Cadet 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.
Complete guide
The Cadet is a versatile colorless token that serves as the backbone of many specialized decks. As a 2/2 Wizard Soldier, it benefits from synergies involving both tribal subtypes and creates a board presence out of thin air through various spells and abilities. While it lacks its own text, the way you generate and enhance these tokens is key to mastering their utility.
What it does
A Cadet is a 2/2 colorless token creature. It has no mana cost and two creature types: Wizard and Soldier. Because it is colorless, it is not affected by cards that target specific colors, and because it is a token, it does not exist as a card in your deck. It primarily functions as a reliable attacker or blocker that rewards you for playing Wizard or Soldier synergies.
How it resolves step by step
When a spell or ability like Command the Stage resolves, the token is placed directly onto the battlefield. First, check if any replacement effects modify how the token enters. Next, the token enters the battlefield, triggering any 'whenever a creature enters' abilities. If the spell has additional instructions, such as 'Surveil 1' from Peer Review, those instructions are followed immediately after the token is created while the spell is still resolving.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake involves the 'Empower Jace' mechanic found on Hexhaven Battalion. Players often forget that if they don't already control a Jace planeswalker token, they must create one before adding loyalty counters. Another error is neglecting the 'other Wizard' clause on Command the Stage; the Cadet token created by the spell does not get a +1/+1 counter from its own effect, only other Wizard tokens you already controlled.
When to play it
Cadets are best utilized in decks that can generate them repeatedly. For example, Ajani Unrelenting creates a Cadet every single time you activate a loyalty ability, allowing you to build an army while ticking up your planeswalker. Use them as fuel for spells that count your creatures, or as expendable blockers to protect your life total while you set up more powerful plays.
Interaction examples
If you control Ajani Unrelenting and activate his +1 loyalty ability, his triggered ability goes on the stack first. You create a 2/2 Cadet token. Then, Ajani's loyalty ability resolves, giving that new Cadet +1/+0 and haste. If you then cast Command the Stage, you create a second Cadet; this new Cadet will not get a counter, but the first Cadet (the Wizard Soldier) will receive a +1/+1 counter because it is an 'other Wizard token'.
Germinate RecruitsDuring your turn, if you gain 4 life through an outside source and then cast Germinate Recruits, the spell checks the total life gained that turn. Upon resolution, you will create four 2/2 Cadet tokens. This is an effective way to convert life-gain resources into immediate board presence.
If you cast the Peer Review half of Semester Foreseer, you create a Cadet and then Surveil 1. If you also control Prudent Fateseer // Peer Review (in its creature form), the act of surveilling triggers the Dwarf Wizard's ability, giving all your creatures—including the Cadet you just made—+1/+0 until the end of the turn.
You cast Stingerquill Charm, choosing the third mode to create a Cadet with haste. With Ingris Stingerquill on the battlefield, you declare an attack with that Cadet. Ingris's ability triggers, dealing 1 damage to each opponent. This allows a freshly created token to contribute noncombat damage immediately upon entering.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Cadet
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 Cadet.
Whenever you activate a loyalty ability, create a 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet. +1: Creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain haste until end of turn. −2: Discard your hand, then draw a card for each creature you control. −3: Ajani deals 4 damage to each creature except for tokens you control.
Flying Whenever a creature you control attacks, that creature deals 1 damage to each opponent. {4}: Create a 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet. Then creatures you control gain haste until end of turn.
When Way of the Healer enters, empower Jace 5. (Put five loyalty counters on a Jace token you control. If you don't control one, first create a blue Jace planeswalker token with "[−1]: Surveil 1" and "[−3]: Draw a card.") Planeswalkers you control have "[−2]: Create a 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet. Surveil 1."
Create X 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature tokens named Cadet, where X is the amount of life you gained this turn.
Choose one — • Stingerquill Charm deals 3 damage to any target. • Target creature gains first strike and deathtouch until end of turn. • Create a 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet. It gains haste until end of turn.
Create a 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet, then put a +1/+1 counter on each other Wizard token you control. At the beginning of each upkeep, if an opponent was dealt noncombat damage last turn, return this card from your graveyard to your hand.
Flying This creature enters prepared. (While it's prepared, you may cast a copy of its spell. Doing so unprepares it.) Create a 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet. Surveil 1.
This creature enters prepared. Whenever you scry or surveil, creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn. This ability triggers only once each turn. Create a 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet. Surveil 1.
Trample When this creature enters, choose two — • This creature deals 4 damage to target creature or planeswalker. • Create a 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet. • Draw a card.
Create three 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature tokens named Cadet. Empower Jace 2. (Put two loyalty counters on a Jace token you control. If you don't control one, first create a blue Jace planeswalker token with "[−1]: Surveil 1" and "[−3]: Draw a card.") Basic landcycling {2} ({2}, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.)
This creature enters prepared. (While it's prepared, you may cast a copy of its spell. Doing so unprepares it.) When this creature enters, surveil 1. Create a 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet. Surveil 1.
Create two 2/2 colorless Wizard Soldier creature tokens named Cadet. If this spell was cast from a graveyard, put a +1/+1 counter on each of them for every three cards in your graveyard. Flashback {6}{U}{B} (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
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Meta decks with Cadet
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.