Doomed Traveler MTG Card


Upon dying, Doomed Traveler grants a 1/1 flying Spirit, enhancing board presence with a single card investment. The card’s token generation can act as a surprise blocker or resource for other abilities and spells. Doomed Traveler’s utility spans numerous strategies, offering a low-cost option for deck flexibility.
Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Doomed Traveler dies, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield.

He vowed he would never rest until he reached his destination. He doesn't know how right he was.


Cards like Doomed Traveler

Doomed Traveler occupies a unique position in the pantheon of white weenie creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its parallels can be drawn with cards like Hunted Witness, which also leaves behind a token upon dying. Nevertheless, Doomed Traveler offers an airborne Spirit token with flying, granting it an edge in evasion over the ground-bound Soldier token from Hunted Witness. It’s a subtle yet significant difference that can affect board presence dramatically.

Another comparable card is Mausoleum Guard, which also dies to create two Spirit tokens. While the quantity of tokens is higher, the four mana cost compared to Doomed Traveler’s one mana makes it a less agile option for early game strategies. Furthermore, Skymarcher Aspirant reveals itself as a contender with its ascend ability, allowing it to gain flying. However, the setup required to achieve ascend can make Doomed Traveler a more straightforward and reliable choice for a flying creature right out of the gate.

Assessing these interactions and their impacts on gameplay dynamics, Doomed Traveler shines as a cost-effective creature setting up aerial defenses early on and making it a valuable component of white weenie decks in Magic: The Gathering.

Hunted Witness - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Guard - MTG Card versions
Skymarcher Aspirant - MTG Card versions
Hunted Witness - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Guard - MTG Card versions
Skymarcher Aspirant - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Doomed Traveler by color, type and mana cost

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
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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
Daru Mender - 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
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
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mardu SacrificeMardu Sacrifice GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024
Mardu AggroMardu Aggro GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 11 2024
Orzhov MidrangeOrzhov Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Doomed Traveler might seem unassuming, but upon death, it creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. This essentially means you’re getting two creatures for the cost of one card, elevating your board presence and maintaining card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Doomed Traveler doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, the afterlife of this card does offer a form of indirect acceleration. The generated Spirit can be an unexpected blocker or a token to sacrifice for other spells or abilities that require creature input.

Instant Speed: Although Doomed Traveler itself is a creature card and not instant, the token it provides at death instantaneously bolsters your defenses or can be used as an immediate response to an opponent’s threat during combat, making the outcome of its triggered ability feel as timely as an instant.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Doomed Traveler does not specifically have a discard requirement, crucial card synergy, such as when triggered abilities rely on card or creature sacrifice, could very well act as a de facto discard, especially when you have fewer creatures or cards in play to work with.

Specific Mana Cost: Doomed Traveler’s casting cost is locked to a single white mana, which is advantageous for mono-white or certain two-color decks, but it can be a limiting factor in multicolor or colorless decks that might struggle to provide the necessary mana without the proper mana base or fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Doomed Traveler’s mana cost is low, when evaluating its board impact against the backdrop of one-drop creatures across the MTG spectrum, the one white mana could potentially be better invested in more aggressive or utility-based one-drops that could better fit the player’s strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Doomed Traveler offers utility across various deck types. Its low casting cost enables a quick play, making it a suitable card for aggressive white strategies or as an early defensive option.

Combo Potential: Upon its demise, Doomed Traveler provides a 1/1 flying Spirit token. This aspect opens up synergies with strategies revolving around sacrifice mechanics, token generation, or death-triggered abilities.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment frequently changes, a card like Doomed Traveler remains relevant due to its ability to interact effectively with popular mechanics like morbid or populate, ensuring its place in several metagame scenarios.


How to Beat Doomed Traveler

Doomed Traveler is a card that many players in Magic: The Gathering find deceptively resilient. When this one-mana creature dies, it creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. To effectively overcome this seemingly endless cycle of blocker generation, focusing on exile or -1/-1 counter strategies proves most effective. Cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can permanently remove Doomed Traveler without triggering its ability.

Cards that alter the rules of combat or death, such as Grafdigger’s Cage, can halt the Traveler from leaving behind a token. Moreover, leveraging spells that apply widespread -1/-1 counters to the board, such as Engineered Plague, can preemptively deal with the Traveler and its progeny in one fell swoop. It’s critical to consider spells that dodge its death-triggered ability, putting you back in control of the field without the worry of spirits cluttering the skies.

Ultimately, countering Doomed Traveler’s token generation effect is all about strategic removal and understanding the importance of timely spell casting. When prioritizing targets, remember that halting the Traveler’s afterlife advantage can significantly impede an opponent’s board presence and spare you the frustration of dealing with an army of spirits.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re aiming to strengthen your deck with resilient creatures, Doomed Traveler is a card worthy of consideration. Its simple yet effective mechanic provides a two-for-one deal, ensuring that your battlefield presence is maintained even after removal. With its low cost and spirit token advantage, this card is ideal for decks focusing on creature strategies or looking for additional aerial defenses. Interested in exploring more strategic elements that Doomed Traveler brings to the table? Enhance your deck-building skills and discover advanced gameplay tactics with us. Tap into an enriched MTG experience and unfold new dimensions of play with your collection.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Doomed Traveler MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt, 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 Doomed Traveler and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Doomed Traveler Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Lars Grant-West.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 112003NormalBlackLars Grant-West
22013-03-15Duel Decks: Sorin vs. TibaltDDK 22003NormalBlackLars Grant-West
32014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 692003NormalBlackLars Grant-West
42016-02-26Duel Decks: Blessed vs. CursedDDQ 72015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
52016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 832015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
62017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 42015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
72017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 162015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
82018-06-08BattlebondBBD 912015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
92019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 832015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
102020-09-26The ListPLST CN2-832015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
112020-09-26The ListPLST 2X2-92015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
122020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 192015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
132021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 702015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
142022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 92015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
152022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 1782015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
162023-03-21Shadows of the PastSIS 52015NormalBlackLars Grant-West
172024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 592015NormalBlackLars Grant-West

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Doomed Traveler has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal