Arcades, the Strategist

Legendary Creature — Elder Dragon

Set

The List (plst)

Rarity

Mythic

Mana Cost

Price · Cardmarket trend

€2.06

Artist

Even Amundsen

Power / Toughness

3 / 5

Cardmarket trend via Scryfall, as of 10/28/2026. May differ from the actual price.

Oracle Text

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.

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Legality

Rules for this card

Flying Rule 702.9 Glossary

A keyword ability that restricts how a creature may be blocked. See rule 702.9, “Flying.”
Vigilance Rule 702.20 Glossary

A keyword ability that lets a creature attack without tapping. See rule 702.20, “Vigilance.”

Rulings (2)

March 19, 2021 Wizards of the Coast
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.
March 19, 2021 Wizards of the Coast
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.

Other Printings

Time Spiral Remastered (tsr) €2.99 Core Set 2019 (m19) €2.96 Core Set 2019 Promos (pm19)