I love this card, the illustrations cool, the low mana cost is nice, and it is effective as a first-strike weapon, I just don't get why it's uncommon.
axiobeta
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
When you think about it anybody with one toughness can't be very good at defeating enemies because they would die in every fight (assuming enemy soldiers are at least 1/1). Other than that it's a good example of adding a little bit of power to core sets, and it's in War of Attrition so that's cool. 4/5
Salient
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(8 votes)
Let's propose neat abilities for the vanilla creatures that get printed in each new core set. Who knows, a bored Wizards developer may happen upon one...
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Fencing 1 (Creatures blocked by Elite Vanguard receive -1/-0 until end of turn.)
Dr_Fletchers
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Great use in a white tribal deck. Elite Vanguard usefulness doesn't stop there, now with Innistrad announcing that being Humanis tribal we will see this Vanguard in a lot more playable decks in Standard and Modern.
Shadoflaam
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5.0)(5 votes)
Planeswalk (As long as defending creature controls an artifact creature with flying, this creature can't be blocked.)
whiteforthewin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
for whoever mentioned captain of the watch, if they reprinted cap everyone would run humans. Humans are soo crazzy.
luca_barelli
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
No reason not to play this in Mono-White aggro
JackThompson
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Though skilled in combat, the Elite Vanguard succumbed to the cuteness that is Sanctuary Cat
Travis44
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Though it is not the retro-cool of Savannah Lions, I still find it better because it's more affordable, and the human soldier type is much more versatile than cat.
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Pretty good. It is one of those creatures that makes your opponent sweat for a minute while considering whether they should block with their Llanowar Elves.
4/5 for one of the most Vanilla cards out there.
shmewdog
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Anyone ever notice how this so called "Elite" Vanguard has the same P/T that a Goblin Piker has? And he just figured out which end is the pointy end!
martianshark
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like this card for its low mana cost. If you draw this and a plains, you can put it out on your first turn.
I am not to impressed with that 0 power goblin you slayed sir.
Lord_of_phyrexia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Nice cheap vanilla, better than Coral Merfolk
Ruaranicus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I saw an enlarged version of this art today and realised just how grumpy this guy looks. That 1 toughness must really be bugging him.
MasterOfWaves
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Although this has just been outclassed by Soldier of the Pantheon, this is very similar, and I don't just mean the P/T. The art both have weird severed goblin? heads and some guy who just cut it off.
jonrds
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love how the flavourtext is referring to the fact that he kills your opponent's 2/2 before they have a chance to play an x/3.
Comments (26)
/Pre release story
Other than that it's a good example of adding a little bit of power to core sets, and it's in War of Attrition so that's cool. 4/5
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Fencing 1 (Creatures blocked by Elite Vanguard receive -1/-0 until end of turn.)
4/5 for one of the most Vanilla cards out there.