Easterling Vanguard
Creature — Human Warrior
When this creature dies, amass Orcs 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It's also an Orc. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.)
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth
- Price
- $0.14
- EDHREC rank
- #13656
Easterling Vanguard enters as a 2/2 with vigilance and immediately layers a +1/+1 counter on every creature that enters after it, turning any token flood or creature-heavy sequence into a board of threats instead of chump blockers. Three mana for that payoff is a legitimate rate in Commander, and the effect scales with every subsequent creature drop.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Easterling Vanguard belongs in any deck that floods the board with creatures — token strategies, aristocrats shells running wide before sacrificing, and creature-ETB chains all get real mileage from a passive counter layer that requires zero additional investment. In Pauper, a three-mana 2/2 with vigilance that pumps future creatures is quietly above rate in go-wide commons lists where every point of stats matters. Legacy, Vintage, and Modern all have faster, more powerful options at the same slot, so Easterling Vanguard is unlikely to see competitive play in those formats. Oathbreaker mirrors Commander's dynamic — if your planeswalker gameplan involves creature-based pressure, it fits the same role cleanly.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.14 bulk tier
At $0.14, Easterling Vanguard is deep bulk — pick up as many copies as you need without a second thought. Bulk commons and uncommons at this price point rarely move unless a specific format breakout happens, so don't hold extras expecting appreciation.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.