Steward of Valeron MTG Card


Combines attacker and mana dork roles, enhancing each card’s utility and maintaining offensive pressure. Enables instant speed plays by providing mana yet letting you keep board presence and interaction flexibility. Limited to green and white mana decks, potentially overlooked in fast-paced or high-efficiency settings.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Druid Knight
Abilities Vigilance
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Vigilance : Add to your mana pool.

Knight-stewards guard the Sun-Dappled Court, a grove of immense, sculptured olive trees that represent Valeron's twelve noble families.


Understanding the Role of Steward of Valeron

In the realm of creatures that serve multiple functions in MTG, Steward of Valeron stands out as a versatile card, merging both mana acceleration and combat potency. This green and white card from the Guildpact set allows players to tap for a green mana, functioning similarly to a Llanowar Elves, while also being able to attack as a 2/2 Knight. Its unique blend of mana dork and aggressor makes it a valuable asset in decks that aim for swift tempo.

Cards like Steward of Valeron

Steward of Valeron shares certain characteristics with well-regarded cards in MTG such as Birds of Paradise, which also provides mana of any color but lacks the Knight’s offensive capabilities. Knight of the White Orchid, meanwhile, offers a similar knightly presence with an added land fetching ability, crucial for mana ramp without providing constant mana flow each turn. Sylvan Caryatid brings hexproof to the table along with mana fixing, ensuring resilience against removal but at a higher mana cost and without the attack factor.

Considering the landscape of mana accelerants that double as creatures, Steward of Valeron provides balanced offense and resource management. It’s a unique card that affords players aggressive lines of play while also smoothing out their mana curve—an important aspect when building a consistent deck. Its duality makes it a comparably solid choice, especially for decks embracing the Selesnya colors.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Birds of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Knight of the White Orchid - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Caryatid - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Birds of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Knight of the White Orchid - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Caryatid - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Steward of Valeron by color, type and mana cost

Femeref Enchantress - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Knight - MTG Card versions
Qasali Pridemage - MTG Card versions
Watchwolf - MTG Card versions
Park Heights Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Bronzehide Lion - MTG Card versions
Shanna, Sisay's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Evangel - MTG Card versions
Transluminant - MTG Card versions
Saffi Eriksdotter - MTG Card versions
Medicine Runner - MTG Card versions
Valeron Outlander - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Knight of the Skyward Eye - MTG Card versions
Knotvine Paladin - MTG Card versions
Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Voice of Resurgence - MTG Card versions
Fleecemane Lion - MTG Card versions
Victual Sliver - MTG Card versions
Gaddock Teeg - MTG Card versions
Femeref Enchantress - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Knight - MTG Card versions
Qasali Pridemage - MTG Card versions
Watchwolf - MTG Card versions
Park Heights Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Bronzehide Lion - MTG Card versions
Shanna, Sisay's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Evangel - MTG Card versions
Transluminant - MTG Card versions
Saffi Eriksdotter - MTG Card versions
Medicine Runner - MTG Card versions
Valeron Outlander - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Knight of the Skyward Eye - MTG Card versions
Knotvine Paladin - MTG Card versions
Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Voice of Resurgence - MTG Card versions
Fleecemane Lion - MTG Card versions
Victual Sliver - MTG Card versions
Gaddock Teeg - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Steward of Valeron doesn’t provide direct card draw but compensates with the utility of combining the roles of attacker and mana dork in one, ensuring you get more out of each card.

Resource Acceleration: This vigilant knight doubles as a mana accelerator. By tapping for green mana without the need to rest from combat, it boosts your resource development while keeping up the offensive pressure.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Steward of Valeron complements instant speed strategies by supplying additional mana while allowing you to commit to the board and still keeping mana open for other instant-speed interactions during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Steward of Valeron does not have a discard requirement, it’s important to note that players often expect some utility creatures to offer card advantage or selection. This card does not provide those benefits, potentially making it less valuable in long-drawn games where card resources become crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Steward of Valeron demands both green and white mana to be cast, which can limit the card’s inclusion to decks that can reliably produce both types of mana. This may require a player’s mana base to be built around accommodating such hybrid costs, which could impact deck consistency and flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a two-mana creature with vigilance and the ability to tap for green mana is cost-effective, there are other mana dorks or utility creatures that come at a lower cost or offer additional abilities. In fast-paced games or environments where efficiency is key, Steward of Valeron may be overlooked for creatures that can hit the battlefield sooner or provide a wider range of utility.


Reasons to Include Steward of Valeron in Your Collection

Versatility: Steward of Valeron is a dual-purpose card functioning both as a creature and as a mana source. It slots easily into green and white deck strategies, renowned for their creature-focused and mana acceleration capabilities.

Combo Potential: As a creature that can tap for mana the turn it comes into play, it offers unique synergies with cards that benefit from untapping mechanics or convoke, where creatures can help cast spells.

Meta-Relevance: With the prevalence of aggressive and creature-centric decks in certain metas, Steward of Valeron can be particularly effective. It serves as an early blocker while simultaneously ramping up to your more impactful spells.


How to Beat

Steward of Valeron stamps its mark in MTG as a potent mana accelerator that doubles as an attacker, owing to its unique blend of Vigilance and mana generation capabilities. This Guildpact gem performs a dual role, serving as both a creature that can swing at opponents without tapping and a conduit for mana ramp, giving players early access to high-cost spells or overrunning the battlefield with creatures.

Defeating a card with such versatility starts by disrupting the balance it brings to the board. Controlling the tempo through removal spells such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can swiftly take Steward of Valeron out of the equation before it generates an advantage. Hand disruption like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek further reduces the threat by preemptively discarding the creature.

Moreover, since mana dorks like Steward of Valeron thrive in a synergy-rich environment, countering the spells they intend to accelerate becomes equally as effective. Preventing their strategy from unfurling by keeping the board clear of creatures not only neutralizes Steward of Valeron, it stifles the opponent’s game plan as a whole. Board wipes, direct damage, and efficient spot removal are keys to tipping the scales in your favor against this guild-aligned knight.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Steward of Valeron is paramount for any MTG player looking to sharpen their deckbuilding skills. This card exemplifies the strategy and duality present in MTG, merging offense with resource acceleration. Whether you are tweaking an existing deck or starting from scratch, including versatile cards like Steward of Valeron could give you the upper hand. Delve into our in-depth guides and articles to embrace the full potential of your deck and refine your game plan. Leverage our resources for a more thorough understanding of MTG mechanics and turn your next game into a showcase of skill and strategy.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Steward of Valeron MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and URL/Convention Promos, 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 Steward of Valeron and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Steward of Valeron Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2011-04-01. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 1982003NormalBlackGreg Staples
22009-02-09URL/Convention PromosPURL 12003NormalBlackGreg Staples
32011-04-01Duel Decks: Knights vs. DragonsDDG 112003NormalBlackGreg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Steward of Valeron has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.