Riders of Gavony MTG Card


Riders of Gavony can give humans protection, thwarting various creature types with one play. Its restrictive mana cost may limit deck integration but is vital in white-based builds. In tribal-heavy metas, Riders of Gavony’s protection can turn key matchups in your favor.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Abilities Vigilance
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Vigilance As Riders of Gavony enters the battlefield, choose a creature type. Human creatures you control have protection from creatures of the chosen type.


Cards like Riders of Gavony

Riders of Gavony offers players in Magic the Gathering a unique advantage in Tribal decks, much like Knight Exemplar. Both cards shine in Knight-focused builds, but Riders of Gavony’s ability to grant protection from a chosen creature type can turn the tide in creature-heavy matchups. However, Knight Exemplar stands out with its ability to give other Knights indestructible, fortifying the board against many forms of removal.

Along the lines of protective abilities, Mirror Entity is a creature that shares flexibility with Riders of Gavony. While not providing protection, it allows creatures you control to become any creature type, synergizing with any tribal strategy and potentially benefiting from various tribal bonuses. Then we have Door of Destinies, a powerful artifact that, rather than protecting a specific tribe, bolsters the strength of your creatures every time you cast a spell of their type.

Although Riders of Gavony doesn’t directly increase the strength of your creatures, its unique protection ability paired with its Human and Knight synergies makes it a formidable card in the right deck. This selective invulnerability it provides sets it apart in Magic the Gathering’s extensive pool of tribal enablers.

Knight Exemplar - MTG Card versions
Mirror Entity - MTG Card versions
Door of Destinies - MTG Card versions
Knight Exemplar - MTG Card versions
Mirror Entity - MTG Card versions
Door of Destinies - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Riders of Gavony by color, type and mana cost

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Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Leonin Abunas - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Blinking Spirit - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Hero of Bladehold - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Guard - MTG Card versions
Galepowder Mage - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Riders of Gavony offers an edge in card utilization by providing your humans protection from specific creature types, potentially negating multiple threats with just one card.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly impacting resource acceleration, Ride of Gavony encourages a more efficient board state by allowing your creatures to potentially bypass blockers and maintain pressure without additional mana investment.

Instant Speed: While Riders of Gavony itself is not an instant, it synergizes well with instant speed interactions, such as combat tricks or removal spells, allowing for a high-impact play by safeguarding your key creatures during the heat of battle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although not applicable to Riders of Gavony, the need to discard for certain abilities is a significant drawback for many MTG cards, especially when it comes to maintaining a strong hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Riders of Gavony has a restrictive mana cost requiring two Plains. This specificity mandates a solid white mana base, potentially limiting the card’s integration into multicolored or less mana-stable decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its casting cost sitting at three mana and one white, Riders of Gavony’s introduction to the battlefield can be slower. There are creatures with lower mana costs that provide quicker board presence or similar protection at a more efficient rate.


Reasons to Include Riders of Gavony in Your Collection

Versatility: Riders of Gavony provide a unique adaptability to battle various creature types effectively. Its ability to grant protection from a chosen creature type can be a game changer in tribal matchups or against decks heavily reliant on certain creature synergies.

Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate into Human tribal decks or those that utilize ‘Human’ as a sub-theme. With the ability to create unblockable situations for your creatures, it opens the door for infinite attack combos or damage amplification strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta populated with tribal decks—Vampires, Elves, Zombies, to name a few—Riders of Gavony stand out as a tactical counter. They can turn the tide in your favor by negating the opposing tribe’s board presence, giving you an upper hand in matches where creature types are key.


How to beat

Riders of Gavony present a unique challenge in MTG matches, specifically due to their protection ability when declaring a creature type. This can create a one-sided barrier, making your creatures virtually untouchable by selected opponents’ creature types. However, there are several strategies to bypass this advantage.

Firstly, focus on noncreature spells to eliminate or neutralize Riders of Gavony. Options like board wipes or spells that don’t target, such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation”, can clear the board without being hindered by protection abilities. Another tactic is to use creatures with evasion abilities like flying or trample, which are less impacted by protection since they can bypass typical blockers. Alternatively, altering the creature type on your side, with cards like “Amoeboid Changeling”, can open up avenues for attack by changing the interaction with the chosen type given by Riders of Gavony.

Combating Riders of Gavony requires a careful deck building or in-game strategy shift to prioritize versatile removal or evasive tactics, ensuring that you can handle whatever protection this card presents. By following these approaches, you can effectively counter the defensive stronghold erected by Riders of Gavony.


BurnMana Recommendations

With Riders of Gavony, MTG players gain a tactical edge in various matchups, especially where creature types play a crucial role. Enabling your human creatures to dodge past an entire category of threats can significantly shift the game in your favor. If you’re intrigued by the strategic advantages Riders of Gavony offers, there’s much more to explore. From enhancing human tribal decks to harnessing its meta-relevant counter abilities, this card can be a cornerstone of your collection. Keen on taking your gameplay to new heights with skillful card choices? Delve deeper with us as we reveal more insights and strategies tailored for dedicated MTG enthusiasts.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Riders of Gavony MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Commander 2020, 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 Riders of Gavony and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Riders of Gavony Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2021-09-24. Illustrated by Volkan Baǵa.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 332003NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
22020-04-17Commander 2020C20 982015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
32021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 932015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Riders of Gavony has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Riders of Gavony card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2012-05-01 You must choose an existing _Magic_ creature type, such as Zombie or Warrior. Card types such as artifact can't be chosen.
Vigilance card art

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.