Allosaurus Rider MTG Card
2006-07-21 - Number 101★
2006-07-21 - Number 101
2007-11-16 - Number 2
2014-12-05 - Number 2
2020-03-08 - Number 61
2002-06-24 - Number 32033
2020-09-26 - Number CSP-101
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elf Warrior |
| Power | 1+* |
| Toughness | 1+* |
Text of card
You may exile two green cards from your hand rather than pay this spell's mana cost. Allosaurus Rider's power and toughness are each equal to 1 plus the number of lands you control.
Cards like Allosaurus Rider
Allosaurus Rider stands out among creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. This card shares some similarities with cards like Elvish Piper in that both allow you to bring creatures onto the battlefield without paying their mana costs. However, Allosaurus Rider’s unique ability allows it to be played as early as turn one when you exile two green cards from your hand, bypassing its original high casting cost.
Another card that echoes this mechanic is Champion of Rhonas, which also dodges regular casting costs by exerting and putting a creature card directly onto the battlefield. Nevertheless, Allosaurus Rider is still a faster alternative since Champion of Rhonas requires a turn to exert and another turn to attack. Ghalta, Primal Hunger is an additional comparison; its cost is reduced by the total power of creatures you control, potentially allowing for a cheap, powerful play. Yet, Allosaurus Rider offers an immediate board presence.
When evaluating Allosaurus Rider against its counterparts, its capability to create explosive early plays is matched by few. The flexibility it provides, particularly in combo decks, makes it a formidable card choice in the right Magic: The Gathering deck construction.
Cards similar to Allosaurus Rider by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Allosaurus Rider. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Allosaurus Rider can be a powerful addition to decks looking to capitalize on creature-based synergies. Its ability to potentially be a high-cost card played without the mana investment, through the use of two green cards from your hand, can create significant advantage in board presence without depleting resources from your land base.
Resource Acceleration: The Allosaurus Rider thrives in a deck that specializes in resource acceleration. By potentially playing Allosaurus Rider for free, you are accelerating your board state. Moreover, a deck with abundant green cards can effectively utilize this creature earlier than the mana curve would usually allow, propelling your gameplan forward at an unexpected pace.
Instant Speed: While Allosaurus Rider itself is not an instant, its ability to be cast using the alternative cost of exiling green cards from your hand allows for strategic instant-speed interaction. This enables you to pass the turn with a full grip and only commit to casting the Rider when it’s most advantageous—perhaps at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to an action that would make the Rider’s presence on the battlefield immediately impactful.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the immediate drawbacks when playing Allosaurus Rider is the necessity to discard two green cards from your hand. This condition can be quite taxing on your hand, especially if you’re unable to maintain card advantage or if the cards you’re discarding could be crucial for subsequent turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Allosaurus Rider demands a unique mana cost that can be quite restrictive—it requires you to exile two green cards from your hand rather than paying its mana cost. This can be particularly problematic for multicolor decks that may not have a sufficient number of green cards to utilize consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Should you choose not to use the alternative cost and pay the mana cost outright, Allosaurus Rider costs seven mana, which is significantly high. This cost can impede your early game momentum as you’re unlikely to cast it until the later stages of the game, which can be too late against faster, more aggressive decks.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Allosaurus Rider is a highly adaptable card, seamlessly fitting into decks that capitalize on creature-based strategies or those that utilize the Evolve mechanic. Its ability to be played without a mana cost, under the right conditions, makes it a flexible addition to various formats.
Combo Potential: This card is well-known for its synergy with combos that involve the cheat-casting of powerful spells early in the game. Specifically, its interaction with cards like Neoform or Eldritch Evolution can lead to a quick summoning of formidable creatures, setting up game-ending plays.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-centric or combo decks are prevalent, Allosaurus Rider has the potential to be a game-changer. The ability to potentially deploy a heavy-hitter as early as turn two can apply immediate pressure and shape the battlefield in your favor.
How to beat
Allosaurus Rider is a unique creature card that can be formidable due to its ability to cheat into play early by using its alternative cost of exiling two green cards from your hand. Once on the battlefield, its power and toughness are each equal to 1 plus the number of lands you control, which can rapidly scale as the game progresses.
To effectively counter Allosaurus Rider, consider using removal spells that can bypass its often hefty size. Cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push are excellent choices for quickly dispatching this prehistoric giant. Additionally, counterspells such as Mana Leak can prevent Allosaurus Rider from ever hitting the board, provided you can cast them when your opponent attempts the alternative cost play. Another strategy is to limit the number of lands your opponent controls with cards like Field of Ruin, thereby reducing the Rider’s power and toughness and making it more manageable.
Overall, while Allosaurus Rider can be a potent threat, a well-prepared player with the right removal or counterspells can mitigate the risk it poses, keeping the Jurassic threat at bay and maintaining control over the game’s pace.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Allosaurus Rider MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Coldsnap Promos, 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 Allosaurus Rider and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Allosaurus Rider Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2020-03-08. Illustrated by Daren Bader.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 32033 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | ||
| 2 | 2006-07-21 | Coldsnap Promos | PCSP | 101★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 3 | 2006-07-21 | Coldsnap | CSP | 101 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 4 | 2007-11-16 | Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins | DD1 | 2 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 5 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Elves vs. Goblins | EVG | 2 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 6 | 2020-03-08 | Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils | FMB1 | 61 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 7 | The List | PLST | CSP-101 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Allosaurus Rider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Allosaurus Rider card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-07-15 | If you don’t have two cards of the right color in your hand, you can’t choose to cast the spell using the alternative cost. |
| 2006-07-15 | Paying the alternative cost doesn’t change when you can cast the spell. A creature spell you cast this way, for example, can still only be cast during your main phase while the stack is empty. |
| 2006-07-15 | You can’t exile a card from your hand to pay for itself. At the time you would pay costs, that card is on the stack, not in your hand. |
| 2006-07-15 | You may pay the alternative cost rather than the card’s mana cost. Any additional costs are paid as normal. |