Today’s Magic: the Gathering Adventures in the Forgotten Realms card preview, we have a creature that is going to prove its ‘loyalty’ as a relevant components of the White-based aggro decks. Check out Loyal Warhound.

Loyal Warhound 1W

Creature – Dog

Vigilance

When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, if an opponent controls more lands that you, fetch a tapped basic plains.

3/1

At first look, it is a lesser version of Knight of the White Orchid in terms of the land fetch wherein the knight can fetch a Plains meaning dual lands are good land options. A basic Plains which enters the battlefield tapped is a huge difference wherein the extra mana source could have let you cast another two-drop creature.

Comparably similar to the Knight of the White Orchid, the p/t difference makes it more of a damage dealer than a smart creature in the battlefield like the knight. What I pertains is the relevance of the First Strike ability over Vigilance. Surely the former can survive more combat than the latter.

In the take of the current White Aggro deck in Standard, this would still be a viable option because card advantage is still card advantage. This on turn two and curving into the turn-three Maul of the Skyclaves is a huge board advantage.

This will also replace relevant creatures in the list once the next Standard rotation happens so expect more appearance in the format in the coming months.

That is a wrap for now, until the next blog post.