Slag Strider MTG Card
2021-06-18 - Number 141
2021-08-26 - Number 514
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Affinity |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Slag Strider’s artifact mechanic allows for board control and direct damage at instant speed.
- The card requires specific mana and sacrifices artifacts, potentially limiting its play.
- In artifact-rich MTG strategies, Slag Strider offers valuable combo and meta-specific utility.
Text of card
Affinity for artifacts (This spell costs less to cast for each artifact you control.) , Sacrifice an artifact: Slag Strider deals 1 damage to any target.
Imbued with life by a stray bolt of spellcraft, it began to wander about the foundry, to the blacksmiths' alarm.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Slag Strider, when played in a deck built around artifacts, essentially turns each artifact you control into potential direct damage output. This can create a significant shift in board control, allowing you to pick off key creatures or whittle down an opponent’s life total while preserving the cards in your hand.
Resource Acceleration: In conjunction with artifact synergies, playing Slag Strider can essentially speed up your game plan. By utilizing low-cost or expendable artifacts, you can fuel its ability, effectively converting otherwise static resources into aggressive plays that can accelerate your route to victory.
Instant Speed: Leveraging Slag Strider’s activated ability at instant speed gives you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn. You can wait for the opportune moment to sacrifice an artifact and deal damage, thereby maintaining the element of surprise and forcing your adversary to play around your open mana and potential threats.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Slag Strider’s synergies often rely on discarding or sacrificing artifacts, which can pressure hand or board presence, costing valuable resources that could otherwise be used for other strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring red mana for activation, Slag Strider’s usability is primarily restricted to decks heavily invested in red or artifact themes, limiting its versatility across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that competes with other high-impact cards, Slag Strider may not be the most mana-efficient choice, especially when options for lower-cost creatures or spells with immediate impact are considered.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Slag Strider is a unique inclusion with its ability to seamlessly integrate into artifact-themed decks. Its requirement for artifacts lends itself well to synergy with numerous strategies that capitalize on artifact utilization.
Combo Potential: The Strider shines when combined with decks that produce a steady stream of artifacts. These artifacts can be sacrificed to deal damage to any target, setting up opportunities for both offensive plays and strategic board control.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to disrupt opponent’s creatures and strategies while building your own board presence, Slag Strider finds relevance in environments where artifacts are prevalent or decks that require pinpoint removal are dominant.
How to beat
Slag Strider, with its unique ability to deal damage to any target while recycling artifacts, can be a persistent issue on the battlefield. Yet, as with any MTG card, there are strategies to outplay it. One of the simplest ways to incapacitate this creature is by utilizing instant speed removal spells that can handle its moderately hearty toughness. Cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade, known for being able to dispatch creatures efficiently, can be your safest bet against the Strider.
Another approach involves minimizing the Slag Strider’s impact by controlling the artifact count on the board. Artifact removal spells such as Shatterstorm not only reduce the Strider’s ammunition but can often swing the game’s momentum in your favor. Furthermore, outpacing the Slag Strider through aggressive strategies or going over it with larger creatures can make it less relevant as the game progresses.
Anticipating your opponent’s moves and keeping your removal options open are key. Despite the Slag Strider’s flexibility, a well-timed reaction can easily turn the tables, helping you maintain control over the game’s flow.
Cards like Slag Strider
In the landscape of artifact utilization within Magic: The Gathering, Slag Strider emerges as a niche player. It shares conceptual ground with cards like Reckless Fireweaver, which deals damage to opponents whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control. Unlike Fireweaver, Slag Strider requires an active choice, costing you an artifact to deal damage but giving you control over the timing and target.
Analogous in function is the card Salvaging Station, which brings back small artifacts from the graveyard whenever a non-token permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield. Although not direct damage dealers, the Station provides ongoing value, synergizing well with self-sacrificing artifacts that you might consume for Slag Strider’s ability. Galvanic Blast is another similar card, capable of delivering significant damage provided you have metalcraft — the requisite three artifacts to empower it.
Evaluating the nuances of cards like Slag Strider reveals a tactical edge for players fond of artifact-rich decks. Its capacity to turn any artifact into direct damage can be pivotal in games, providing a versatile tool in MTG’s ever-changing strategic battles.
Cards similar to Slag Strider by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Slag Strider MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Slag Strider 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 Slag Strider Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Yeong-Hao Han.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 141 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
| 2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 514 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Slag Strider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
