Avalanche Riders MTG Card
1999-02-15 - Number 74
1999-08-04 - Number mlp74
2000-08-02 - Number jk74
2006-10-06 - Number 55
2019-11-07 - Number 844
1995-01-02 - Number 55
2002-06-24 - Number 36134
2004-01-01 - Number 9
2020-09-26 - Number ULG-74
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Nomad |
| Abilities | Echo,Haste |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Echo (During your next upkeep after this permanent comes under your control, pay its casting cost or sacrifice it.) Avalanche Riders is unaffected by summoning sickness. When Avalanche Riders comes into play, destroy target land.
Cards like Avalanche Riders
Avalanche Riders is a unique card with its land destruction ability and echo cost in Magic: The Gathering. It closely resembles other cards such as Fulminator Mage, which can also be sacrificed to destroy target land. However, Fulminator Mage provides flexibility, allowing its controller to decide when to deploy this effect without the downside of paying its cost again like Avalanche Riders’ echo cost.
Another card with a similar impact is Acidic Slime. This creature also targets lands but brings additional value by being able to destroy artifacts, enchantments, and even creatures with flying thanks to its deathtouch ability, although at a higher mana cost. Stone Rain and Molten Rain are sorceries that destroy lands at a lower cost but lack the reusability and board presence provided by a creature like Avalanche Riders.
Assessing the tactical advantages, Avalanche Riders offers the ability to affect the battlefield immediately with haste and can be a repeating threat with its echo feature. Despite the mana investment, it holds its own in the competitive field of red land destruction cards in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Avalanche Riders by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Avalanche Riders. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Boros Midrange | Modern | Blink | CCG SuperQualifier 5K OPEN | Modern |
| 4c Blink | Modern | Blink | Modern Challenge 96 2023-12-31 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Avalanche Riders card offers a tactical edge by potentially stripping your opponent of a crucial land, which could set them back and indirectly contribute to your card advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Although Avalanche Riders don’t directly accelerate resources, they slow the opponent’s development by destroying a land. This means your resources go further in comparison and can tip the game in your favor.
Instant Speed: Despite being a creature card rather than an instant, the Riders have echo, giving you a repeatable effect if you can pay the cost next turn. This pseudo ‘instant speed’ impact in terms of repeated land destruction can be disruptive and advantageous.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Avalanche Riders can be a powerful addition to many decks, it’s crucial to consider the echo cost, which often requires a substantial additional resource the following turn. Failure to pay this cost results in sacrificing the Riders, which can set you back, particularly if your hand is already stretched thin.
Specific Mana Cost: The necessity of having both red and generic mana to cast Avalanche Riders might restrict its playability outside of mono-red or red-focused decks. This can be a hindrance for players looking to integrate the Riders into more diverse mana bases or multicolored strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though the Riders’ ability to destroy a target land is undeniably useful for disrupting opponents, their four mana cost with an additional echo requirement could be considered costly compared to other land disruption options. Players must evaluate whether the immediate impact on the board justifies the overall investment.
Reasons to Include Avalanche Riders in Your Collection
Versatility: Avalanche Riders is not only effective in land destruction-focused decks but also finds a place in any build that aims to disrupt opponent strategies. With its echo cost, it has the flexibility to stick around for a beatdown or leave after a single use, depending on your game plan.
Combo Potential: This card holds the potential to catalyze various destructive combos. Being able to remove a pivotal land from the opponent’s board can lead to significant tempo gains and pave the way for numerous winning conditions by essentially countering strategies heavily reliant on specific lands.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where opponents rely on non-basic lands or complex mana bases, the utility of Avalanche Riders shines. It serves as a powerful meta call against decks that might crumble without their key land pieces. Keeping the playing field leveled, it reinforces the importance of adaptability in your MTG toolkit.
How to beat Avalanche Riders
Avalanche Riders holds a disruptive presence in Magic: The Gathering, offering players land destruction combined with a hasty attack. The card is known for its landfall disruption ability, which can significantly hinder an opponent’s mana base, especially in the early game phases. Overcoming this obstacle requires a multifaceted approach, balancing resource management with timely removal.
To mitigate the impact of Avalanche Riders, maintaining a diverse mana base is crucial. Including cards that generate more than one type of mana or having lands that aren’t susceptible to sorcery-speed destruction can be potent against land destruction strategies. Another effective tactic is to remove Avalanche Riders before the land destruction ability resolves. This can be achieved through instant-speed removal spells, thus preserving your crucial mana-generating lands and maintaining the tempo of your game.
In essence, while Avalanche Riders can pose a formidable threat by disrupting your land resources, careful deck building and swift removal play are key strategies in preserving your mana base and outpacing this disruption card. By keeping these strategies in mind, you can tilt the scales back in your favor and maintain control over the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Avalanche Riders MTG card by a specific set like Media Inserts and Urza's Legacy, 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 Avalanche Riders 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 Avalanche Riders Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media Inserts | PMEI | 55 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lake Hurwitz | ||
| 2 | 1999-02-15 | Urza's Legacy | ULG | 74 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 3 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | mlp74 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 4 | 2000-08-02 | World Championship Decks 2000 | WC00 | jk74 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 5 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36134 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | ||
| 6 | Friday Night Magic 2004 | F04 | 9 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | ||
| 7 | 2006-10-06 | Time Spiral Timeshifted | TSB | 55 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 8 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 844 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 9 | The List | PLST | ULG-74 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Avalanche Riders has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |