Pillardrop Rescuer MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 23
2022-12-02 - Number 226
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Spirit Cleric |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying When Pillardrop Rescuer enters the battlefield, return target creature card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to your hand.
Gentle hands of stone whisk the careless from the crumbling ruins of Pillardrop.
Cards like Pillardrop Rescuer
Pillardrop Rescuer has found its place in the pantheon of creature spells in the world of MTG. Its closest kin in function might be the likes of Emancipation Angel, sharing the angle of returning another creature to its owner’s hand upon entering the battlefield. Nonetheless, Pillardrop Rescuer’s requirement for a creature with mana value 3 or less provides a different tactical niche, enabling more focused deck-building strategies around low-cost creatures.
Comparatively, Restoration Angel takes this concept up a notch by adding flash, offering surprise defense and the capability for instant-speed interaction, though it doesn’t have the mana value limitation. Furthermore, the Rescuer’s spirit creature type aligns it with Inniaz, the Gale Force, who revolves around piloting a spirit tribe deck but with a powerful flying dynamic to capitalize aerial advantages.
In a landscape filled with recursion spells and effects, Pillardrop Rescuer stands out by being a reasonably costed creature that can repeatedly leverage the return mechanic, especially in decks designed around entering the battlefield triggers. In a format where efficiency and versatility are king, this card hits a sweet spot balancing utility and creature presence.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When the Pillardrop Rescuer enters the battlefield, it brings a twist to conventional card advantage by allowing you to return a target creature card with Mana Value 3 or less from your graveyard to your hand. This effectively recovers resources and can tilt the game in your favor as you reuse powerful effects or creatures.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Pillardrop Rescuer itself does not directly accelerate resources, its ability to retrieve low-cost creatures plays into resource efficiency. By ensuring you have a consistent creature presence, it indirectly supports maintaining board presence and expends opponents’ resources in response.
Instant Speed: Deploying creatures at instant speed isn’t part of the Rescuer’s arsenal. However, the value of this card comes from the flexibility it offers upon entering the battlefield during your main phase, immediately impacting the game by recouping lost assets for repeated utility or strategic defense.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One drawback of Pillardrop Rescuer is its requirement to discard a card for its Learn ability. This can deplete your hand, especially if you’re struggling to keep card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates white mana, which means it’s not a flexible pick for multicolored decks that may not consistently have access to white mana sources. This requirement can constrain the deck-building options for players.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Pillardrop Rescuer’s mana cost is somewhat steep for its stat line and effect. When you consider it costs three mana, you might find that other creatures or spells at the same mana value offer more impactful board presence or utility.
Reasons to Include Pillardrop Rescuer in Your Collection
Versatility: Pillardrop Rescuer proves to be a flexible option, slotting seamlessly into decks that require creature revival. Its ability to return another target creature with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to your hand allows for recurring key creatures that may have been dispatched too early.
Combo Potential: Its synergies are not to be underestimated. Pairing the Rescuer with a suite of low-cost, high-impact creatures can lead to powerful recurring board states or enable pivotal combos that can swing the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment teeming with removal spells and board wipes, the Rescuer can be particularly effective at maintaining your battlefield presence. It allows for strategic plays and bouncing back from potential setbacks without missing a beat in the current MTG landscape.
How to beat
Pillardrop Rescuer is an interesting creature card that can make an impact in games of MTG by pulling creatures from the graveyard back into a player’s hand. This can potentially tip the scales of a game by providing a strategic advantage of resource reusability. To counter this, it’s essential to limit its ability to trigger upon entering the battlefield.
A successful strategy might include removing the Rescuer from play before it can use its ability. Utilizing instant-speed removal spells allows players to react on the opponent’s turn, countering the Rescuer’s ability before it can be exploited. Moreover, exiling cards from the opponent’s graveyard can neutralize the Rescuer’s potential targets, making the Rescuer’s ability moot. Lastly, playing cards that restrict creature abilities or counter creature spells can inhibit the Rescuer from making any influential moves, ensuring that your strategy is one step ahead.
Understanding and anticipating your opponent’s game plan is key. With calculated plays and the right timing, navigating against the Pillardrop Rescuer becomes a manageable task, maintaining the tempo and flow of your gameplay.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pillardrop Rescuer MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Pillardrop Rescuer and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Pillardrop Rescuer Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Jason A. Engle.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 23 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 226 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pillardrop Rescuer 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 |
| Timeless | Legal |