Wind Strider MTG Card


Wind Strider excels by offering card selection and subtleties in resource management. Its instant speed play and flash ability provide a powerful strategic edge. Despite strengths, it comes with challenges like mana specificity and card discard.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Wizard
Abilities Flying, Flash
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flash Flying

"Currents are currents, whether in sea or sky."


Cards like Wind Strider

The Wind Strider stands out in the MTG multiverse with its mix of evasive capabilities and instant speed interaction. Similar to the renowned Spectral Sailor, both cards offer flying abilities, ensuring they can potentially glide over ground-based defense lines. Yet, Wind Strider takes the lead with flash, allowing you to surprise your opponents by playing it at any time you could cast an instant, providing a tactical edge over the Sailor that lacks this versatile feature.

When it comes to other comparable creatures, Murk Strider might come to mind. Although it shares the four-mana cost with Wind Strider, it hinges upon the ingest mechanic, rewarding you for exiling a card from an opponent’s library. Wind Strider, alternatively, delivers immediate board presence without such prerequisites, making it a reliable option regardless of the game state. Finally, considering Mist Raven, it also provides disruption by bouncing an opponent’s creature upon entering the battlefield. While both cards can significantly impact the game, Wind Strider’s flash ability arguably offers superior strategic flexibility during gameplay.

Wind Strider thus solidifies its position in the MTG ecosystem as a creature that blends speed with evasion, an advantage that should not be underestimated in various gameplay scenarios.

Spectral Sailor - MTG Card versions
Murk Strider - MTG Card versions
Mist Raven - MTG Card versions
Spectral Sailor - MTG Card versions
Murk Strider - MTG Card versions
Mist Raven - MTG Card versions

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Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Psionic Entity - MTG Card versions
Taniwha - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Wu Admiral - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Dreamtail Heron - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Richard Garfield, Ph.D. - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Tidewater Minion - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wind Strider shines in card advantage by allowing you to sift through the top cards of your deck, thereby increasing your chances of finding key spells or creatures when it matters most.

Resource Acceleration: With its ability to untap lands, Wind Strider provides subtle yet effective resource acceleration, enabling you to make more plays per turn and keep pressure on your opponent.

Instant Speed: The ability to flash in Wind Strider at instant speed is an enormous tactical advantage, allowing for surprise blocks or end-of-turn plays that can significantly shift the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To harness Wind Strider’s abilities, players may face the setback of having to discard cards. This can lead to a strategic disadvantage, especially in moments when card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Wind Strider demands a particular blend of mana to cast, which may not seamlessly integrate into all deck types. This can be challenging for players who use a diverse color palette in their deck construction.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the mana investment required for Wind Strider, it’s essential to note that there may be alternative cards with lower mana costs offering similar or greater benefits, potentially overshadowing Wind Strider’s utility in a competitive setting.


Reasons to Include Wind Strider in Your Collection

Versatility: Wind Strider is a flexible option for decks looking to gain an upper hand in the late game. Its flash ability allows you to surprise opponents by playing it at the end of their turn, which is ideal for tempo and control strategies.

Combo Potential: As a Merfolk with flying, Wind Strider synergizes well with other Merfolk or flying-based strategies. It can enhance tribal decks or work with cards that care about creatures with flying, setting up opportunities for powerful combinations.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where evasion is key, Wind Strider holds its ground by being able to swing in the air. Its relevance grows in environments where controlling the board state is crucial, as the instant speed summoning can be a game-changer during a crucial moment.


How to Beat Wind Strider

Wind Strider stands out as a versatile card, often used for its flash ability that allows a player to cast it at times that can catch an opponent off guard. Boasting the potential to swing a game with its immediate board presence and evasive flying trait, the card requires a strategic approach to outmaneuver.

To effectively counter it, consider utilizing instant-speed removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their flying ability, since waiting until your turn might be too late. Cards like Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt provide an efficient and cost-effective solution to neutralize the threat.

Alternatively, planning ahead with counterspells ready can ensure that Wind Strider never even touches the battlefield. Deterrents such as Essence Scatter or Negate are tailored for stopping such creature spells in their tracks, keeping the board clear for your strategic plays.

Acknowledging its potential to be a turning point, players should aim to keep mana open for these responses or establish an unassailable board position early on. By anticipating and preparing for its arrival, the impact of Wind Strider can be significantly diminished.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wind Strider MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Mystery Booster, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Wind Strider and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wind Strider Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29IxalanXLN 882015NormalBlackMagali Villeneuve
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5522015NormalBlackMagali Villeneuve
32020-09-26The ListPLST XLN-882015NormalBlackMagali Villeneuve

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wind Strider has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.