Pikemen (Original Art)

Pikemen is a two-mana white 1/1 Human Soldier creature with banding and first strike. It was printed in The Dark (1994), when design often featured older mechanics like banding, which later became largely unused because of complexity and balancing issues. The inclusion of first strike and banding on a 1/1 creature made it an interesting niche design: a cheap soldier with a defensive/offensive edge (first strike) and a cooperative mechanic (banding) that invited strategic combat formation. Because banding is a relatively complicated mechanic compared to modern creature design, cards like Pikemen are often valued by players who like old school mechanics and flavor rather than by competitive power. The image evokes classic pike-armed infantry: disciplined foot soldiers who stand their ground and strike first. The “pikes hidden in the grass” text references tactical infantry ambush or disciplined formation. It rarely appears in Commander (EDH), especially in human/soldier themed or vintage-themed decks. Pikemen is not on the Reserved List.