Rishadan Airship MTG Card
1999-10-04 - Number 91
2020-07-17 - Number 170
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Pirate |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying Rishadan Airship may block only creatures with flying.
The view is truly spectacular—as long as you don't look at Rishada itself.
Cards like Rishadan Airship
The Rishadan Airship is a unique creature in the skies of Magic: The Gathering. With an ability to only be blocked by creatures with flying, it stands out as an evasive attacker in blue decks. A good comparison might be with cards like the Spire Golem. Both are flying creatures, but the Spire Golem’s affinity for islands can make it a more mana-efficient play in a dedicated deck. Another similar card is the Welkin Tern, which is also unblockable except by creatures with flying or reach, and it comes at a lower cost too.
For those looking at themed decks, the Skyship Plunderer offers an interesting alternative. It not only has an evasion ability but also adds counters whenever it deals damage to a player, which can add up to significant advantages over the course of a game. Though not as straightforward in its evasion as Rishadan Airship, the added utility can be an upside.
Although Rishadan Airship does not boast additional abilities like some of its counterparts, its straightforward application as an evasive creature can be exactly what some deck strategies are looking for when it comes to maintaining pressure in the air.
Cards similar to Rishadan Airship by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rishadan Airship stands out by being able to bypass conventional blockers, allowing for potential card advantage as you consistently chip away at your opponent’s life total without committing additional resources.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana, the Airship can pressure opponents into using their resources inefficiently, creating a form of indirect resource acceleration for you as they divert mana to answer this aerial threat.
Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant itself, Rishadan Airship complements an instant speed strategy by forcing opponents to deal with it on their turn, thereby freeing up your mana for reactive plays, and aligning with the tempo of instant-speed interactions in your deck.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Rishadan Airship doesn’t necessitate a card be discarded, so while this is typically a con for some cards, it’s a non-issue for players using this particular skyship.
Specific Mana Cost: To summon the Rishadan Airship to the battlefield, a player needs to allocate both generic and blue mana, which could potentially be a stumbling block for multicolored decks not focused on blue resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that involves three mana, the Rishadan Airship’s stats and abilities might not compete favorably with other creatures in the same cost bracket. Savvy players may opt for options offering more utility and power for a similar investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Rishadan Airship can easily slide into various blue-based decks that value evasion. As a flying creature, it excels at bypassing ground defenses, making it a steady source of damage in aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: As a card that plays well with others, Rishadan Airship can be a key piece in decks looking to capitalize on pirate synergies or those using flying creatures to enable specific win conditions.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to dodge many common board wipes and sneak past creature-based defenses, Rishadan Airship can be a tactical asset in environments where air superiority can tip the scales in your favor.
How to beat
Rishadan Airship is an intriguing creature from the skies of Magic: The Gathering, asserting its presence with the ability to evade many ground-based defenses. Flying is a potent ability, allowing it to bypass creatures unable to block flying attackers. Although this blue card may put pressure on your opponent, there are effective strategies to counter its influence in the game.
Gaining control of the board with cards that can target or damage flying creatures is a strategic method to counteract Rishadan Airship’s offensive capabilities. Utilize spells like Plummet or Windstorm, which are tailor-made to knock flying threats out of the air, neutralizing their advantage. Alternatively, employing cards with reach gives you defenders that can block this high-flying menace, negating its evasion.
Should the Airship prove too nimble, another plan of action is to use bounce or removal spells to clear the path. Cards like Unsummon or Doom Blade (when not facing a black creature) serve as a direct answer, returning or destroying the target and tipping the aerial balance in your favor. Winning against a card like Rishadan Airship depends on forethought and including answers to flying threats in your deck’s design.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rishadan Airship MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Jumpstart, 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 Rishadan Airship 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Rishadan Airship Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Kev Walker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-10-04 | Mercadian Masques | MMQ | 91 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 170 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rishadan Airship has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |