, preserving mana for pivotal plays.

Instant Speed: The Veteran’s activation is usable at instant speed, providing flexibility and strategic depth during combat. This allows you to adapt to changing game states and surprise opponents with unexpected combat tricks, disrupting their calculations and plans.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Orcish Veteran’s abilities might not have a discard requirement, but its limited functionality can often leave you wishing your card slot had gone to a more impactful play, especially when your hand is running low.

Specific Mana Cost: The Orcish Veteran demands a precise mana alignment to make the best use of its abilities, particularly red which may hinder its integration outside of monochromatic or heavily red-influenced decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not the heftiest on the mana scale, Orcish Veteran’s cost efficiency is a talking point; there are creatures and spells at similar costs that offer more versatile and immediate board presence or effects.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Orcish Veteran offers a flexible approach to gameplay due to its flanking ability, which weakens any blocking creatures without first strike. This makes it a suitable choice for diverse red deck strategies that emphasize combat tactics.

Combo Potential: Its ability to potentially bypass blockers makes Orcish Veteran a synergistic piece in combinations aimed at dealing direct damage or utilizing combat-focused synergies, fitting well with cards that reward attacking with multiple creatures.

Meta-Relevance: While Orcish Veteran might not be a staple in the current competitive scene, its unique abilities can catch unprepared opponents off guard in casual play. It’s especially relevant in formats where creature-based strategies prevail and adaptation to combat tricks is crucial.


How to beat

Orcish Veteran is a card that can be quite a challenge on the battlefield with its ability to gain first strike until end of turn when red mana is invested. To outmaneuver an opponent with this card, consider deploying creatures with higher toughness to withstand the first strike blow or using removal spells before the Veteran can become a threat.

Strategies like tapping the creature with spells or abilities can prevent it from attacking, neutralizing the first strike advantage. Enchantment-based removals that bypass the ‘can’t be regenerated’ clause, like Pacifism or Lignify, can also effectively control this creature without sending it to the graveyard. Furthermore, sweeping board clears, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, can reset the playing field, removing the Orcish Veteran regardless of its combat abilities.

In games against Orcish Veteran, anticipate the mana your opponent keeps open, expect potential first strike activations, and plan your moves accordingly. By having the right counters, like instant-speed removals at your disposal, you can dissuade attacks or eliminate the Veteran before it swings into action, ultimately keeping you a step ahead.


Cards like Orcish Veteran

Orcish Veteran is a card that reminds MTG players of the flexibility in red creature spells. It evokes comparisons to cards like Goblin Chariot, a simple red creature that also grants haste, enabling attacks on the same turn it comes into play. While Goblin Chariot is straightforward in its use, Orcish Veteran offers an additional layer with its ability to avoid being blocked by creatures with two or more power, which can be quite a tactical advantage during gameplay.

Another analogous card is the Raging Goblin. This creature also boasts haste and is recognized for its low casting cost, making it a staple in aggressive red decks seeking to deal damage quickly. Though Raging Goblin doesn’t carry the same tactical evasion ability as Orcish Veteran, its efficiency at only one mana makes it a card worth mentioning in the same breath. In the realm of creatures that can sneak past enemy lines, we also see Skirk Marauder. Although it doesn’t have haste, upon being morphed, it can destroy a target creature, giving it a removal aspect absent in Orcish Veteran.

Overall, Orcish Veteran stands out among its peers for its unique combination of haste and selective unblockability. In the spectrum of red creatures designed for swift and precise strikes, this card holds its own, providing players with aggressive strategic options.

Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - Starter 1999 (S99)
Raging Goblin - Portal (POR)
Skirk Marauder - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)

Cards similar to Orcish Veteran by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Orcish Veteran MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fallen Empires, 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 Orcish Veteran and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Orcish Veteran Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 62c1993normalblackQuinton Hoover
21994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 62b1993normalblackDan Frazier
31994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 62d1993normalblackMelissa A. Benson
41994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 62a1993normalblackDouglas Shuler
52008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 1441997normalblackQuinton Hoover

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Orcish Veteran has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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