Hoverguard Sweepers MTG Card
2004-06-04 - Number 32
2014-11-07 - Number 113
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 8 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Drone |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
Flying When Hoverguard Sweepers comes into play, you may return up to two target creatures to their owners' hands.
They only appear in emergencies, and emergencies never last long.
Cards like Hoverguard Sweepers
Hoverguard Sweepers is an intriguing card that MTG players utilize for battlefield control. This card echoes the functionality of other bounce effect creatures, such as Capsize, providing players with a powerful tool to return nonland permanents to their owner’s hands. The strength of Hoverguard Sweepers lies in its potential to upset multiple targets, unlike Capsize, which is limited to single-target interaction. In addition, Capsize offers a buyback mechanic, which while powerful, doesn’t impact the board immediately as Hoverguard Sweepers does upon entry.
Evacuation is another card that shares a kinship with Hoverguard Sweepers, as both clear multiple creatures from the battlefield. However, Evacuation doesn’t discriminate, affecting all creatures and not just those controlled by opponents, which can be a double-edged sword. Comparatively, Hoverguard Sweepers can be more selectively disruptive, targeting only precious combo pieces or substantial threats of the adversary, thereby maintaining your own board presence.
In the grand scheme of the MTG metagame, Hoverguard Sweepers offers a balance between power and precision. Its recurring effect upon casting more artifacts provides an undeniable edge in artifact-heavy decks. This makes it a uniquely versatile card, holding its ground firmly among MTG’s suite of control-oriented creatures.
Cards similar to Hoverguard Sweepers by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Hoverguard Sweepers enter the battlefield, you can return up to two target creatures to their owner’s hands. This kind of board control not only disrupts your opponent’s strategy but also can swing the game heavily in your favor by eliminating key threats or resetting powerful tokens and buffs.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or resource acceleration, clearing the board with Hoverguard Sweepers can indirectly accelerate your resources. By clearing potential blockers or attackers, you safeguard your mana-producing creatures and planeswalkers, ensuring your resource pool remains untouched and potentially expanding.
Instant Speed: While Hoverguard Sweepers itself is not an instant, its disruptive battlefield entry mimics the surprise factor of an instant spell. In a game where timing can be everything, deploying Hoverguard Sweepers can be pivotal during the combat phase or following an opponent’s summon spell, effectively acting as a deterrent against further plays and allowing you strategic control over the pace of gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Hoverguard Sweepers’ triggered ability comes with a compulsory discard of a card, which can be detrimental if your hand is already running thin or if it contains crucial game pieces.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a commitment to both blue mana and a total of six mana overall. This specialized cost can restrict its inclusion to primarily blue-based decks, potentially excluding it from more varied deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six mana investment to cast Hoverguard Sweepers is significant, and in a fast-paced game, there may be more cost-efficient creatures or board wipes that could be played sooner, impacting the board at critical times.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Hoverguard Sweepers can adapt to multiple playstyles, finding its place in decks focused on control as well as those looking to harness the power of artifact synergies. Its ability to bounce creatures also makes it highly effective against a range of threats.
Combo Potential: With the capability to return up to two target creatures to their owner’s hand, Hoverguard Sweepers has significant combo opportunities. It can reset your own creatures for value or disrupt opponents, making it a flexible choice for decks that thrive on interactions and combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that heavily favors creature-based strategies, Hoverguard Sweepers shines by repeatedly clearing the board and swinging momentum. As such, it’s a particularly apt choice in environments where creature control is paramount to sustaining advantage and closing out games.
How to beat Hoverguard Sweepers
Hoverguard Sweepers present a unique challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to return up to two target creatures to their owners’ hands when it enters the battlefield. To effectively counter this blue creature card, players should consider timing their removal spells or abilities for when the Sweepers land on the board. Employing instant-speed removal will allow you to deal with it before it can use its powerful return effect. Alternatively, taking advantage of the stack and responding to the Sweepers’ triggered ability with a removal spell ensures you utilize your resources efficiently.
Another strategy involves leveraging creatures with hexproof or shroud, making them ineligible targets for the Sweepers’ ability. Additionally, since Hoverguard Sweepers is a creature with a high casting cost, playing aggressively and putting pressure on your opponent early in the game can mitigate the impact of the card by the time it becomes a viable play. Lastly, utilizing counter spells can prevent its casting altogether—this preemptive tactic maintains your board state dominance and preserves key creatures.
Overall, overcoming the obstacle of Hoverguard Sweepers requires strategic foresight and proper resource allocation, so assert control early on and be ready to act in response to safeguard your winning board position.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hoverguard Sweepers MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn and Commander 2014, 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 Hoverguard Sweepers 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 Hoverguard Sweepers Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-06-04 and 2014-11-07. Illustrated by Mark A. Nelson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-06-04 | Fifth Dawn | 5DN | 32 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark A. Nelson | |
| 2 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 113 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark A. Nelson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hoverguard Sweepers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |