Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need MTG Card
2019-10-04 - Number 21
2019-10-04 - Number 276
2019-11-07 - Number 164
2002-06-24 - Number 78758
2020-09-26 - Number ELD-21
Key Takeaways
- The card provides card advantage and versatility with its two-in-one adventure mechanic and creature play.
- It strikes a balance between aggression and defense with the token’s vigilance and unicorn’s instant speed capabilities.
- Mana limitations and alternative options may affect its utility in some deck constructions.
Text of card
Create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance. (Then exile this card. You may cast the creature later from exile.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lonesome Unicorn offers a two-in-one card capability. By casting the Rider in Need side as a sorcery, you can create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance and then cast the Unicorn from your graveyard, boosting your board presence and maximizing the value from a single card.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing resources, the vigilance attribute on the Knight token allows you to remain defensive while still committing to an offensive strategy. This multitasking ability can indirectly accelerate your game by maintaining a solid defense as you build up your plays.
Instant Speed: Though Rider in Need is sorcery speed, the Lonesome Unicorn allows for a flexible play at instant speed when casting it from the graveyard. This can be a strategic advantage, allowing you to surprise your opponent with an unexpected blocker or attacker, adapting to the board’s state and keeping them on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Rider in Need from the adventure mechanic necessitates another card being in hand to later cast the Lonesome Unicorn. This could pressure your hand, particularly in mana-tight scenarios where every card’s value is maximized.
Specific Mana Cost: Lonesome Unicorn requires a precise combination of mana – one white and two others – which may not align well with multicolor or color-focused decks, potentially hindering its inclusion in non-white-centric builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a 3/3 creature with vigilance for a total of five mana is reasonable, there are alternatives within the same cost range offering additional benefits or lower cost options with similar stats, making the Lonesome Unicorn seem less economical in certain deck strategies, especially in aggressive or tempo-oriented decks.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need offers flexibility by serving as both an early-game blocker and a late-game threat. Its modal nature allows players to cast it as a creature or an Adventure spell, fitting into various deck archetypes seamlessly.
Combo Potential: When utilized as part of an Adventure-themed deck, this card thrives. It synergizes particularly well with cards like Edgewall Innkeeper, where every Adventure spell cast provides additional value.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where longer games are prevalent, having a dual-purpose card like Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need can be crucial. It can adjust its role according to the state of play, maintaining its relevance across various metas.
How to beat
Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need offers versatility in gameplay, serving as both a creature and an adventure, making it a unique multifaceted card in MTG. Similar to cards with modal options, Lonesome Unicorn allows you to adapt to different battlefield situations. However, it’s not without its vulnerabilities. To effectively counter it, focus on timing and disruption. With its five mana cost to cast both sides, you have an opportunity to interrupt your opponent’s curve. Utilize instant speed removals such as Murder to eliminate the creature before it can offer value, or counter spells like Negate to address the Rider in Need adventure directly.
Though it presents an extra challenge with its two-for-one capability, mana efficiency is key. Cards like Essence Scatter provide a cost-effective way to counter it outright. Additionally, keeping an eye on graveyard interplay is wise, as the unicorn can return to play through its adventure side. In such cases, graveyard hate cards like Tormod’s Crypt can preemptively strip your opponent’s options, making it harder for them to maximize the unicorn’s benefits.
Ultimately, when facing Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need, the strategic deployment of removals and counters, coupled with graveyard management, can ensure this gallant card doesn’t turn the tide against you.
Cards like Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need
Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need stands as an intriguing creature spell in Magic: The Gathering with versatility that is reminiscent of other transformative cards. It shares thematic similarities with cards like Accorder Paladin, which also brings a creature with battlefield impact. However, Lonesome Unicorn differs as it offers the flexibility of a 3/3 body or a 2/2 creature that brings another 2/2 Knight token with vigilance when cast using the Rider in Need side. This provides strategic value by giving players options based on the state of the game.
Delving further into comparable cards, Conclave Cavalier is another card that positions itself in a similar category. Although it costs more mana, Cavalier offers two separate 2/2 creatures with vigilance upon death, echoing the Unicorn’s token-creating ability. Yet the Unicorn’s versatility and lower casting cost can offer earlier board presence, which can be critical in faster-paced games.
Understanding the balance between resource investments and strategic advantages, Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need carves a niche for itself within the pantheon of creature spells offering dual utility. As players evaluate their decks, the Unicorn’s adaptability makes it a formidable pick for those looking to maximize their tactical flexibility.
Cards similar to Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Throne of Eldraine, 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 Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need 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
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Printings
The Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 78758 | 2015 | Adventure | Black | Alayna Danner | ||
| 2 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 21 | 2015 | Adventure | Black | Winona Nelson | |
| 3 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 276 | 2015 | Adventure | Black | Alayna Danner | |
| 4 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 164 | 2015 | Adventure | Black | Winona Nelson | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | ELD-21 | 2015 | Adventure | Black | Winona Nelson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-04 | An adventurer card is a creature card in every zone except the stack, as well as while on the stack if not cast as an Adventure. Ignore its alternative characteristics in those cases. For example, while it's in your graveyard, Giant Killer is a white creature card whose mana value is 1. It can't be the target of the triggered ability of Mystic Sanctuary. |
| 2019-10-04 | Casting a card as an Adventure isn't casting it for an alternative cost. Effects that allow you to cast a spell for an alternative cost or without paying its mana cost may allow you to apply those to the Adventure. |
| 2019-10-04 | If a spell is cast as an Adventure, its controller exiles it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard as it resolves. For as long as it remains exiled, that player may cast it as a creature spell. If an Adventure spell leaves the stack in any way other than resolving (most likely by being countered or by failing to resolve because its targets have all become illegal), that card won't be exiled and the spell's controller won't be able to cast it as a creature later. |
| 2019-10-04 | If an adventurer card ends up in exile for any other reason than by exiling itself while resolving, it won't give you permission to cast it as a creature spell. |
| 2019-10-04 | If an effect copies an Adventure spell, that copy is exiled as it resolves. It ceases to exist as a state-based action; it's not possible to cast the copy as a creature. |
| 2019-10-04 | If an effect instructs you to choose a card name, you may choose the alternative Adventure name. Consider only the alternative characteristics to determine whether that is an appropriate name to choose. |
| 2019-10-04 | If an object becomes a copy of an object that has an Adventure, the copy also has an Adventure. If it changes zones, it will either cease to exist (if it's a token) or cease to be a copy (if it's a nontoken permanent), and so you won't be able to cast it as an Adventure. |
| 2019-10-04 | If you cast an adventurer card as an Adventure, use only its alternative characteristics to determine whether it's legal to cast that spell. For example, if Giant Killer is exiled with the last ability of Vivien, Champion of the Wilds, you can't cast it as Chop Down. |
| 2019-10-04 | When casting a spell as an Adventure, use the alternative characteristics and ignore all of the card's normal characteristics. The spell's color, mana cost, mana value, and so on are determined by only those alternative characteristics. If the spell leaves the stack, it immediately resumes using its normal characteristics. |
| 2019-10-04 | You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions for the creature spell you cast from exile. Normally, you'll be able to cast it only during your main phase while the stack is empty. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.