Ordruun Commando MTG Card

Ordruun Commando - Ravnica: City of Guilds

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Minotaur Soldier
Released	2005-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica: City of Guilds
Set code	RAV
Power	4
Toughness	1
Number	137
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Stephen Tappin

Key Takeaways

Ordruun Commando offers card advantage by creating extra soldier tokens at instant speed.
The card requires precise mana and a discard, which could be a strategic setback.
Its resilience against certain metas makes it a worthwhile addition to a collection.

Text of card

: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to Ordruun Commando this turn.

Thick of muscle, stout of heart, and possessing a burning love of justice and the battlefield, the Ordruun minotaurs are the foundation of the Boros Legion.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ordruun Commando provides a potential shift in board presence by creating a 3/1 red and white Soldier creature token, thereby adding to your army and putting more pressure on your opponent. This additional unit can be crucial in overwhelming your opponent or defending against their threats.

Resource Acceleration: Ordruun Commando plays a supportive role in strategies hinging on synergies with creature tokens. Deploying additional creatures can significantly amplify the effects of cards that benefit from the number of creatures you control, effectively accelerating your resource availability and impact on the game.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Ordruun Commando at instant speed should not be underestimated. This allows you to react to your opponent’s moves by adding a surprise blocker or attacker during their turn. This unpredictability can turn the tide of a match, especially when your opponent least expects it, and potentially force them into unfavorable trades or decisions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ordruun Commando demands a card be discarded upon activation of its ability. For a player already facing resource scarcity, this cost may prove to be a significant setback.

Specific Mana Cost: Ordruun Commando requires a precise combination of mana to cast—red and white. This makes it less versatile, as it can’t effortlessly slot into decks that don’t operate on these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a cost that includes both red and white mana, the investment for Ordruun Commando may not always align with the benefits it offers. In the landscape of MTG where mana efficiency is key, there may be alternative cards that provide greater value or impact for the same or lower mana expense.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Ordruun Commando adapts efficiently across multiple strategies thanks to its blend of creature damage and combat tricks, strengthening decks where resilience and adaptability are key.

Combo Potential: Within the appropriate builds, this card can synergize with tactics that capitalize on soldier tokens or strategies that amplify benefits for each attacking creature, creating opportunities for tactical plays.

Meta-Relevance: As gameplay ebbs and flows with different archetypes, the commando’s solid stats and abilities keep it pertinent, especially in metas where aggressive creature-based strategies dominate the battlefield.

How to beat

Ordruun Commando is a robust creature card that can create some challenging situations for opponents in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to deal damage upon entering the battlefield makes it a threat that demands an immediate answer. To effectively counter this card, players need to anticipate its arrival and maintain resources to handle the immediate impact.

Key strategies involve removal spells that can target Ordruun Commando before its ability triggers or as it hits the battlefield. Instant-speed removal like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can effectively neutralize the Commando and prevent any combat tricks or potential synergy with other cards. Additionally, keeping blockers with high toughness could deter opponents from attacking, mitigating the advantage Ordruun Commando offers.

Understanding the meta and preparing sideboard options that deal with creatures can also tip the scales in your favor. Enchantments such as Pacifism limit the Commando’s effectiveness without removing it from the battlefield, preventing any leave-the-battlefield effects it may have. In summary, swift removal, strategic blocking, and sideboard planning are your best bets in outmaneuvering the Ordruun Commando’s battlefield presence.

Cards like Ordruun Commando

Ordruun Commando makes for a strong contender in the category of creature-based enhancements in MTG. It’s akin to other creatures such as Wojek Halberdiers, which also touts the battalion ability. Ordruun Commando differentiates itself with the possibility of handing out lifelink to a creature, which Wojek Halberdiers lacks, though it does have first strike as its own unique offering.

Another card worth considering is Daring Skyjek, which shares the battalion mechanic and gains flying in addition to being a less mana-intensive option. While Daring Skyjek offers increased mobility across the board, Ordruun Commando excels in bolstering defensive capabilities with lifelink. There’s also Firefist Striker, who instead of focusing on sustain, impedes the opponent’s defense by restricting the ability to block when battalion is triggered.

Analyzing these options shows that Ordruun Commando has a valuable positioning among battalion cards in MTG due to its duality in both offense and notable sustain, catering to a strategy of durability and tactical striking power.

Cards similar to Ordruun Commando by color, type and mana cost

Winota, Joiner of Forces - MTG Card versions

Raiyuu, Storm's Edge - MTG Card versions

Bell Borca, Spectral Sergeant - MTG Card versions

Haktos the Unscarred - MTG Card versions

Belligerent Hatchling - MTG Card versions

Tajic, Blade of the Legion - MTG Card versions

Munda, Ambush Leader - MTG Card versions

Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas - MTG Card versions

Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ordruun Commando MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Ordruun Commando and other MTG cards: