Dauntless Bodyguard MTG Card


Offers strategic protection for key creatures, enhancing your long-term board presence. Low casting cost provides early board development, maintaining mana for other plays. Effective in aggressive white strategies, safeguarding critical creatures from removal.
Dauntless Bodyguard - Dominaria
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Released2018-04-27
Set symbol
Set nameDominaria
Set codeDOM
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number14
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byManuel Castañón

Text of card

As Dauntless Bodyguard enters the battlefield, choose another creature you control. Sacrifice Dauntless Bodyguard: The chosen creature gains indestructible until end of turn.

The Benalish aristocracy is hereditary, but the loyalty of its subjects is earned.


Cards like Dauntless Bodyguard

Dauntless Bodyguard stands as a solid protective spell in the rich tapestry of creature spells within Magic: The Gathering. It shares its safeguarding capabilities with other cards like Alseid of Life’s Bounty, which also provides a ward to another creature. However, Dauntless Bodyguard is unique in the fact that it can be chosen as a protector right as it enters the battlefield, setting it apart with proactive defensive potential. Alseid, in contrast, requires an additional mana and sacrifice for activation.

Moving on, Selfless Savior is yet another card with a similar purpose. It is dedicated to absorbing harm meant for others, yet it forgoes the human knight synergy that Dauntless Bodyguard offers, which can be a notable difference for decks capitalizing on the tribal theme. Additionally, Burrenton Forge-Tender can be mentioned in this context, providing not only protection from specific sources but also from entire colors, it’s targeted towards red spells, wielding a conditional yet sometimes more powerful defensive stance.

In summary, while Dauntless Bodyguard might appear as another protective creature at a glance, its immediate choice of ward and tribal synergies ensure its esteemed place among creature-based defense options in Magic: The Gathering.

Alseid of Life's Bounty - MTG Card versions
Selfless Savior - MTG Card versions
Burrenton Forge-Tender - MTG Card versions
Alseid of Life's Bounty - MTG Card versions
Selfless Savior - MTG Card versions
Burrenton Forge-Tender - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dauntless Bodyguard by color, type and mana cost

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Cho-Arrim Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Cho-Arrim Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Dauntless Bodyguard. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-White HumansMono-White Humans PioneerMono-White HumansPioneer Preliminary 2024-05-08 (1)
Orzhov HumansOrzhov Humans PioneerOrzhov HumansPioneer Preliminary 2024-05-08 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Dauntless Bodyguard doesn’t necessarily provide direct card advantage, but it offers strategic value by protecting key creatures. It effectively counters removal spells aimed at your more vital threats, potentially saving cards in the long term.

Resource Acceleration: While the Dauntless Bodyguard is not a resource acceleration card in the traditional sense, its low casting cost can be seen as a form of tempo acceleration. It allows you to develop your board early while keeping mana open for other plays.

Instant Speed: The Dauntless Bodyguard’s ability to choose a creature to protect as it enters the battlefield can’t be activated at instant speed. However, the foresight and planning required to use the Dauntless Bodyguard effectively add a layer of instant-speed-like strategy to your game, forcing your opponent to play around the protection it offers once it’s on the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One drawback of Dauntless Bodyguard is that it doesn’t impose a discard requirement, which in some strategies can actually be a negative. In decks that benefit from having cards in the graveyard or that trigger effects upon discarding, Dauntless Bodyguard may not synergize as well as other options.

Specific Mana Cost: Dauntless Bodyguard requires a single white mana to cast. This specific mana cost restricts it to white-focused or two-color decks that include white, potentially limiting its inclusion in multicolor or colorless decks that can’t easily meet this requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Dauntless Bodyguard itself is costing only one white mana, in the landscape of aggressive one-drops, it might be overshadowed by other creatures offering more immediate offensive abilities. In terms of defensive value, other cards could provide more versatile protection at a similar cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dauntless Bodyguard offers a dual utility both as an aggressive one-drop creature and as a protective measure for your key permanents later in the game, seamlessly fitting into aggressive white weenie decks as well as more midrange strategies.

Combo Potential: Notable for its ability to safeguard high-value creatures, this card thrives in combinations where it can be brought back repeatedly to shield various parts of your board, potentially locking out removal-heavy opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where critical creatures often dictate the match outcome, having Dauntless Bodyguard in your deck ensures you can consistently defend against spot removal, a tactic frequently employed in many competitive formats.


How to beat

Dauntless Bodyguard emerges as a keystone card in aggressive white strategies within Magic: The Gathering. Its primary strength lies in its early board presence and the ability to protect a key creature later in the game. At the outset, it serves as a solid 2/1 creature for one mana—an efficient play on turn one. Nevertheless, its special ability allows it to safeguard a more valuable creature from removal which adds strategic depth to any game.

Encountering this card means preparedness is key. Targeted removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile are effective ways to deal with Dauntless Bodyguard before its ability can be activated. Furthermore, mass removal spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can bypass the protective ability by not targeting individual creatures. Shifting the focus on controlling the board can also diminish the impact of Dauntless Bodyguard, as it struggles against decks that can overwhelm or outpace its protective measures.

In summary, weakening the protective veil Dauntless Bodyguard casts over other creatures is instrumental. Focusing on timely removal or board control can significantly blunt the advantage this card provides to an aggressive white deck.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players who appreciate strategic depth will find the Dauntless Bodyguard card to be a valuable addition to their collection. Beyond its simple, early-game board presence, this versatile card becomes a stalwart protector of crucial creatures, pivoting the game in your favor. Tapping into its full potential requires deft planning and positional awareness, making it a staple in decks that aim to thwart targeting removals. Enhance your deck’s resilience and maintain the upper hand in critical matches by integrating Dauntless Bodyguard. Embrace the strategic nuances of MTG and elevate your gameplay with this notable card. Learn more about optimizing your deck with Dauntless Bodyguard’s unique protective capabilities.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dauntless Bodyguard MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, 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 Dauntless Bodyguard and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dauntless Bodyguard has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-04-27 Dauntless Bodyguard’s first ability isn’t a triggered ability and doesn’t use the stack. Players can’t respond to your choice of which creature it’s protecting.
2018-04-27 If Dauntless Bodyguard enters the battlefield at the same time as another creature, that creature can’t be chosen for its ability.
2018-04-27 If the chosen creature leaves the battlefield, you can’t choose a new creature for Dauntless Bodyguard to protect. If you activate its last ability in this case, no creature gains indestructible.