Court Street Denizen MTG Card


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

Key Takeaways

  1. Capitalize on its ability to tap opponents’ creatures, enhancing board control in white-centric decks.
  2. Resource acceleration by bypassing blockers ensures sustained board advancement.
  3. The instant-speed effect complements surprise plays, disrupting opponent strategies effectively.

Text of card

Whenever another white creature enters the battlefield under your control, tap target creature an opponent controls.

"The Boros fight for justice. The Azorius fight for law. I hold the line between, and make sure the people are given both."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Court Street Denizen works well in white-creature-heavy decks, where it can consistently leverage its ability to tap potential blockers or utility creatures on the opponent’s side. This control over the battlefield often leads to more efficient plays and can indirectly contribute to card advantage by maintaining a dominant board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Although it doesn’t directly produce additional mana, Court Street Denizen can accelerate your resources by allowing your creatures to avoid being blocked. This lets you press your advantage and advance your board state without the need to invest in more spells for removal, keeping your hand and mana free for further development.

Instant Speed: While Court Street Denizen itself is not an instant, it affects the game at instant speed. Every time a white creature enters the battlefield under your control, you can tap a target creature your opponent controls. This can be surprisingly versatile, working well with flash creatures or surprise tokens that enter during your opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their attacks or blocking strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Court Street Denizen necessitates you to have a steady stream of white creatures to maximize its utility, potentially straining your hand when you’re unable to maintain the required board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s effectiveness is largely contingent on a white-centric or mono-white deck, as it requires a predominantly white mana base to consistently trigger its ability. This can limit its adaptability across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that could be considered steep for an effect dependent on other creatures being cast, some players might find that there are alternative cards that offer more immediate impact on the game state for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Court Street Denizen in Your Collection

Versatility: Court Street Denizen adds a layer of strategy and adaptability to any white deck, especially those that focus on creature-based tactics. Its feature of tapping potential threats can turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with cards that generate numerous white creatures, enabling you to control the board by selectively tapping opponents’ attackers or blockers, paving the way for your own offensive or defensive strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where speed is crucial, the ability to tap down opposing threats every time you deploy a white creature can give you the upper hand, making Court Street Denizen a beneficial addition against aggressive deck archetypes.


How to beat

Court Street Denizen is a card that can set the pace for white-based creature strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to tap target creatures can be a thorn in your side, especially if your opponent is clever at utilizing the untap mechanics. To counter this, increasing the speed of your deck could be the key. Prioritizing the removal of creatures before they trigger Court Street Denizen’s effect is a solid strategy.

Spot removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push are effective at clearing a path through the swath of white creatures intending to lock down your offense. Alternatively, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the board and neutralize the advantage Court Street Denizen provides. It would help if you also considered direct answers to the creature, including instant-speed removal that can disrupt your opponent’s plans mid-combat or in response to the trigger.

It’s not just about removing the Court Street Denizen, though. Think about ways to circumvent its control – playing creatures with hexproof or indestructible, or using tactics like flash to surprise your opponent and avoid those taps. By understanding the card’s strengths and strategies to counteract them, you’ll be well-equipped to handle the challenges posed by Court Street Denizen in your next Magic: The Gathering match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Achieving victory in MTG often hinges on strategy and the careful selection of cards that synergize with your deck. Court Street Denizen is a prime example of a card that, when used effectively, can dominate the battlefield and disrupt your opponent. Whether you are building a creature-heavy white deck or looking to enhance your control strategies, considering the strengths and weaknesses of this card is key. For players eager to optimize their deck’s performance or counter this formidable creature, understanding its intricacies is crucial. Immerse yourself in our deeper analysis—embrace the Denizen’s power and learn how to ensure it works for you, not against you, in the vast universe of MTG.


Cards like Court Street Denizen

Exploring the utility of Court Street Denizen in Magic: The Gathering reveals an interesting dynamic when compared to its peers. Take for instance the card Loyal Sentry, which also interacts with opponents’ creatures, but through a direct destruction effect upon blocking. While the Denizen shines in its ability to control combat, Loyal Sentry offers a one-time use deterrent.

Another card worth mentioning is Avacynian Missionaries. Initially, the Missionaries might not seem similar, but upon transformation, they control the battlefield by exiling opposing threats. While both cards offer white-based control strategies, Court Street Denizen is more consistent, not requiring the setup of an equipment to activate its potential.

Precinct Captain is yet another card sharing the white color identity and the propensity for influencing the board state, this time by generating creature tokens. Unlike the Denizen which passively affects the board by tapping creatures, the Captain allows players to be more proactive in building their board presence with each successful attack.

Analyzing how these cards affect gameplay brings to light the unique position of Court Street Denizen in MTG. It offers a continuous tactical advantage in creature-heavy decks, setting it apart as a control card, especially when paired with plentiful creature spells.

Loyal Sentry - MTG Card versions
Precinct Captain - MTG Card versions
Loyal Sentry - Starter 1999 (S99)
Precinct Captain - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Court Street Denizen by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Elvish Healer - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Stern Marshal - MTG Card versions
Soltari Crusader - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Prelate - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Kitsune Palliator - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Skyhunter Cub - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Elvish Healer - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Soltari Crusader - Tempest (TMP)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Sanctum Prelate - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Skyhunter Cub - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Court Street Denizen MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora, 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 Court Street Denizen and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Court Street Denizen Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Volkan Baǵa.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 82003normalblackVolkan Baǵa
22015-02-27Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. KioraDDO 52015normalblackVolkan Baǵa
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 642015normalblackVolkan Baǵa
42020-09-26The ListPLST DDO-52015normalblackVolkan Baǵa
52020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 172015normalblackVolkan Baǵa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Court Street Denizen has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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