Soltari Trooper

The Soltari Trooper was originally released in 1997 as part of the Tempest expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. It was designed as a white creature featuring the shadow mechanic, a thematic element representing the Soltari people who exist in a dimension parallel to the plane of Rath. The card's artwork, created by artist Matt Cavotta, depicts the ethereal, phase-shifted nature of these warriors as they navigate their conflict against the Phyrexians.

As a member of the Soltari faction, this card reflects the lore-heavy design approach of the Tempest block, which focused on interplanar travel and guerrilla warfare. While the Soltari Trooper served as a common utility creature during its initial run, its inclusion in 'The List'—a curated selection of cards from throughout Magic's history inserted into modern booster packs—allows newer players to engage with older mechanical identities and art styles. It remains a representative example of the aesthetic and mechanical design choices that defined the late 1990s era of the game.