Gustrider Exuberant MTG Card

Provides card advantage and overwhelms opponents by duplicating creatures during combat for a robust board state. Instant speed activation allows players to react flexibly, making strategic plays that can surprise and outmaneuver opponents. Requires careful hand management due to its discard requirement, adding an extra layer of strategy to its use.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities	Flying
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	13
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Wayne Reynolds

Text of card

Flying Sacrifice Gustrider Exuberant: Creatures you control with power 5 or greater gain flying until end of turn.

"The elves claim the canopy. The nacatl claim the mountains. I suppose you think we ought to stay on the jungle floor?"

Cards like Gustrider Exuberant

Gustrider Exuberant is a unique creature card within Magic: The Gathering, offering versatile gameplay options. When considering cards with similar functionality, Winged Shepherd comes into the conversation. Like Gustrider Exuberant, it has the ability to give you an advantage in the late game, thanks to its cycling ability, which also triggers a card draw. However, Gustrider Exuberant has the upper hand with its flying ability, making it a more evasive threat on the battlefield.

Another card to consider is Healer’s Hawk. Although it lacks the cycling ability, its lifelink attribute pairs well with its flying trait, providing a steady source of life gain throughout the game. While Gustrider Exuberant doesn’t offer this direct life-gain benefit, it gains in terms of power, making it a more aggressive option for your deck.

Assessing these cards showcases Gustrider Exuberant’s strong position in MTG’s array of flying creatures. Its blend of cycling for card draw and a threatening presence in the sky delivers a balance of utility and offensive power, marking it as a card worth consideration for deck-building strategists aiming for aerial dominance.

Cards similar to Gustrider Exuberant by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gustrider Exuberant’s unique ability can potentially offer card advantage by creating copy tokens when engaging in combat. Duplicating your army can overwhelm opponents and help ensure you have a favorable board state.

Resource Acceleration: This card can exponentially increase your presence on the battlefield without investing additional mana. By turning one creature into two, you are effectively accelerating your resource pool for future turns and strategies.

Instant Speed: The adaptability of Gustrider Exuberant is highlighted through its ability to trigger at instant speed. This allows savvy players to wait until the last possible moment before a combat phase to create a token, catching opponents off-guard and maximizing strategic depth.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gustrider Exuberant obliges players to discard a card in order to utilize its unearth ability. This can deplete your hand, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage, especially if your strategy relies on having multiple options available.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both white and black mana, which could be restrictive. Decks not running both these colors will not be able to take advantage of Gustrider Exuberant, limiting its versatility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two white and one black mana, Gustrider Exuberant’s investment might not always align with the return. Players might find that other cards in the same mana range could provide more impactful board presence or abilities.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gustrider Exuberant seamlessly adapts to a multitude of deck builds, particularly those harnessing the power of creature-centered strategies or looking for a reliable evasion piece.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to grant another creature flying until end of turn unlocks synergy with cards that capitalize on attacking with flying creatures, or those that benefit from repeated etb (enter the battlefield) effects.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where board control is crucial, Gustrider Exuberant can provide a significant advantage by repeatedly elevating key creatures above ground-based defenses, making it a tactful inclusion against decks weak to flyers.

How to beat

Gustrider Exuberant presents an interesting challenge for players in Magic: The Gathering with its evasive abilities and the potential to alter the flow of combat. When faced with this card on the opposing side of the battlefield, your strategy needs to adapt to counter its strengths effectively. The key to overcoming Gustrider Exuberant involves managing the creatures it aims to protect. To do this, direct removal spells that don’t rely on dealing damage, such as “Path to Exile” or “Fatal Push,” can be particularly effective.

Another effective tactic is to use board wipes, like “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” which can clear the field of multiple creatures at once, nullifying the protective ability of Gustrider Exuberant. Additionally, making the creature itself a target could come from abilities or spells that do not require it to be tapped, negating its flight advantage. Finally, exerting pressure through aggressive early plays can often put an opponent on the back foot before they fully capitalize on Gustrider Exuberant’s benefits.

It’s critical to anticipate and plan for the protective aspect of Gustrider Exuberant, thereby minimizing its impact on your game plan. With a careful approach and the right tools, you can effectively navigate around the obstacles it presents and maintain control of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gustrider Exuberant MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Gustrider Exuberant and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gustrider Exuberant has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gustrider Exuberant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2008-10-01	The ability doesn’t target, so it checks the creatures’ powers only once: when the ability resolves. Once the ability resolves, it will continue to apply to the affected creatures no matter what their powers may become later in the turn.