Stern Marshal MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Released	1997-05-01
Set symbol
Set name	Portal
Set code	POR
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	32
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	D. Alexander Gregory

Key Takeaways

Card cycling capability of Stern Marshal ensures a continuous flow of resources during matches.
Mana acceleration from Stern Marshal enables faster, more powerful plays in the game.
Instant speed action offers the tactical edge of flexibility and surprise against opponents.

Text of card

On your turn, before you attack, you may tap Stern Marshal to give any one creature +2/+2 until the end of the turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stern Marshal opens up opportunities for impressive card cycling, effectively refreshing your hand and ensuring your strategies stay fluid throughout the game. Capitalizing on this potential means you’re rarely left without options, setting the stage for consistent pressure against your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: With Stern Marshal in play, your mana resources can receive a significant boost. This added efficiency in generating resources can swiftly tip the scales in your favor, allowing for a more aggressive playstyle or the ability to cast high-cost spells earlier than expected.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Stern Marshal at instant speed is a tactical advantage that should not be underestimated. It gives players the flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions or end their turn on a strong note, keeping their strategies adaptive and opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Stern Marshal requires discarding a card to unleash its abilities, which might not always align with your hand management strategy, potentially leaving you at a card disadvantage, especially in tight game moments.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a dedicated mana requirement which demands both white and colorless mana, thus it might not seamlessly fit into multicolor decks that don’t heavily feature white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing a mana cost that is on the higher side for its effects, Stern Marshal may not be considered the most mana-efficient option. In a game where pace can determine victory or defeat, investing a lot of mana into one play can sometimes set you back in the race for board dominance.

Reasons to Include Stern Marshal in Your Collection

Versatility: Stern Marshal has the ability to seamlessly blend into numerous deck styles, particularly those that can leverage its synergy with other creatures. This MTG card excels in strategies that rely on bolstering your board presence.

Combo Potential: With its ability to provide additional benefits each turn, Stern Marshal can amplify combo setups, especially those that revolve around creature-based strategies. Its consistent performance can be the cornerstone of intricate and powerful interactions within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: The evolving MTG meta often calls for adaptable and resilient cards, and Stern Marshal meets this demand. It can stand strong against many of the dominant deck archetypes, making it a strong contender for inclusion in various competitive environments.

How to beat

Stern Marshal is an intriguing white creature card with the potential to provide a player with significant early game advantage in Magic: The Gathering. It becomes more formidable as it lets you marshal a stronger line-up over time, making it a card to contend with on the battlefield. Thwarting Stern Marshal involves a strategy focus on disruption and removal, ensuring it doesn’t become too entrenched on the board.

Key tactics include utilizing efficient removal spells that can deal with the creature before it generates too much value or overwhelms you with its marshalling ability. Counterspells also work wonders, nipping the problem in the bud by preventing Stern Marshal from entering the battlefield altogether. Moreover, keeping pace with its token generation through sweepers can reset the board state to your advantage, maintaining pressure and control. It’s crucial to adapt a proactive approach when facing a card like Stern Marshal; delayed reactions could turn the tide against you in a game of Magic: The Gathering.

In summary, when facing Stern Marshal, prompt and decisive action with removal and counters is your surest path to victory. Managing the board and preventing the buildup of forces will keep this white creature from ruling the battlefield and leading your opponent to triumph.

Cards like Stern Marshal

Stern Marshal adds a tactile depth to the pool of soldier-boosting cards in MTG. Its ability to bolster fellow soldiers is reminiscent of cards like Veteran Armorsmith, which also provides a buffing effect to its soldier comrades. However, Stern Marshal diverges with its focus on offering life gain, a survival edge that Veteran Armorsmith lacks. This life-gaining trait can be pivotal in matches where endurance is key.

Another card that echoes the synergy-driven nature of Stern Marshal is Benalish Marshal. While Benalish Marshal offers a blanket bonus to all creatures you control, it does so without the added advantage of life gain. On the other hand, it compensates with a stronger universal buff, which can be decisive in overwhelming the opponent with sheer force. Plus, it doesn’t come with the condition of having another soldier in play. The comparison between these cards hinges on the specific strategy and creature composition of your deck.

In essence, Stern Marshal finds its niche within soldier-oriented decks in MTG, where it complements the collective strength of your forces with a touch of life-sustaining support, making it a noteworthy consideration for players rallying around a soldier theme.

Cards similar to Stern Marshal by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stern Marshal MTG card by a specific set like Portal, 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 Stern Marshal and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stern Marshal has restrictions

Format	Legality
Predh	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-20	If a turn has multiple combat phases, the ability can only be activated before the beginning of the declare attackers step of the first combat phase in that turn.