Dwarven Vigilantes MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Dwarf
Released	1997-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Visions
Set code	VIS
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	77
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

Dwarven Vigilantes provide unique card advantage by potentially removing multiple blockers, enriching combat dynamics.
Instant speed ability adds strategic play, while the discard condition requires prudent resource management.
Despite deck building constraints, their ability to disrupt opponents’ lines makes them a valuable combat asset.

Text of card

If Dwarven Vigilantes attacks and is not blocked, you may choose to have it deal no combat damage this turn. If you do, Dwarven Vigilantes deals an amount of damage equal to its power to target creature.

Some dwarves can only be pushed so far.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dwarven Vigilantes grants a unique form of card advantage by allowing you to potentially eliminate multiple blockers with its ability. This can create favorable combat trades and deplete your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana, the Vigilantes’ effect can accelerate your board presence by removing potential threats or nuisances without spending additional cards, preserving resources for other strategic plays.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Dwarven Vigilantes’ combat trick during the combat phase adds a layer of strategy, giving you the element of surprise and the potential to disrupt your opponent’s tactics at a pivotal moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dwarven Vigilantes come with a discard condition to activate their primary ability. This not only depletes your hand but also requires careful planning to ensure you have expendable cards to discard, making it less advantageous when card resources are already scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes both generic and red mana, Dwarven Vigilantes aren’t the most flexible when it comes to deck building. They’re most at home in red or red-heavy multicolor decks, potentially limiting their applicability across the diverse MTG metagame.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana, the casting cost for Dwarven Vigilantes is on the higher side, especially when assessed against other creatures with similar stats or abilities. Savvy players might find alternative creatures or spells that offer more impact and value for the same or lower investment.

Reasons to Include Dwarven Vigilantes in Your Collection

Versatility: Dwarven Vigilantes offer a dynamic option for red deck enthusiasts. With the ability to destroy creatures that block them, they excel in combat-focused strategies and can be a nuisance for your opponent’s defensive line.

Combo Potential: This card can complement tactics that revolve around unblockable or evasive creatures. By partnering it with cards that ensure your dwarf adventurers can be blocked, you’ll leverage their unique ability to take out key threats within your opponent’s creature lineup.

Meta-Relevance: In matchups that pit you against numerous creature-based decks, Dwarven Vigilantes can disrupt your opponent’s board presence. As creature interactions are ever-present in various formats, having a card that interacts favorably in such skirmishes can provide a significant edge in your gameplay.

How to beat

Dwarven Vigilantes from Magic: The Gathering brings a unique twist to the battlefield with its ability to destroy target blocking creature. This quirk can transform defensive plays into risky gambles, as deploying blockers against the Vigilantes can lead to unexpected losses. However, there are strategic moves to circumnavigate the destructive capability of these red-aligned dwarves.

Removal spells that can reach the battlefield before blockers are declared can be pivotal. Instant-speed spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can neutralize the Vigilantes before they swing into combat. Counter measures that prevent the ability from triggering or spells that grant indestructible temporarily to your creatures are also effective. Board control is critical; thus, ensuring a clear path or utilizing non-combat strategies can keep the Vigilantes’ impact minimal.

Playing around Dwarven Vigilantes requires tactical foresight and maintaining a versatile hand. Assessing when to form a defensive line or when to push for an aggressive stance without blockers can dictate the pace against an opponent wielding this cunning card. In essence, the key to successfully navigating a game against Dwarven Vigilantes lies in adaptable playstyles and preemptive actions.

Cards like Dwarven Vigilantes

Dwarven Vigilantes stands out in MTG as an intriguing inclusion to combat-centered decks, with its ability to destroy blockers similar to cards with the “lure” mechanic. Its ability echoes the strategy of cards such as Taunting Elf or Provocateur Troll, which force opponents to block and enable tactical combat scenarios. However, Dwarven Vigilantes offers a unique twist with the potential to eliminate the blocking creature, setting it apart from lure-style cards that often simply divert attention.

Equally noteworthy is the comparison with cards like Goblin Diplomats and Courtly Provocateur. Each employs a variation of forced blocking. Yet, while Diplomats and Provocateur can compel creatures to attack or block, they don’t inherently possess the power to remove them from the field as Dwarven Vigilantes does. This direct removal aspect can serve as a game-changer, providing a strategic edge in battles.

In the ballet of MTG’s combats, Dwarven Vigilantes emerges as a card that demands attention. It aligns with the classic strategies of manipulating blocks but with the added benefit of removal, enhancing its appeal in decks focused on combat advantage. Its synergy with other dwarves and warrior tribes further amplifies its utility in specific deck archetypes.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dwarven Vigilantes MTG card by a specific set like Visions, 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 Dwarven Vigilantes and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dwarven Vigilantes has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-04-15	An ability that triggers when something “attacks and isn’t blocked” triggers in the declare blockers step after blockers are declared if (1) that creature is attacking and (2) no creatures are declared to block it. It will trigger even if that creature was put onto the battlefield attacking rather than having been declared as an attacker in the declare attackers step.