Astartes Warrior is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Menace
Complete guide
The Astartes Warrior is a versatile token creature representing the elite super-soldiers of the Imperium or the corrupted forces of Chaos. While they often appear as 2/2 white tokens with vigilance, some variants possess menace and dark colors, making them flexible assets in various combat strategies. Understanding how these tokens are created and their keyword interactions is key to dominating the battlefield.
What It Does
The Astartes Warrior is primarily a token creature with a base power and toughness of 2/2. Depending on the effect that created it, the token will typically have vigilance (common for white tokens) or menace (common for black tokens). These tokens are 'Astartes' and 'Warrior', allowing them to benefit from tribal synergies that target either subtype.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, an ability or spell resolves that instructs you to create one or more tokens. Second, the tokens enter the battlefield simultaneously unless otherwise specified; any 'enters' triggers, such as those from Marneus Calgar, will see all tokens arriving. Finally, once on the battlefield, the tokens are permanent creatures that can attack, block, or be used to pay costs like Crew or activated abilities.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error involves forgetting that token colors and keywords are determined by the specific card that creates them. For instance, tokens from Mortarion, Daemon Primarch are black and have menace, while those from Birth of the Imperium are white and have vigilance. Additionally, if an effect like Inquisitorial Rosette creates a token 'attacking', that token never triggered 'whenever this creature attacks' abilities because it was never declared as an attacker during the declare attackers step.
When to Play It
You should focus on generating Astartes Warriors when you have payoffs for creatures entering the battlefield or when you need a wide board to overwhelm opponents. They are excellent for fueling 'Tap X untapped creatures' abilities or serving as repeatable blockers thanks to vigilance. If you have lost life during your turn, wait until your end step to maximize the count of menace-wielding tokens via Mortarion, Daemon Primarch.
Interaction examples
When Thunderhawk Gunship enters the battlefield, its ability triggers to create two 2/2 white Astartes Warrior tokens. Because one or more tokens entered the battlefield under your control, Marneus Calgar's 'Master Tactician' ability triggers. You will resolve the token creation first, then draw one card.
If you attack with a creature equipped with Inquisitorial Rosette and a Thunderhawk Gunship, multiple triggers go on the stack. The Rosette creates a 2/2 Astartes Warrior token that is already attacking. Then, the Gunship's attack trigger resolves, giving all attacking creatures (including the newly created token) flying until end of turn. The Rosette also grants all attacking creatures menace, making your board extremely difficult to block.
You can tap Belisarius Cawl and two artifacts to create a 2/2 white Astartes Warrior token. This token entering the battlefield triggers Marneus Calgar, letting you draw a card. You can then immediately tap that new Astartes Warrior as part of the cost for Belisarius Cawl's 'Master of Machines' ability to look at the top card of your library.
If your board is empty during your turn, you can pay {X}{2}{W} and exile Defenders of Humanity from your graveyard or the battlefield. This creates X 2/2 white Astartes Warrior tokens with vigilance, instantly rebuilding your presence and providing attackers that will stay untapped to block on your opponent's turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Astartes Warrior
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Interactions with other cards
These cards' text mentions Astartes Warrior.
Flying When this Vehicle enters, create two 2/2 white Astartes Warrior creature tokens with vigilance. Whenever this Vehicle attacks, attacking creatures you control gain flying until end of turn. Crew 2
Double strike Master Tactician — Whenever one or more tokens you control enter, draw a card. Chapter Master — {6}: Create two 2/2 white Astartes Warrior creature tokens with vigilance.
Inquisition Agents — Whenever equipped creature attacks, create a 2/2 white Astartes Warrior creature token with vigilance that's attacking. Then attacking creatures gain menace until end of turn. Equip {3} ({3}: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.) I — Create a 2/2 white Astartes Warrior creature token with vigilance for each opponent you have. II — Each opponent sacrifices a creature of their choice. III — Draw two cards for each opponent who controls fewer creatures than you.
When this enchantment enters, create X 2/2 white Astartes Warrior creature tokens with vigilance. {X}{2}{W}, Exile this enchantment: Create X 2/2 white Astartes Warrior creature tokens with vigilance. Activate only if you control no creatures and only during your turn.
Flying Primarch of the Death Guard — At the beginning of your end step, you may pay {X}. If you do, create X 2/2 black Astartes Warrior creature tokens with menace. X can't be greater than the amount of life you lost this turn.
Ultima Founding — {T}, Tap two untapped artifacts you control: Create a 2/2 white Astartes Warrior creature token with vigilance. Master of Machines — {T}, Tap X untapped creatures you control: Look at the top X cards of your library. You may reveal an artifact card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Related cards and tokens
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Meta decks with Astartes Warrior
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.