Arcades, the Strategist
TSRTime Spiral Remastered/#371/2021SpecialReprint
Colour IDMV 4
Current paper retail
Card Kingdom$3.49
Cardmarket€2.72
ManaPool$2.85
TCGplayer$3.49
Buylist (dealers pay)
Card Kingdom$0.65
MTGO (Cardhoarder)
retail$0.22 tix
Paper retail history (USD)
3 providers
Latest $3.49High $5.99Low $3.49▼ 41.7%
Market and collecting
Market overview
$3.49TCGplayer, USD, retail, nonfoil
Latest observation: 2026-11-10
7d▼ 1.4%30d▼ 4.9%90d▼ 5.4%
90d high
$4.03
90d low
$3.39
Paper printings priced
4
Currently 2nd
Cheapest paper printing
$2.75
The List
- Down 4.9% over the last 30 days on TCGplayer.
- Currently 13% below its 90 day high of $4.03.
- This printing is the 2nd cheapest paper printing currently priced (4 priced in total).
- Foil copies of this printing carry a 981% premium over nonfoil.
Find this printing on eBayView on TCGplayerAffiliate. MTGPrices may earn from qualifying eBay and TCGplayer purchases.
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Play
Compare printings (4 priced)
Gameplay and rules
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.
3 / 5
Keywords
FlyingVigilance
Card capabilities
Derived deterministically from card types, Oracle text and keywords. Not a strategic evaluation.
Format legality
Primary formats
Eternal formats
Rulings (2)
wotc19 Mar 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.
wotc19 Mar 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.
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Ranked by shared capabilities, colour identity, mana value and type. Never by strategic judgement.
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Shares Card draw, Creature, Legendary creatureMV 4 vs 4
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About this card
Arcades, the Strategist
Arcades, the Strategist is a Legendary Creature — Elder Dragon, with mana cost {1}{G}{W}{U} (mana value 4). Printed 4 times across MTG sets.
Format legality: Commander: legal, Modern: legal, Standard: not_legal, Pioneer: legal, Legacy: legal, Pauper: not_legal.
Current headline price on TCGplayer: $3.49 (down 4.9% over 30 days).
Frequently asked
Arcades, the Strategist FAQ
How much is Arcades, the Strategist worth?
The current TCGplayer USD retail price for Arcades, the Strategist is $3.49. It is down 4.9% over the last 30 days. Over 90 days it has ranged from $3.39 to $4.03.
What is the cheapest printing of Arcades, the Strategist?
The cheapest currently priced paper printing is from The List at $2.75 on TCGplayer.
What is the most expensive printing of Arcades, the Strategist?
The most expensive currently priced paper printing is from Core Set 2019 Promos at $55.49 on TCGplayer.
How many printings of Arcades, the Strategist are there?
Arcades, the Strategist has been printed 4 times in English paper sets that MTGPrices tracks.
What set was Arcades, the Strategist first printed in?
The earliest English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from M19 #212, released 2018-07-13.
What is the newest printing of Arcades, the Strategist?
The most recent English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from PLST #M19-212, released 2021-07-23.
Is there a foil version of Arcades, the Strategist?
Yes. On this printing, foil copies trade at $37.73 versus $3.49 for nonfoil, which is 981% more expensive on TCGplayer.
Is Arcades, the Strategist legal in Commander?
Yes, Arcades, the Strategist is currently legal in Commander per Scryfall's legality feed.