Garenbrig Squire MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Released | 2019-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Throne of Eldraine |
| Set code | ELD |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 158 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dallas Williams |
Key Takeaways
- Provides no direct card draw, but bolsters ongoing card advantage by protecting key creatures or planeswalkers.
- Lends to early board development, complementing green’s mana ramp to deploy larger threats sooner.
- While not instant speed, supports strategies utilizing instant spells by establishing a reliable defense.
Text of card
Whenever you cast a creature spell that has an Adventure, Garenbrig Squire gets +1/+1 until end of turn. (It doesn't need to have gone on the adventure first.)
"Find him a weapon as big as his dreams." —Yorvo, lord of Garenbrig
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Garenbrig Squire may not directly result in drawing cards, its presence on the battlefield supports other card advantage strategies by defending key creatures or planeswalkers, which in turn can lead to an accumulation of resources.
Resource Acceleration: The Garenbrig Squire itself does not accelerate resources in the traditional sense by providing additional mana or the like. However, its low mana cost and potential synergy with green’s ramp spells can help establish an early board presence, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration by letting you deploy more costly threats sooner.
Instant Speed: Garenbrig Squire doesn’t operate at instant speed but it complements an arsenal of spells that do. By ensuring a sturdy defense quickly, it allows players the flexibility to utilize their instant speed interaction, confident in the knowledge that their defenses are secured by this steadfast companion.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of the Garenbrig Squire, while there’s no discard requirement directly associated with this card, it’s important to note that the inclusion of any card with a narrow focus in your deck can lead to situations where drawing it implies discarding a potentially more useful card in certain scenarios, especially if the card’s utility is context-dependent and the required board state or synergies aren’t met.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires specifically green mana, which can be restrictive and confines it to green-centric or green-containing decks, limiting its versatility across the various MTG archetypes. Dual or colorless mana costs offer broader deck compatibility but this is not the case for this squire whose loyalty lies firmly with the forests of Garenbrig.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Garenbrig Squire’s mana cost isn’t exorbitant but when measured against other two mana cost creatures, its 2/2 stats and the additional requirement to trigger its ability (having a creature with power 4 or greater come into play) may not stand out as a strong play, especially in formats or matchups where tempo and efficiency are crucial.
Reasons to Include Garenbrig Squire in Your Collection
Versatility: Garenbrig Squire supports a wide array of green-focused decks. Its role is bolstering your creatures’ power during combat, suitable for aggressive and midrange strategies alike.
Combo Potential: Garenbrig Squire synergizes well with decks that capitalize on the attack phase or with cards that care about +1/+1 counters. Its ability can turn the tide of battle and support larger combat-centric combos.
Meta-Relevance: As creature-heavy strategies cyclically gain prominence in the meta, Garenbrig Squire becomes a valuable tool. It aids in keeping smaller creatures relevant later in the game, matching up to the larger threats often found in current decklists.
How to beat
Garenbrig Squire is an interesting creature in the MTG realm, known for its supportive role. Nestled within the green mana segment, which is famous for giant creatures and mana acceleration, Garenbrig Squire may seem like a modest addition. Yet, it underpins an essential aspect of green’s gameplay – enhancing the power of your massive creatures during combat.
To outmaneuver a Garenbrig Squire, prioritizing board control is key. Removal spells can take it off the board before it has a chance to boost an attacking creature. Spot removals like Doom Blade or Path to Exile are efficient choices to handle it directly. Alternatively, considering sweepers like Wrath of God can take care of Garenbrig Squire along with other potential threats on the board the moment they become too overwhelming.
Additionally, imposing a faster pace on the game can disrupt strategies centered around the Squire. Racing past the setup phase can ensure your opponent doesn’t utilize the full potential of Garenbrig Squire’s ability. Prioritizing a playstyle that pressures life totals early can keep Garenbrig-centric decks from stabilizing and leveraging their combat tricks, which often depend on creature synergy.
Cards like Garenbrig Squire
Garenbrig Squire holds its own in the realm of creature enhancers in Magic: The Gathering. It mirrors the likes of Knight of the Keep, which also provides a solid creature body for its mana cost. However, Garenbrig Squire distinguishes itself with its passive ability, offering a power boost to other creatures with the Adamant mechanic. Knight of the Keep, by contrast, offers no such benefit and stands just as a vanilla creature.
In comparison, there’s also Rosethorn Acolyte, a versatile card that presents both mana fixing and a creature. Though it doesn’t provide the straightforward combat advantage that Garenbrig Squire does, the Acolyte compensates with its mana-generating ability. Similarly, there’s Wildwood Tracker, an excellent option for players running a non-human synergy deck. It gets stronger as you control more non-human creatures, unlike Garenbrig Squire, which focuses on enhancing the power of creatures with Adamant during combats.
Assessing the utility and synergies of these cards shows that Garenbrig Squire can hold an essential role in decks utilizing the Adamant mechanic. Its ability to make your powerful spells even more potent during combat can’t be understated, marking its value in Magic: The Gathering’s wide selection of creatures.
Cards similar to Garenbrig Squire by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Garenbrig Squire MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine, 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 Garenbrig Squire and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Garenbrig Squire has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Garenbrig Squire card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-04 | An effect may refer to a card, spell, or permanent that “has an Adventure.” This refers to a card, spell, or permanent that has an adventurer card's set of alternative characteristics, even if they're not being used and even if that card was never cast as an Adventure. |
| 2019-10-04 | Garenbrig Squire's ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered. |
| 2019-10-04 | If an effect refers to a creature card, creature spell, or creature that has an Adventure, it won't find an instant or sorcery spell on the stack that's been cast as an Adventure. |
