Borderland Ranger MTG Card
2009-07-17 - Number 169
2010-11-08 - Number A62
2012-05-04 - Number 169
2017-11-24 - Number 31
2019-11-07 - Number 1146
2020-09-26 - Number E02-31
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Scout Ranger |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Borderland Ranger enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.
"Only fools and bandits use roads."
Cards like Borderland Ranger
In the realm of mana fixing and creature-based utility, Borderland Ranger offers a unique service for deck builders. This forest-walking ally stands parallel to cards like Sylvan Ranger, which also allows players to search their library for a basic land card and put it into their hand upon entry to the battlefield. Nonetheless, Borderland Ranger distinguishes itself with a solid 2/2 body opposed to Sylvan Ranger’s more fragile 1/1.
Another peer is Civic Wayfinder, who not only fetches a basic land but comes in a more impactful 2/2 form, similar to Borderland Ranger. Both exemplify how creature-based land tutoring can seamlessly blend with battlefield presence. On the more powerful end, there’s Wood Elves – although entering the battlefield with lesser power, it ups the ante by bringing the land into play untapped, offering an immediate tempo boost which Borderland Ranger doesn’t provide.
Ultimately, while comparing these utility creatures, Borderland Ranger reliably holds its ground. It finds its strength in a blend of decent power and the fundamental utility of land tutoring, an essential component for consistency in many decks within Magic the Gathering.
Cards similar to Borderland Ranger by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Borderland Ranger, while not directly allowing you to draw a card, provides a similar benefit. When this creature enters the battlefield, you have the opportunity to search your library for a basic land card, thus thinning your deck and increasing the chances of drawing non-land cards in subsequent turns. This subtle form of card advantage can be quite impactful, especially in longer matches.
Resource Acceleration: Though Borderland Ranger does not produce additional mana upon arrival, it ensures land drops which is crucial for resource acceleration. By fetching a basic land from your deck, it guarantees that you’ll make your land drops consistently, contributing to a smoother mana curve and enabling you to cast more powerful spells in a timely manner.
Instant Speed: While Borderland Ranger itself does not operate at instant speed, it adds value in decks that have flash or other instant-speed interactions. Fetching a land to your hand can set you up for future turns, wherein you can leave mana open for instant-speed responses, knowing you can play the fetched land on your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Borderland Ranger doesn’t necessarily require a discard, but it does mandate that you have a spot open in your hand for the basic land you search for. In situations where your hand is full, you’ll be forced to discard, which could potentially result in an unintended strategic setback if you’re holding valuable cards.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature calls for one green mana in its cost, potentially restricting it to green-centric or multicolored decks. Players running decks without green mana might find it difficult to integrate the Borderland Ranger into their strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one green, Borderland Ranger’s ability to fetch a land to your hand might seem less appealing when compared to other, lower cost mana-fixing options. In fast-paced games, spending three mana on a 2/2 creature that doesn’t impact the battlefield right away might put you at a tempo disadvantage.
Reasons to Include Borderland Ranger in Your Collection
Versatility: Borderland Ranger is a dependable choice for a variety of decks, especially those in need of mana fixing. Its ability to search for a basic land card upon entering the battlefield makes it a useful tool for ensuring consistent land drops.
Combo Potential: Though not flashy, this card synergizes well with effects that trigger when a creature enters the battlefield or when land cards are fetched from the library, making it a subtle but effective piece in several combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where land drops are crucial for maintaining tempo, Borderland Ranger holds its own. As decks focus on efficient mana usage, having a reliable creature that also smoothens your mana curve is always beneficial.
How to beat
Borderland Ranger brings a straightforward utility to the battlefield in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This creature card allows players to search their library for a basic land card and put it into their hand when it enters the battlefield, effectively thinning the deck and ensuring land drops. When facing Borderland Ranger, the key is recognizing its role in ensuring the opponent’s mana stability.
To counter this, targeted removals that work efficiently before the Ranger’s ability can be activated are ideal. Cards that deny creature-based strategies or those that limit the ability to search libraries provide an edge. Additionally, maximizing the use of instant-speed interactions can give players the upper hand, allowing them to respond to the Ranger’s summoning and upset the opponent’s mana curve. Since Borderland Ranger excels in ramping up a player’s mana base, disrupting this with land destruction strategies or countering the creature spell before it lands can be pivotal. It’s about timing, precision, and choosing the right battlefield response to this reliable MTG staple.
Overall, while the Borderland Ranger may seem innocuous at first, seasoned players know that managing its impact can be central to taking control of a game and steering towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Borderland Ranger MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Magic Online Theme Decks, 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 Borderland Ranger 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Borderland Ranger Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 169 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 2 | 2010-11-08 | Magic Online Theme Decks | TD0 | A62 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | 2012-05-04 | Avacyn Restored | AVR | 169 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 4 | 2017-11-24 | Explorers of Ixalan | E02 | 31 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 5 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | E02-31 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Borderland Ranger has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |