Gryffwing Cavalry MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 16
2022-01-28 - Number 283
2021-11-19 - Number 11
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Flying,Training |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Provides board advantage with extra creatures, optimizing strategic plays and increasing creature count.
- Summons at instant speed, offering responsive play and maximizing turn efficiency and surprise tactics.
- Casting requires specific mana, potentially challenging in multicolor decks, and possesses a higher mana cost for its effects.
Text of card
Flying Training (Whenever this creature attacks with another creature with greater power, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.) Whenever Gryffwing Cavalry attacks, you may pay . If you do, target attacking creature without flying gains flying until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gryffwing Cavalry shines by offering a two-for-one deal on creatures. When played, it not only provides a formidable flyer but also creates a 1/1 white Human creature token, effectively bolstering your board presence and maintaining card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: This card has the potential to accelerate your resource game significantly. By contributing additional creatures, you create more opportunities for strategic sacrifices or powering up effects that rely on the number of creatures you control, elevating your position in the match.
Instant Speed: One of Gryffwing Cavalry’s greatest strengths is its ability to be conjured at instant speed. This means you can keep mana available to respond to your opponent’s moves and summon Gryffwing Cavalry at the most opportune moment, often at the end of your opponent’s turn or in reaction to their plays, for maximum board impact.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gryffwing Cavalry might put a player in a challenging position if they have to discard another valuable card from their hand to make the most of its abilities.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires white mana, Gryffwing Cavalry can be restrictive and is not an ideal choice for multicolor decks that might struggle to produce the necessary mana consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Gryffwing Cavalry offers a beneficial effect, its mana value may be steep when comparing it to other creatures within the same cost range, potentially making it less appealing for players looking to optimize their mana curve in their decks.
Reasons to Include Gryffwing Cavalry in Your Collection
Versatility: Gryffwing Cavalry has the potential to adapt to various gameplay styles. Its ability to provide both flying threats and vigilance boosts can be applied across different types of decks that appreciate flexible defensive and offensive options.
Combo Potential: With its inherent synergy with creature tokens and “+1/+1 counters” strategies, Gryffwing Cavalry can act as an integral piece in combos that leverage these elements, enhancing the deck’s overall efficiency and effectiveness.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the frequency of matches that pivot on air superiority, Gryffwing Cavalry’s capacity to influence aerial combat ensures that it remains a pertinent choice in many matchups, adjusting well to the dynamics of the ever-evolving meta.
How to beat
The Gryffwing Cavalry is a notable card in Magic: The Gathering attributed with flying, making it a resilient offensive creature in the sky. Its abilities center around boosting fellow flyers, which can often seem overwhelming if not addressed quickly. One effective strategy to overcome this aerial menace is by utilizing spells that can target flying creatures, such as plummet or other removal that isn’t restricted by a creature’s altitude.
Moreover, incorporating creatures with reach in your deck serves as a strong deterrent against Gryffwing Cavalry, providing a line of defense while you build your strategy. Counterspells also play a critical role against such creatures, stopping them from influencing the battlefield right from their inception. Ensnaring flying creatures in enchantments that neutralize their combat potential is also a sound tactic—cards like Pacifism prevents them from attacking or blocking, effectively grounding the Cavalry without the need for removal.
In summary, by anticipating the presence of Gryffwing Cavalry on the opposing side, a calculated blend of creature control, strategic counterspells, or defensive measures can ensure your strategy remains unhampered, keeping you one step ahead in the game.
Cards like Gryffwing Cavalry
Gryffwing Cavalry introduces a unique blend of flight and fortitude to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This card is reminiscent of Winged Words with its focus on fliers, yet Gryffwing Cavalry carves out its own niche by bolstering your board presence with additional bodies. Unlike Winged Words, which simply draws cards, Gryffwing Cavalry goes a step beyond, giving players not only card advantage but also tangible in-game assets.
Another card often juxtaposed with Gryffwing Cavalry is Cloudgoat Ranger. Both create a group of creature tokens upon entering the battlefield, granting the power to shift the tides in your favor. However, Cloudgoat Ranger demands a higher mana investment, which can impact its playability in faster paced matches. Also worth mentioning is Skynight Vanguard. While it shares the Cavalry’s proclivity for creating tokens, it only does so when it attacks, making it more situational in comparison.
Assessing Gryffwing Cavalry against its counterparts, we can see that it offers a solid combination of advantage and tempo, potentially making it a staple in decks that value aerial dominance and board control.
Cards similar to Gryffwing Cavalry by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gryffwing Cavalry MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Crimson Vow Art Series, 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 Gryffwing Cavalry and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Gryffwing Cavalry Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 16 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott | |
| 2 | Crimson Vow Art Series | AVOW | 11 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Steve Prescott | ||
| 3 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 283 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gryffwing Cavalry has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gryffwing Cavalry 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. |
| 2021-11-19 | You must choose a target for Gryffwing Cavalry's last ability before you choose whether or not to pay the cost. If there is no legal target, you won't have the opportunity to pay the cost. |
