Soltari Trooper MTG Card


The Trooper’s shadow ability creates consistent damage, pressuring opponents and shaping the battlefield. It is cost-efficient for its abilities, allowing for flexible play and resource management. While demanding specific deck requirements, its strengths add value to white strategies.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Soltari Soldier
Abilities Shadow
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.) If Soltari Trooper attacks, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

"Dauthi blood is Soltari wine." —Soltari *Tales of Life*


Cards like Soltari Trooper

Soltari Trooper finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a swift and evasive creature. Standing alongside it are cards like Soltari Monk and Soltari Priest, both part of the Soltari family known for their shadow ability, making them only blockable by creatures with the same ability. This shared characteristic allows players to slip past a crowded battlefield with ease. Soltari Trooper, however, has the unique aspect of growing stronger with each attack, setting it apart from its kin.

Delving into white weenies, there’s Elite Inquisitor, a solid two-drop with first strike and vigilance. While it doesn’t have the unblockability of shadow, it offers excellent defense and offensive capabilities against decks that rely on vampires, werewolves, and zombies. For those who value aggression over defense, cards like Accorder Paladin provide another avenue. With battle cry, it can bolster your entire attacking squad, becoming a pressure point for your opponents unlike Soltari Trooper which focuses on individual prowess.

Through analyzing the variety of white creatures at two mana value, Soltari Trooper stands as a unique option, blending aggression with a kind of evasion that crafts its own strategic role in games of Magic: The Gathering.

Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Soltari Priest - MTG Card versions
Elite Inquisitor - MTG Card versions
Accorder Paladin - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Soltari Priest - MTG Card versions
Elite Inquisitor - MTG Card versions
Accorder Paladin - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Soltari Trooper by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
Revered Dead - MTG Card versions
Starlight Invoker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
Revered Dead - MTG Card versions
Starlight Invoker - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though the Soltari Trooper itself does not draw cards directly, its main strength lies in its evasion. Shadow allows it to swing in for consistent damage, which contributes to an advantageous board state, potentially leading to card advantage through the pressure it creates.

Resource Acceleration: The Soltari Trooper efficiently uses resources with an inexpensive mana cost. Its low cost allows for a quicker development of your board while leaving mana open for other spells, effectively accelerating your game without a heavy resource investment.

Instant Speed: While the Soltari Trooper isn’t an instant itself, its shadow ability demands immediate answers. This can force your opponent to use removal spells at instant speed, detracting from their ability to respond to your other threats. Additionally, its instant-speed pumping ability ensures that mana can be optimally utilized during the combat phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Soltari Trooper doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, it might necessitate additional cards to work effectively. In decks focused on the Trooper, you might find yourself short on cards, which can be a setback if you’re aiming to maintain a hand with ample options.

Specific Mana Cost: Soltari Trooper requires a white mana to cast, which anchors it firmly in white decks or those with a reliable mana base for multicolor strategies. This specificity can potentially restrict its inclusion in some deck builds, particularly those that don’t focus heavily on white mana or have a broad color scope.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing two mana might seem moderate, in the fast-paced environment of MTG, using two mana for a 1/1 creature that has to wait a turn to attack due to summoning sickness might not always be the most efficient play. When tempo is key, there may be other two-mana creatures or spells with immediate board impact or higher power and toughness, providing more value right out of the gate.


Reasons to Include Soltari Trooper in Your Collection

Versatility: Soltari Trooper can seamlessly integrate into a variety of White-based aggro or midrange decks due to its shadow ability, allowing it to avoid traditional combat and press an offensive without much resistance from opponents.

Combo Potential: Its ability to get a temporary power boost each time it attacks make it an excellent candidate for synergy with effects that trigger on creature attacks or damage dealt, adding a tactical layer to combat phases.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where ground stalls are common, Soltari Trooper shines by bypassing potential blockers, maintaining a consistent pace of damage that can pressure opponents and shape the way games unfold.


How to beat

Soltari Trooper may not be the flashiest creature in Magic: The Gathering, but it certainly has its strengths. With its shadow ability, it can be quite difficult to block, effectively sneaking past most defenders and connecting with your opponent. To counter this sneaky creature, you’ll want to focus on tactics that don’t rely on blocking. Removal spells are your best ally here. Cards like Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push can eliminate the Trooper before it can chip away at your life total. Alternatively, board wipes like Wrath of God can clear the way regardless of the Trooper’s elusive shadow.

Another strategy is to overpower your opponent with a faster clock. Presenting threats that demand an answer more urgently than the Trooper can force your opponent to switch to a defensive playstyle. Lastly, using creatures with reach or those that can block creatures with shadow, though rarer, can offer a direct way to handle this persistent soldier. Carefully choosing your counters and not letting the Soltari Trooper outpace your game plan is key to coming out ahead.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soltari Trooper 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 Trooper and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Soltari Trooper Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 471997NormalBlackKev Walker
22014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 472015NormalBlackKev Walker
32015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 332015NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Soltari Trooper has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal