Gryff Rider MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 15
2022-01-28 - Number 282
2021-11-19 - Number 10
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Flying,Training |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying Training (Whenever this creature attacks with another creature with greater power, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
"Keep your heels down and bend at the hips as your mount takes flight. She'll do the rest." —Anders, cathar drillmaster
Cards like Gryff Rider
Gryff Rider adds a unique twist to the category of creature spells with flying in Magic: The Gathering. It could be likened to other creatures such as Leonin Skyhunter, which also boasts of flying and presents itself as a sturdy two-cost creature. But, Gryff Rider steps up the gameplay with vigilance, allowing it to be a constant threat without the drawback of tapping when attacking.
Another creature to consider in this comparison is Healer’s Hawk. It shares the flying ability and even steps it up with lifelink, giving you precious life points with each attack. Despite its perks, Healer’s Hawk falls short with only 1/1 in stats, whereas Gryff Rider offers a more formidable presence on the battlefield at 2/2. Then we have Sunspire Griffin, a creature similar in its 2/3 stat line and flying. While Sunspire Griffin might seem like a stronger alternative, it is also more mana-intensive, making Gryff Rider a more agile option early on in the game.
In summary, Gryff Rider holds a favorable position among its peers with flying in MTG due to its balanced cost, vigilance, and solid stats, making it a worthwhile consideration for decks seeking aerial dominance and consistent board presence.
Cards similar to Gryff Rider by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gryff Rider boasts an ability that could potentially allow you to repeatedly venture into the dungeon, leading to incremental advantages over the course of a match. This type of repeatable effect can slowly but surely tip the scales in your favor by offering you additional value through dungeon-related perks.
Resource Acceleration: While Gryff Rider itself does not directly accelerate your resources, the dungeons you complete thanks to its venture mechanism can. Whether it’s scrying, drawing a card, or even creating a Treasure token, the dungeons offer multiple paths to indirectly boost your resources in the long run.
Instant Speed: The ability to flash in creatures can be a game-changer and Gryff Rider, with the right setup, can benefit from such dynamics. Although Gryff Rider doesn’t have flash inherently, within the right deck, giving it instant speed through various enabler cards could allow for surprising defensive maneuvers or for launching unexpected attacks during your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gryff Rider necessitates discarding a card to activate its abilities. This condition can be a significant setback when hand size is important for maintaining strategic advantage on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires white mana in its casting cost, which might not seamlessly fit into multicolored or non-white decks, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value, other cards may offer more impact or value for the same or lower cost. This can affect deck efficiency, especially in fast-paced games where mana economy is crucial.
Reasons to Include Gryff Rider in Your Collection
Versatility: Gryff Rider is a flexible addition to decks, fitting seamlessly into strategies that appreciate creatures with flying. This card can serve both offensive and defensive roles within a variety of deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: Given its flying ability, Gryff Rider pairs well with cards that capitalize on creatures with flying or buff aerial attackers, opening opportunities for powerful synergies within a deck’s strategy.
Meta-Relevance: If flying creatures are prevalent in the current metagame, including Gryff Rider becomes even more compelling. Its capability to consistently apply pressure in the air can be a decisive factor in many matchups.
How to beat
Gryff Rider is an intriguing creature card that brings versatility to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. With its flying ability, it often soars over ground defenses, and paired with the right synergies, such as human or knight tribal buffs, this card can become a substantial threat. Nonetheless, like all cards, it has its vulnerabilities.
To effectively counter Gryff Rider, removal spells are your best option. Consider using direct removal like Doom Blade or Murder to dispatch the Gryff Rider before its potential becomes a reality on the battlefield. Targeted spells are invaluable here since they can bypass the flying ability, removing the creature regardless of its position. Another strategy is to include creatures with reach in your deck, as they can block flying creatures like Gryff Rider. Cards such as Giant Spider not only serve as a defense against flyers but can also act as deterrents, discouraging your opponent from attacking.
In summary, while Gryff Rider can enhance your opponent’s aggressive strategies, its impact can be mitigated. With the right removal spells or defensive creatures featuring reach, you can neutralize Gryff Rider, maintaining control of the aerial zone of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gryff Rider // Gryff Rider MTG card by a specific set like Crimson Vow Art Series and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 Gryff Rider // Gryff 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
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Printings
The Gryff Rider // Gryff Rider Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Yongjae Choi.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crimson Vow Art Series | AVOW | 10 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Yongjae Choi | ||
| 2 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 15 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 3 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 282 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gryff Rider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gryff Rider card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-11-19 | A creature's training ability triggers only when both that creature and a creature with greater power are declared as attackers. Increasing a creature's power after attackers are declared won't cause a training ability to trigger. |
| 2021-11-19 | Once a creature's training ability has triggered, destroying the other attacking creature or reducing its power won't stop the creature with training from getting a +1/+1 counter. |