Anaba Bodyguard MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Minotaur
Abilities First strike
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Anaba Bodyguard’s First Strike is a boon for both attacking and defensive strategies in creature-heavy matchups.
  2. While lacking discard synergy, its cost-efficiency can be a solid addition to red mana-based decks.
  3. Compared to similar cards, it holds its own with a built-in First Strike, offering an edge in combat.

Text of card

First strike

"Not all Minotaurs are tribal. Some are freelance." —Eron the Relentless


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Anaba Bodyguard itself might not directly offer card advantage, its presence on the battlefield as a sturdy blocker might help preserve your valuable creatures. This can indirectly lead to card advantage by deterring opponents from attacking into a strong defensive line, maintaining your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Anaba Bodyguard does not inherently offer resource acceleration; however, its cost-effective nature makes it a solid addition without impeding your mana curve. It synergizes well with decks aiming to deploy threats consistently without falling behind on resources.

Instant Speed: While the card is not an instant itself, it pairs effectively with instant speed interactions. Anaba Bodyguard’s first strike ability could become significantly more impactful when combined with cards or effects that can be played at instant speed, potentially taking opponents by surprise during combat phases.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of the Anaba Bodyguard card is the lack of a discard ability which could synergize with decks that capitalize on card disposal and graveyard strategies. Without this feature, the card may not align well with some deck themes focused on leveraging discarded cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Anaba Bodyguard’s casting cost includes one red mana, which can restrict its inclusion to certain types of decks, mainly those that have a red mana base. This can negatively affect the card’s versatility in multi-color or non-red decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you take into account its mana value of 3 and one red for its power level, Anaba Bodyguard can be considered relatively expensive. Cards with lower mana costs may offer similar or better utility, making the bodyguard a less favorable choice in a deck looking for efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Anaba Bodyguard’s role as a four mana cost creature with First Strike makes it a reliable inclusion in red-based aggressive or midrange decks that value steady damage dealers with defensive capabilities.

Combo Potential: While Anaba Bodyguard may not have inherent combo synergies, pairing it with cards that benefit from first strikers or those that buff creatures can amplify its effectiveness on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors combat-centric games, Anaba Bodyguard holds its own as a solid combatant. Its First Strike ability can give you an edge against other creature-focused decks, making it a practical choice for matchups where combat interactions are frequent.


How to Beat

Anaba Bodyguard is a solid creature that can be quite a nuisance thanks to its first strike ability, making it a formidable blocker or an aggressive attacker in Magic: The Gathering. Its strength lies in its capability to deal damage before most creatures without first strike can strike back, often allowing it to survive encounters that would typically be lethal for others.

To outmaneuver Anaba Bodyguard, consider using removal spells that can bypass the first strike advantage, such as Doom Blade or Murder, which can straightforwardly destroy target creatures regardless of combat prowess. Another strategy includes outclassing it with creatures that have higher toughness or beneficial abilities like lifelink or deathtouch, which can negate the first strike advantage and turn the tide of battle in your favor.

If you’re looking for a more passive approach, enchantments that pacify or prevent the Anaba Bodyguard from attacking or blocking can effectively neutralize it without having to remove it from the battlefield. Whichever method you choose, understanding the mechanics and having the right response can ensure that Anaba Bodyguard doesn’t stand in the way of your victory.


Cards like Anaba Bodyguard

Anaba Bodyguard is an iconic creature card in Magic: The Gathering, standing solidly in the realm of red creature spells. Its direct counterparts can be found in cards such as Borderland Marauder and Fervent Cathar. Though both share the same mana cost as Anaba Bodyguard, the Marauder boasts the potential to become stronger when it attacks, elevating its power from two to three. However, it doesn’t have the built-in first strike feature that gives Anaba Bodyguard an edge in combat.

Taking another step in comparison, we find Ember Beast. While this creature is slightly more powerful with a four power stat, its inability to attack alone is a downside that Anaba Bodyguard players do not have to worry about. Moreover, the first strike ability on Anaba Bodyguard is a clear advantage during battles, giving it a preemptive capacity to deal damage and potentially take down creatures before they can retaliate. This affirms Anaba Bodyguard as a reliable combatant in the early to mid-game phases.

Ultimately, when evaluating similar creature cards, Anaba Bodyguard maintains its position as a robust choice for those favoring aggressive strategies with a penchant for controlling the battlefield with decisive first-strike blows.

Borderland Marauder - MTG Card versions
Fervent Cathar - MTG Card versions
Ember Beast - MTG Card versions
Borderland Marauder - Magic 2015 (M15)
Fervent Cathar - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Ember Beast - Odyssey (ODY)

Cards similar to Anaba Bodyguard by color, type and mana cost

Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
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Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
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Dragon Whelp - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Keldon Warlord - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Crimson Manticore - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Márton Stromgald - Ice Age (ICE)
Reckless Embermage - Mirage (MIR)
Wildfire Emissary - Mirage (MIR)
Flowstone Giant - Tempest (TMP)
Rathi Dragon - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Bombers - Stronghold (STH)
Warmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Bloodfire Kavu - Apocalypse (APC)
Whipkeeper - Odyssey (ODY)
Anger - Judgment (JUD)
Nalathni Dragon - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Everquill Phoenix - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Goblin Goon - Legions (LGN)
Lesser Gargadon - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Krark-Clan Engineers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ogre Taskmaster - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Anaba Bodyguard MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Homelands, 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 Anaba Bodyguard and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Anaba Bodyguard Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-10-01HomelandsHML 66a1993normalblackAnson Maddocks
21995-10-01HomelandsHML 66b1993normalblackAnson Maddocks
31999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 1641997normalwhiteAnson Maddocks
42007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 187★2003normalblackGreg Staples
52007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1872003normalblackGreg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Anaba Bodyguard has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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