Lavastep Raider MTG Card

Lavastep Raider - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
2015-10-02 - Number 147

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 568

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Warrior
Power	1
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Lavastep Raider’s instant speed ability makes it a flexible threat during combat phases.
Its specific mana requirements limit it to red-centric decks, affecting its adaptability.
Despite mana-intensive abilities, it can be a resilient addition to aggressive decks.

Text of card

: Lavastep Raider gets +2/+0 until end of turn.

Goblins were first to see the potential of hedrons in the fight against the Eldrazi, for the magical stones came ready-made with pointy bits.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Lavastep Raider may not directly allow you to draw additional cards, its aggressive nature can put pressure on your opponent early in the game, forcing them to deal with it and potentially leading to a card advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Lavastep Raider demands attention as soon as it enters the battlefield. Its ability to pump itself for just two mana makes it a flexible threat. This economic use of resources can accelerate your game plan, allowing you to allocate mana elsewhere efficiently.

Instant Speed: With the capacity to boost its power at instant speed, Lavastep Raider can be a deceptive blocker or an unexpected aggressor during combat. This versatility can disrupt your opponent’s strategy, making Lavastep Raider a sneaky yet impactful card in your arsenal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside with The Lavastep Raider is that activating its power-boosting ability necessitates discarding a card. This can put players in a difficult spot when they are short on cards, making it less appealing during tight gameplay where card advantage counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires red mana for both casting and activating its abilities, potentially restricting its use strictly to red-aligned or multicolored decks that can accommodate the red mana requirement, thus decreasing its overall versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Lavastep Raider’s ability cost seems steep, especially when making comparisons to other creatures on the battlefield. The mana invested into boosting Lavastep Raider may not always translate into a favorable outcome, leading players to opt for other low-cost creatures that offer more value for their mana expenditure without additional costs.

Reasons to Include Lavastep Raider in Your Collection

Versatility: Though unassuming, Lavastep Raider can be a flexible addition to any red-based aggressive deck. Its ability to pump its power ensures it remains relevant at all stages of the game, making it a resilient threat that opponents can’t ignore.

Combo Potential: With enough mana, Lavastep Raider can repeatedly increase its power for substantial damage, working well with strategies that untap creatures or generate extra mana, giving it an unexpectedly strong presence on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where creature combat is prevalent and games are fast-paced, Lavastep Raider can apply early pressure and force opponents to respond, aligning it with aggressive metagame strategies that favor quick, decisive plays.

How to beat

Lavastep Raider is a modest yet potentially pesky creature in Magic: The Gathering, capable of boosting its power for limited engagements. Nestled in the red mana realm, it resembles other low-cost creatures like Goblin Guide or Monastery Swiftspear, which offer immediate impact without the need for pumping mana. However, Lavastep Raider requires additional mana investment to become a significant threat, and therein lies its vulnerability.

Confronting the Raider effectively demands a strategic approach. Early removal spells such as Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt can swiftly dispatch the Raider before it manages to accumulate the needed mana to grow its power. Similarly, creatures with deathtouch like Typhoid Rats present a defensive barrier too costly for a Lavastep Raider to breach without risking itself. In terms of countering its enhancement ability, mana denial strategies or cards that restrict activated abilities, like Damping Matrix, can impede its growth and render it a non-issue.

It’s clear that while Lavastep Raider has the potential to be a game influencer, it falls short when matched against quicker, more autonomous creatures. Efficient removal and strategic play ensure it rarely becomes more than a minor nuisance on the battlefield.

Cards like Lavastep Raider

Lavastep Raider presents an intriguing creature option for players looking to enhance their aggressive strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarity to Raging Goblin, a classic choice known for its haste ability, allowing it to swing for damage immediately. However, Lavastep Raider offers a different tactical advantage with its mana sink ability; for a small investment of mana, this creature can get a significant boost in power, albeit temporarily.

Comparing it to another one-drop, Goblin Banneret from the Guilds of Ravnica set, we see a shared concept of mana investment for a power increase. Goblin Banneret provides mentor and a boost without tapping but requires a larger initial mana investment in its mentoring abilities. On the other hand, Lavastep Raider’s flexibility allows for an increase in power at instant speed, making it a threat that can be activated in response to the opponent’s actions.

In essence, Lavastep Raider holds its position as a versatile creature in MTG that can surprise opponents with sudden power spikes. While it may lack the immediate impact of haste or the potential for card advantage, its utility in combat and mana-efficient design make it a card worthy of consideration for aggressive red decks.

Goblin Banneret - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Cards similar to Lavastep Raider by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions

Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)

Gorilla Shaman - Coldsnap Theme Decks (CST)

Orcish Conscripts - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)

Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)

Goblin Guide - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Skirk Prospector - Vintage Masters (VMA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lavastep Raider MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Lavastep Raider and other MTG cards: