Rime Dryad MTG Card


Rime Dryad’s instant speed and board presence at low cost enhance strategic depth without depleting resources. While some drawbacks exist, its versatility and combo potential can notably strengthen snow-themed decks. Understanding similar cards and counter-strategies is crucial to optimally utilizing or countering Rime Dryad.
Rime Dryad - Ice Age
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Dryad
Released1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set nameIce Age
Set codeICE
Power 1
Toughness 2
Number260
Frame1993
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byHeather Hudson

Text of card

Snow-covered forestwalk

"The Dryads told us to stay, as no new horrors would come when it was so cold. Three of us left anyway. The rest believed their lies, and their skeletons weren't found until the thaw." —Disa the Restless, journal entry


Cards like Rime Dryad

Rime Dryad is a unique card that finds its place amongst the forest-loving creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Much like its snowy counterpart, Frost Lynx, Rime Dryad has the ability to disrupt the opponent’s game by targeting creatures. Frost Lynx enters the battlefield freezing a target creature, an arresting move quite reminiscent of Rime Dryad’s ability to tap a snow land to halt another creature’s assault.

Exploring further, we encounter cards such as Icehide Golem that also revel in the snow land mechanic. A creature borne from the icy lands, it requires a snow land to cast, tying it thematically and functionally to Rime Dryad. However, unlike the Dryad, it’s more offensive in nature, serving as an aggressive one-drop in snow-based decks.

While Rime Dryad attracts those who appreciate tactical control over the board, Icehide Golem is preferable for players aiming to quickly apply pressure. Nevertheless, Rime Dryad holds its ground as a strategic piece that can support controlling strategies in snow-compliant decks within Magic: The Gathering. The finesse in its application truly speaks to the cunning of the strategic mind, making it a noteworthy inhabitant of the frost-imbued realm of MTG.

Frost Lynx - MTG Card versions
Icehide Golem - MTG Card versions
Frost Lynx - MTG Card versions
Icehide Golem - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Rime Dryad by color, type and mana cost

Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Willow Dryad - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Norwood Ranger - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogress - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Sacred Prey - MTG Card versions
Stampede Driver - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elite - MTG Card versions
Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Willow Dryad - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Norwood Ranger - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogress - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Sacred Prey - MTG Card versions
Stampede Driver - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elite - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Rime Dryad doesn’t directly influence the number of cards in hand, its low casting cost and utility can effectively contribute to board presence without depleting resources, potentially forcing the opponent to address it and use their resources inefficiently.

Resource Acceleration: Rime Dryad enables better mana utilization by untapping your snow lands, allowing you to accelerate your resource development. It can untap a key land to cast spells quicker than usual or leave mana open for responses during your opponent’s turn.

Instant Speed: The ability of Rime Dryad to engage at instant speed provides tactical flexibility. It can be used to surprise an opponent by untapping a snow land during their turn for unexpected mana availability or to strategically untap a creature after it has been declared as an attacker or blocker, thereby neutralizing potential threats or creating new ones.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rime Dryad necessitates the discard of another card, potentially depleting your hand and leaving you at a disadvantage in the later stages of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires green mana, constraining its integration into multi-colored decks that might not have green mana as readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its abilities and stats, Rime Dryad has a mana value that may be considered steep, particularly when evaluated against other creatures that could offer a better power-to-cost ratio.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rime Dryad’s ability to manipulate snow lands gives players the flexibility to adapt to various board states and strategies. Its low casting cost also makes it easily slotted into numerous deck archetypes that emphasize land utilization.

Combo Potential: The synergy Rime Dryad has with snow permanents can lead to powerful combinations, especially in decks that benefit from land types changing or untapping snow lands for multiple uses per turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that sees snow strategies or heavy reliance on specific land types, Rime Dryad can serve as a subtle but strategic addition that disrupts opponents while fueling your own game plan.


How to beat

Rime Dryad introduces an intriguing layer of strategy to Magic: The Gathering gameplay. As a unique single green mana creature, Rime Dryad offers not just a presence on the board but also the potential to disrupt an opponent’s land by sticking to it, preventing it from untapping. Overcoming this can be quite straightforward with the right moves. Since Rime Dryad relies on attaching to lands, land removal spells or abilities can dismantle the Dryad’s hold, clearing the path for your mana flow. Additionally, cheap creature removal spells can take care of Rime Dryad before it gets the chance to envelop a land. Think along the lines of Shock or Fatal Push, efficient options to remove this pesky enchantment creature. Alternatively, mass removal that resets the board, such as Wrath of God, can also sweep away the Dryad along with other threats. It’s always important to weigh the cost of removing Rime Dryad against its potential to hamper your strategy and proceed accordingly.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rime Dryad MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Rime Dryad and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rime Dryad has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 Can’t landwalk through a non-Snow Forest.