Kyren Glider MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin
Abilities	Flying
Released	1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mercadian Masques
Set code	MMQ
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	196
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daren Bader

Key Takeaways

Kyren Glider’s flying provides consistent evasion, making it a solid choice for maintaining board pressure.
With a low mana cost, it offers subtle resource acceleration, freeing mana for varied game tactics.
Despite its benefits, its specific mana requirement and modest stats may hinder its versatility.

Text of card

Flying Kyren Glider can't block.

Mercadia's Kyren goblins are the opposite of Dominarian goblins: they're smart and cowardly.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though the Kyren Glider doesn’t directly let you draw cards, it offers advantage through its evasion capability. Its flying trait allows it to avoid many common ground-based blockers, potentially sustaining pressure on the opponent while you maintain your other resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card, costing only two mana, is a lightweight addition to your deck that doesn’t require much resource investment. This allows you to deploy other strategies in your game plan sooner. Though it doesn’t produce mana or tokens, its minimal casting cost is a form of indirect acceleration, as it keeps your mana pool relatively free for other uses.

Instant Speed: Kyren Glider isn’t an instant, but its ability to be played at sorcery speed still offers strategic depth. Timing its deployment to avoid counterspells or removals, or playing it post-combat to surprise an unprepared opponent makes it a versatile card in your aerial arsenal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Kyren Glider doesn’t require a discard per se, being a creature means it’s subject to removal spells or effects that could force you to effectively lose this card from the board.

Specific Mana Cost: Kyren Glider requires a single red mana to cast. This necessity could potentially restrict its inclusion to red-themed or multicolored decks with a red mana base, potentially reducing its versatility in some mono-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering its simple evasion ability, the cost of two mana, including one red for a 1/1 creature may seem steep. Other cards at similar mana costs may offer additional abilities or higher power/toughness, which can impact its playability in competitive formats.

Reasons to Include Kyren Glider in Your Collection

Versatility: Kyren Glider is uniquely flexible because it can be used in artifact-centric decks or as an evasive creature in aggressive strategies. Its flying ability enables it to bypass common ground defenses, fitting seamlessly into diverse decks.

Combo Potential: With an ability to avoid summoning sickness through its haste, Kyren Glider serves as a combo enabler. It can work in tandem with cards that capitalize on the presence of flying creatures or those that benefit from cheap artifacts.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where the battlefield can become cluttered with blockers, Kyren Glider shines by being an unobstructed attacker or blocker. This relevance grows in metas that are hostile to non-flying creatures, making it a smart inclusion for adapting strategies.

How to beat

Kyren Glider is a nifty creature card in Magic the Gathering that has the potential to pose a constant aerial threat due to its flying ability. This can make it a persistent nuisance, especially in the early game where board control is crucial. To effectively counter Kyren Glider, it is important to consider strategies that can nullify its advantage. One of the most straightforward methods is to include flying blockers in your deck. Access to creatures with reach can also provide a defense against Kyren Glider’s evasion capacity.

In addition to creature-based defenses, removal spells are highly effective. Since Kyren Glider is a low-toughness creature, spells such as Shock or Fatal Push can easily remove it from the battlefield at a low mana cost. Enchantment-based removal like Pacifism or Capture Sphere neutralize the Glider without the need to directly destroy it, providing an option that bypasses protective spells your opponent might have.

Lastly, employing board wipes in the mid to late game can reset the playing field. When facing an opponent utilizing Kyren Glider, keep in mind that their strategy may involve swarming the board with small, evasive creatures. Sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear out multiple threats at once, including Kyren Glider, to help you regain control and push towards victory.

Cards like Kyren Glider

Kyren Glider stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique artifact creature. This card may be paralleled with another flyer like Spire Owl. While both creatures have the potential to evade ground defenses, Spire Owl offers the additional ability to arrange the top four cards of your library upon entry, granting a degree of foresight into your upcoming draws. However, Kyren Glider doesn’t require blue mana, making it a versatile inclusion in any deck, especially those that might be color-restricted.

Looking at another artifact creature, the Ornithopter comes to mind. Ornithopter costs zero mana to play and also features flying, making it a favorable early game play or a means to quickly empower artifact synergies. Despite that, unlike Kyren Glider, it lacks power, requiring additional effort or combo pieces to become a viable threat on the board.

When considering utility and mana cost, Phyrexian Walker is another artifact creature to consider. Although it costs the same as Kyren Glider and shares its ability to be played in any colored deck, it lacks the flying advantage, emphasizing Kyren Glider’s role in providing an aerial offense or defense with comparatively little setup.

Cards similar to Kyren Glider by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kyren Glider MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Kyren Glider and other MTG cards: