Soltari Emissary MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 42
2014-06-16 - Number 46
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Soltari Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Shadow ability provides consistent combat damage and excellent synergy with certain spell triggers.
- Two mana cost and flexibility make Soltari Emissary a pressure-inducing, early game creature.
- Instant speed spells enhance this card’s combat prowess, making it a formidable threat.
Text of card
o W: Soltari Emissary gains shadow until end of turn. (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)
Alone at the portal, Ertai began his meditation. He realized immediately that he was not alone.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Soltari Emissary provides a unique type of card advantage. While not directly allowing you to draw cards, its shadow ability often ensures it can connect with the opponent, potentially triggering beneficial effects on other cards that activate when you deal combat damage to a player.
Resource Acceleration: Although Soltari Emissary doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, its relatively low casting cost coupled with the potential to evade blockers means it can apply pressure early on. This often forces opponents to deal with it, indirectly conserving your other resources.
Instant Speed: The Emissary itself may not have an instant speed ability; however, it benefits greatly from other cards at instant speed that can enhance its combat abilities during the attack phase, making it a more versatile threat that can benefit from buffs or protective spells at crucial moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Soltari Emissary itself does not impose a discard requirement, it’s important to be aware that having it in play won’t protect you from having to discard other valuable cards from your hand due to other effects or costs within the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The Soltari Emissary requires a specific combination of mana to cast – one white and one generic mana. This can restrict this creature to decks that are able to reliably produce white mana, potentially limiting the card’s versatility in multi-colored deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although two mana for a 2/1 creature with shadow may seem reasonable at a glance, when considering card economy, there may be situations where you’re paying a premium for the shadow ability that isn’t as situationally useful against decks that don’t rely on blocking creatures.
Reasons to Include Soltari Emissary in Your Collection
Versatility: Soltari Emissary’s shadow ability allows it to be virtually unblockable by creatures without the same mechanic, giving it a secure place in decks that aim for consistent combat damage. Its convertibility to a 3/1 creature grants flexibility in response to the state of the board.
Combo Potential: This card excels when paired with equipment or auras that benefit from hitting an opponent directly. Its ability to dodge most blockers enables synergies with cards that trigger upon dealing combat damage to a player.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy with creature-based strategies, the emissary can be a dependable source of damage, as well as a capable blocker against other shadow creatures, ensuring its relevance in specific tournament scenes.
How to beat
Soltari Emissary presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its Shadow ability, allowing it to attack and block only creatures with the same attribute. This particular trait makes it elusive to regular blockers, providing an edge in player combat. To overcome this card, look to utilize global effects that don’t require the creature to be targeted or blocked, such as board wipes or spells that deal damage to all creatures irrespective of their abilities.
Board control cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can effectively clear the field of creatures, ensuring that the Soltari Emissary is swept away along with the rest. Besides, versatile removal spells that don’t target, like Engineered Explosives or Ugin, the Spirit Dragon’s minus ability also serve as a reliable answer to the evasion that Shadow offers. Utilizing these strategies will allow you to manage the threat of Soltari Emissary and maintain a stable game state.
In essence, controlling the pace and flow of the game by neutralizing creatures through non-targeted effects is key. Such a proactive approach in handling elusive threats like Soltari Emissary can ensure that your opponent’s advantages are minimized, allowing you to dictate the pace of play and progress towards victory.
Cards like Soltari Emissary
Soltari Emissary is a versatile creature card in the MTG universe which skillfully weaves combat and strategy. The card can be paralleled with other shadow creatures, such as Soltari Monk and Soltari Priest. What makes the Emissary stand out is its ability to give another creature shadow with its kicker cost, providing a tactical advantage in evading blockers. Both the Monk and the Priest boast the shadow ability innately, but lack the Emissary’s flexibility in enabling other creatures to slip through defenses.
Another comparable card is Dauthi Slayer, which automatically has shadow, ensuring it’s unblockable by creatures without shadow. The Slayer is also aggressive due to its ‘must attack each turn if able’ rule. However, it does not offer the same potential for a strategic shift that the Emissary’s kicker presents, making Soltari Emissary a card that invites thoughtful plays and deck synergy.
In essence, while there are several shadow creatures in the MTG world, Soltari Emissary’s kicker ability to grant shadow temporarily to others elevates it, highlighting the card’s unique place among its peers when considering dynamic battle tactics and deck versatility.
Cards similar to Soltari Emissary by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Soltari Emissary MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Vintage 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 Soltari Emissary 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
Printings
The Soltari Emissary Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by Adam Rex.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 42 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Adam Rex | |
| 2 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 46 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Rex |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Soltari Emissary has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |