Satyr Hoplite MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Satyr Soldier |
| Abilities | Heroic |
| Released | 2014-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Journey into Nyx |
| Set code | JOU |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 110 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mark Zug |
Key Takeaways
- Satyr Hoplite grows stronger with targeting spells, offering escalating power and valuable card advantage.
- A low mana cost facilitates early deployment and resource allocation for subsequent strategic gameplay moves.
- Instant speed interactions enhance its role as a surprise attacker, exploiting opponents’ defensive gaps.
Text of card
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Satyr Hoplite, put a +1/+1 counter on Satyr Hoplite.
"Xenagos has become what he once despised: a tyrant and an oppressor."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Satyr Hoplite becomes stronger each time you target it with spells, effectively turning each buff or protection you cast into both a stat increase and a threat. This synergy can overwhelm opponents by escalating the creature’s power rapidly over several turns and can serve as a formidable engine for accruing card value on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Due to its low mana cost, Satyr Hoplite allows players to deploy other resources or spells earlier in the game. By investing just one red mana, you save resources for subsequent gameplay moves, which can include casting additional creatures or holding mana for critical instants and sorceries that will protect or empower your Satyr Hoplite.
Instant Speed: The capability of Satyr Hoplite to benefit from instant speed spells is a tactical boon. Buffing it in response to an opponent’s action can turn the tide of battle, effectively countering removal spells or boosting its power to win combat exchanges. The instant speed interaction reinforces the Hoplite’s role as a surprise aggressor capable of exploiting gaps in an opponent’s defenses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Satyr Hoplite doesn’t ask you to discard, it comes with its own set of challenges. Its ability to grow stronger as you cast more spells means you may burn through your hand quickly, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage if you can’t maintain a steady flow of card draw.
Specific Mana Cost: Satyr Hoplite requires red mana to be cast, making it most suitable for mono-red decks or those that can reliably provide red mana. This makes the card less versatile and can be a liability in multicolored decks that struggle with mana consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Satyr Hoplite is not particularly expensive, it starts out as a small creature. In aggressive decks, you may find that other one-mana creatures can provide more immediate impact without relying on additional spells to become a threat on the board.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Satyr Hoplite can be a foundational card in many aggro decks, given its ability to quickly grow in power with spells that target it. This trait makes it adaptable and a threat in the early game.
Combo Potential: With the right combination of auras or combat tricks, this creature can become a massive force. The ability to scale its power with each spell opens up synergistic plays that can overwhelm opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values fast-paced, aggressive strategies, Satyr Hoplite shines by presenting a threat that must be answered swiftly, thus aligning well with current aggressive deck builds.
How to beat
Satyr Hoplite is a compelling card in the realm of creature spells within Magic: The Gathering, captivating players with its heroic ability to get stronger with every spell cast. When trying to outmaneuver this powerful creature, one efficient strategy is to limit the number of spells you cast that could potentially target it. Keeping a tight control of your spell casting will make it difficult for your opponent to exploit the Hoplite’s strengths.
Removal spells are valuable tools to manage a growing threat like Satyr Hoplite. Board wipes that clear out all creatures are effective, but they can be costly. Hence, pinpoint removal—that is, spells that target and destroy or exile a single creature at a time—are more mana-efficient. Spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can unseat the Hoplite before it becomes too large a threat. Moreover, if the Hoplite has already gained a considerable size, utilizing spells that can bypass its strength, such as those that impose -X/-X effects or force a sacrifice, can successfully mitigate the issue.
Ultimately, the key is to act swiftly and decisively. Allowing the Satyr Hoplite to grow unchecked will only make your battle against it harder. Hence, immediate response with targeted removal is an essential tactic when confronting this robust creature of MTG lore.
Cards like Satyr Hoplite
Delving into the aggro archetype within MTG, Satyr Hoplite finds itself at home. This card thrives in decks designed to enhance creatures through spells like Titan’s Strength or Hammerhand. By growing with each spell cast, Satyr Hoplite is often likened to other heroic creatures such as Akroan Crusader, which also benefits from spells but generates tokens instead of gaining power directly.
Comparing to Favored Hoplite, another creature from the same set, Satyr Hoplite offers a higher base power level, allowing for more aggressive starts. However, Favored Hoplite provides defensive utility by preventing damage the turn it becomes targeted by your spells. Monastery Swiftspear is another similar card that shares the prowess ability, increasing in power with each noncreature spell cast—though it triggers off more than just targeting spells. Swiftspear’s prowess applies a wider range of spells, positioning it as a flexible choice in spellslinger-style decks.
A closer examination of Satyr Hoplite reveals a card that rewards players who prioritize turning individual creatures into significant threats. A potent ally in a focused aggro strategy, it carves out a steadfast position in MTG’s pantheon of creature-based, spell-enhancing cards.
Cards similar to Satyr Hoplite by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Satyr Hoplite MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Satyr Hoplite 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 Satyr Hoplite has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Satyr Hoplite card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-04-26 | Heroic abilities will resolve before the spell that caused them to trigger. |
| 2014-04-26 | Heroic abilities will trigger only once per spell, even if that spell targets the creature with the heroic ability multiple times. |
| 2014-04-26 | 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. |
