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Arcades, the Strategist

{1}{G}{W}{U}

Legendary Creature — Elder Dragon

Flying, vigilance Whenever a creature you control with defender enters, draw a card. Each creature you control with defender assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power and can attack as though it didn't have defender.
Plays as:
Card DrawETB PayoffDefender Payoff
CommanderLegalModernLegalStandardNot legal
Format legality

Constructed

StandardNot legal
PioneerLegal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
PauperNot legal

Commander

CommanderLegal
Pauper CommanderNot legal
Duel CommanderLegal
PreDHNot legal
OathbreakerLegal
Tiny LeadersNot legal

Arena

AlchemyNot legal
HistoricLegal
TimelessLegal
BrawlLegal
Standard BrawlNot legal
Competitive BrawlLegal
GladiatorLegal

Other

PremodernNot legal
Old SchoolNot legal
Penny DreadfulLegal
Future StandardNot legal

Used in 1 known comboEDHREC #5,824

Printings
4
Price range
$3.04to$55.49

Versions

4 printings · from $3.04

In products
The List
2021#M19-212CheapestIn products
Core Set 2019 Promos
2018#212sIn products

Rulings

2 · latest Mar 19, 2021
  • WotCMar 19, 2021

    Arcades's last ability doesn't actually change any creature's power. It changes only the amount of combat damage it assigns. All other rules and effects that check power or toughness use the real values. For example, Rabid Bite won't cause a creature with defender to deal damage equal to its toughness.

  • WotCMar 19, 2021

    If Arcades leaves the battlefield after a creature with defender has attacked, that creature remains an attacking creature, although it will assign damage equal to its power.