Legion Vanguard (CMM)

Legion Vanguard
Casting Cost: {1}{B}
Card Type: Creature - Vampire Soldier
Power/Toughness: 2/2

Card Text:
{1}, Sacrifice another creature: Legion Vanguard explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)

Flavour Text:
"It takes guts to be a trailblazer."

Artist: John Stanko

Legion Vanguard presents a dynamic interplay between the world of Vampires, which are known for their hunger for power, and the concept of exploration from the Ixalan storyline of Magic: The Gathering.

Mechanically, the card promotes strategy and risk, allowing players to sacrifice other creatures to empower the Legion Vanguard and manipulate their deck. The explore mechanic, which is native to the Ixalan block, provides deck manipulation, card advantage, and the potential for growth in power for the Vanguard.

Thematically, the act of sacrificing another creature to allow the Legion Vanguard to explore can be seen as a reflection of a cutthroat society or hierarchy, where the strong thrive at the expense of the weak. It’s a fitting ability for a Vampire, especially one from a soldier caste that might see weaker creatures as expendable in the pursuit of power and knowledge.

The flavour text, "It takes guts to be a trailblazer," perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the card. It might be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, as a comment on the Vanguard's bravery and willingness to push boundaries (trailblazing). Secondly, and perhaps more darkly, it could be a nod to the literal "guts" or sacrifices (the creatures being sacrificed) needed for the Vanguard to gain its advantages.

In imagining the art by John Stanko, one could envision a proud or ruthless-looking vampire soldier at the forefront, maybe standing on a cliff or elevated ground, scanning the horizon, representing the future or the unknown that he's exploring. Behind or below him might be other, perhaps more unfortunate creatures, symbolizing the sacrifices he has made (or ordered others to make) for his advancement.

Overall, Legion Vanguard embodies the cold calculus of power that often characterizes black mana in Magic: The Gathering, as well as the adventurous and perilous spirit of exploration from the Ixalan block.