Staunch-Hearted Warrior MTG Card

Theros (THS)
2013-09-27 - Number 179

Staunch-Hearted Warrior - Ultimate Masters (UMA)

Ultimate Masters (UMA)
2018-12-07 - Number 185

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Warrior
Abilities	Heroic
Power	2
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Grows into a dominant threat, benefiting from spells that target it and bolster its power over time.
Flourishes in decks emphasizing +1/+1 counters, synchronizing with proliferate mechanics and green strategies.
Despite its resource demands, the Warrior shines in games seeking robust, evolving board presence.

Text of card

Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Staunch-Hearted Warrior, put two +1/+1 counters on Staunch-Hearted Warrior.

As soon as she faces a monster, she begins composing its epitaph.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The ability of Staunch-Hearted Warrior to accumulate +1/+1 counters can potentially generate significant card advantage. Each combat in which it receives damage or is bolstered by other effects allows it to grow out of control, making it an increasingly formidable threat that requires an answer from your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Doubling as both an offensive and defensive unit, Staunch-Hearted Warrior synergizes well with green’s focus on growth and development. While not directly providing mana acceleration, a strong and growing board presence can effectively act as resource acceleration by enabling more aggressive plays and demanding multiple resources from your adversary to handle it.

Instant Speed: Even though Staunch-Hearted Warrior itself doesn’t have instant speed, it thrives in an environment filled with instant-speed tricks. Coupling the Warrior with instant-speed spells that increase its toughness or distribute counters can create surprise blocking scenarios or turn the tide in combat, maximizing its potential as a steadily increasing threat on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Staunch-Hearted Warrior does not have a discard requirement in its card mechanics, players should note the necessity to keep a plethora of creatures or spells that permit you to target it, ultimately leading to an indirect need for resource allocation and potential hand depletion.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s cost necessitates both green mana and generic mana, possibly restricting deck flexibility. Decks not centered around green may find incorporating Staunch-Hearted Warrior contributes to a strained mana base, potentially leading to color-fixing issues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, including two green, some players may find the investment into this creature steep when compared to other options. While the heroic ability provides long-term value, in faster-paced games, the initial mana investment might detract from deploying more immediate threats or defenses.

Reasons to Include Staunch-Hearted Warrior in Your Collection

Versatility: Staunch-Hearted Warrior is a flexible addition to decks running green. Its mechanics allow it to grow as a threat with every other spell cast, fitting seamlessly into various strategies, from token swarm to midrange builds.

Combo Potential: This card thrives where +1/+1 counters are plentiful. It has natural synergy with proliferate mechanics or with other cards that benefit from counters, making it a powerful piece in combo strategies that look to quickly amass a large, game-ending creature.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where longer games and creature-based tactics are prevalent, Staunch-Hearted Warrior holds its ground well. As a recurring beneficiary of your spells, it becomes more formidable over time, allowing you to stay relevant as the game progresses into its later stages.

How to beat

Staunch-Hearted Warrior is a creature card that thrives within decks that focus on +1/+1 counters strategy in MTG. The card’s unique ability to gain counters whenever you target it with a spell makes it a potentially daunting adversary. To effectively counteract this growing threat, it’s essential to disrupt the synergy that makes it powerful. Removal spells that don’t target, like board wipes or global debuff effects, can efficiently neutralize the Warrior without triggering its ability.

Alternatively, countering the spells aimed at the Warrior is another viable tactic. Deny the opponent the chance to buff their creature by utilizing counter spells or by stripping key spells from their hand before they have the opportunity to cast them. Focus on minimizing the number of spells your opponent can target the Warrior with, and keep the battlefield clear of other creatures that might benefit from them. A well-timed removal or counter can turn the tide of battle against a Staunch-Hearted Warrior deck, mitigating the card’s effectiveness and maintaining control over the game’s pace.

Remember, a strategic approach addressing the root synergy rather than just the creature itself is key in ensuring that the Staunch-Hearted Warrior doesn’t become an uncontrollable force on the battlefield.

Cards like Staunch-Hearted Warrior

Staunch-Hearted Warrior carves its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a creature card that thrives on the Heroic mechanic. Like the Warrior, Akroan Crusader also benefits from being targeted by spells, creating a 1/1 Soldier token with each instance, providing a different form of board presence as opposed to the Warrior’s bolstering of itself.

Comparatively, Wingsteed Rider is another Heroic card that gains +1/+1 counters when targeted, much like Staunch-Hearted Warrior. The key difference lies in Wingsteed Rider having flying, giving it an aerial advantage, though it starts as a smaller creature. Then there’s Fabled Hero, which doubles down on the Heroic mechanic by gaining two +1/+1 counters every time it’s targeted. It’s a more aggressive option, trading the Warrior’s potential for build-up with immediate, substantial power increases.

Appraising these Heroic parallels, Staunch-Hearted Warrior stands out for its potential to amass a great number of counters over time, synergizing splendidly with decks that are spell-heavy and interactive. Its capacity for growth paired with an aptitude for becoming a significant threat makes it a card valued for its resilience and scalability in gameplay.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Staunch-Hearted Warrior MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Ultimate Masters, 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 Staunch-Hearted Warrior and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Staunch-Hearted Warrior Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2013-09-27	Theros	THS		179	2003	Normal	Black	Greg Staples
2	2018-12-07	Ultimate Masters	UMA		185	2015	Normal	Black	Greg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Staunch-Hearted Warrior has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-15	Heroic abilities will resolve before the spell that caused them to trigger.
2013-09-15	Heroic abilities will trigger only once per spell, even if that spell targets the creature with the heroic ability multiple times.
2013-09-15	Heroic abilities won't trigger when a copy of a spell is created on the stack or when a spell's targets are changed to include a creature with a heroic ability.