Burning Shield Askari MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Knight
Abilities	Flanking
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	162
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dan Frazier

Key Takeaways

Its Flanking ability can skew combat interactions in your favor, often surprising opponents during battle.
A cost-effective addition for mana curve optimization, it applies pressure while conserving resources.
Despite mana-specific demands and discard potentials, its battlefield influence is significant.

Text of card

Flanking (Whenever a creature without flanking is assigned to block this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.) o Roo R First strike until end of turn

"Any day that I ride my horse up to my ankles in the remains of my enemies is a good day." —Akin, seasoned askari

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Burning Shield Askari doesn’t directly draw you cards, its Flanking ability can offset opposing creatures’ strength, indirectly maintaining your card presence on the board by potentially eliminating a blocker or attacker each combat.

Resource Acceleration: While the card itself doesn’t provide a direct increase in resources, its moderate casting cost makes it a solid inclusion in decks aiming for a smooth mana curve. This can help keep the pressure on opponents without exhausting your mana pool too quickly.

Instant Speed: While Burning Shield Askari is a creature card and not cast at instant speed, its Flanking ability triggers during combat, a crucial phase where timing matters. This can surprise opponents who might not calculate the combat damage properly, leading to advantageous trades.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Burning Shield Askari doesn’t directly require a discard, but like many creatures, it could inadvertently contribute to a disadvantageous board state where you’re forced to discard due to being over the hand limit, or through other card effects that force a discard when you have creatures on the field.

Specific Mana Cost: Burning Shield Askari’s casting cost includes one red mana, which might not seamlessly fit into multi-colored deck strategies. Players will need at least one source of red mana to play it, potentially limiting its deck compatibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its mana cost is not exorbitant, the Burning Shield Askari demands two mana, one of which is red, for a 2/3 creature. In an environment rich with cost-effective creatures, this may be seen as a relatively high investment for what it offers in terms of power and toughness.

Reasons to Include Burning Shield Askari in Your Collection

Versatility: The Burning Shield Askari is a resilient creature in many combat scenarios, thanks to its flank ability. This allows it to dodge traditional blocks and strengthen both offensive and defensive strategies within your deck.

Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on the flanking mechanic or with those that synergize with soldiers and warriors, Burning Shield Askari becomes a key component. It can effectively be combined with cards that buff such creatures or benefit from their combat success.

Meta-Relevance: As the playing field evolves, a solid two-drop creature like Burning Shield Askari can consistently pose a threat to your opponents. If the meta favors small creature-on-creature combat, this card becomes even more important by confronting and often outmaneuvering an opponent’s defense.

How to beat

Burning Shield Askari, known for its flanking ability, presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. Flanking is a mechanic that reduces the power and toughness of opposing creatures without flanking that block it. To effectively counter this, consider using creatures with high toughness to withstand the reduced stats, or tap abilities to control Burning Shield Askari before it declares an attack. Enchantment removals or direct damage spells can also bypass the flanking ability altogether by removing the Askari from play without entering combat.

Another strategy includes utilizing flying or reach creatures, as Burning Shield Askari cannot diminish their combat efficacy if it cannot block them. Favoring non-combat methods such as creature abilities that deal direct damage, or using spells that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures, can evade the complications of flanking altogether. By focusing on these alternative approaches, one can minimize the impact of Burning Shield Askari and maintain control over the game state.

Through a combination of clever play choices and keeping pressure on your opponent, countering Burning Shield Askari becomes less daunting. The myriad of tools available within Magic: The Gathering provide numerous ways to tackle threats like the Askari, ensuring your deck can handle what comes its way.

Cards like Burning Shield Askari

Burning Shield Askari is a notable card within the roster of aggressive red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When comparing this card to others in its niche, similarities arise with cards like Benalish Hero, which shares the trait of banding. Unlike the Askari, however, Benalish Hero doesn’t boast the flanking ability, which can give players a tactical advantage by weakening blocking creatures. This distinct mechanic from Burning Shield Askari sets it apart, as it becomes a menace to creatures without the flanking trait.

In a similar category, we find the Knight of Cliffhaven which, like the Askari, can be a formidable creature once leveled up. Although it offers versatility with its level-up mechanic, it doesn’t impact the board as immediately as Burning Shield Askari does with its default flanking ability. Furthermore, the Raging Goblin provides an immediate impact with haste, but fails to match up in sustaining battlefield presence as the Askari, which can potentially disrupt the opponent’s defense over multiple turns.

Thus, while there are several creatures with niche abilities that can influence the battlefield in their unique ways, Burning Shield Askari stands out in its role as an aggressive red creature with the added value of diminishing the effectiveness of potential blockers through flanking, a quality that adds strategic depth to assaults.

Knight of Cliffhaven - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Burning Shield Askari MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Burning Shield Askari and other MTG cards: