Conifer Strider MTG Card

Conifer Strider - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
2015-03-27 - Number 179

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 1168

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number DTK-179

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Hexproof
Power	5
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Conifer Strider’s hexproof makes it a resilient choice against targeted removal tactics in MTG.
Its specific green mana cost hinders versatility in multicolored MTG decks.
Despite its power, its low toughness poses a risk in combat situations in MTG.

Text of card

Hexproof (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

Atarka's presence thaws the glaciers of Qal Sisma, forcing its elementals to migrate or adapt.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Conifer Strider may not draw cards directly, its imposing presence can deter blocks and attacks, paving the way for other cards in your hand to shine without obstruction. This can indirectly maintain your card advantage on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Conifer Strider’s cost efficiency contributes to accelerating your game plan. Four mana for a 5/1 creature can quickly put pressure on your opponent, demanding an answer and potentially diverting resources that could impede your broader strategy.

Instant Speed: Although Conifer Strider is not an instant, its Hexproof ability ensures it remains a constant on the field once played. This reliability means you can invest your mana at sorcery speed without fear of immediate removal, which in turn allows you to keep mana available for actual instant speed interactions on your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Conifer Strider doesn’t directly require a discard, but it is often included in decks that rely on morph synergies. This can lead to situations where players may find themselves discarding cards to enable other synergies or plays, indirectly making Conifer Strider a part of a potential card disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: While Conifer Strider has a pure green mana cost, which can fit seamlessly into mono-green decks, it can be challenging to incorporate into multi-colored decks. The specific need for four green mana can make it less flexible and harder to cast on curve in a deck that isn’t heavily green.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a four mana investment, Conifer Strider’s main appeal is its hexproof ability, but it offers little beyond that. The 5/1 stat line is vulnerable to any form of damage, making it a costly play for the benefit received. Players might find better value in cards that present higher toughness or additional abilities for the same or lower mana cost.

Reasons to Include Conifer Strider in Your Collection

Versatility: Conifer Strider’s simple design allows it to be a flexible inclusion in decks that require high-toughness creatures or those aiming to make the most of hexproof abilities.

Combo Potential: With Conifer Strider’s inherent resilience to targeted spells, it can be a key piece in combos that need durable creatures or it can benefit from equipment and aura cards without fear of being easily removed.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where targeted removal is prevalent, Conifer Strider’s hexproof ability keeps it on the board longer, making it a solid choice against many control or removal-heavy decks.

How to beat

The Conifer Strider is a unique creature in the realm of Magic the Gathering. Known for its hexproof ability, this card can prove challenging for opponents to tackle using traditional targeted spells. Its 5/1 stats for four mana make it a considerable force; however, this does not render it invincible. To effectively counter Conifer Strider, players should consider strategies that involve board wipes, as mass removal spells bypass its hexproof protection. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the field without needing to target the elusive Strider.

Another efficient tactic against the Strider revolves around forcing your opponent to sacrifice creatures. Since sacrifice effects do not target, effects like Liliana of the Veil’s edict or Diabolic Edict can navigate around hexproof. Alternatively, players can utilize blockers with higher toughness to capitalize on the Strider’s 1 toughness, rendering its substantial power moot. Employing creatures with reach or ample defensive capabilities can shut down the Strider as it attacks, keeping your life total safe and maintaining board presence.

Overall, while the Conifer Strider may initially seem daunting, its weaknesses are apparent and exploitable. With the right tools and strategies, overcoming this towering giant becomes a straightforward task in your Magic the Gathering encounters.

Cards like Conifer Strider

Conifer Strider stands tall among Magic: The Gathering’s green creature offerings, bearing resemblance to other high-toughness creatures. It shares the same mana cost with the likes of Vulpine Goliath, also a six-mana creature with trample. However, Conifer Strider offers a hexproof ability, shielding it from targeted spells and abilities, an edge that Vulpine Goliath does not possess.

Looking at Towering Thunderfist, we notice it commands a similar presence on the battlefield with five power, yet Conifer Strider surpasses with its impressive five toughness and hexproof, albeit for one more mana. Another creature worth mentioning is Nessian Asp, which teems with potential thanks to its monstrous ability that can increase its size, but it lacks the innate protection of hexproof found in Conifer Strider.

To wrap up, within the green faction of Magic: The Gathering creatures, Conifer Strider demonstrates a uniquely defensive posture. Its hexproof ability sets a high bar for creatures in its class, making it a robust choice against removal-heavy decks and ensuring its capability to serve as a steadfast defender or formidable attacker.

Towering Thunderfist - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Conifer Strider MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, 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 Conifer Strider and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Conifer Strider Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by YW Tang.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-03-27	Dragons of Tarkir	DTK	179	2015	Normal	Black	YW Tang
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	1168	2015	Normal	Black	YW Tang
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	DTK-179	2015	Normal	Black	YW Tang