Rishadan Brigand MTG Card
1999-10-04 - Number 92
2020-09-26 - Number MMQ-92
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Pirate |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying When Rishadan Brigand comes into play, each opponent sacrifices a permanent unless he or she pays o3. Rishadan Brigand may block only creatures with flying.
Cards like Rishadan Brigand
Rishadan Brigand stands out in the world of piracy-themed cards in Magic: The Gathering. This card shares some traits with its lore-connected relatives like Kitesail Freebooter and Cloud Pirates. While Kitesail Freebooter also disrupts your opponent’s hand by exiling a noncreature, nonland card, Rishadan Brigand ups the ante by forcing your opponent to sacrifice a permanent unless they pay three coins for each they control. Unlike Cloud Pirates, which simply offers flying, Rishadan Brigand affects the battlefield balance significantly with its extortionate entry—a unique twist in aerial piracy.
Comparatively, there’s Rishadan Cutpurse. Although less expensive to cast, its effect is milder, demanding just one coin per creature during its entrance. When assessing disruption potential, the Brigand poses a more daunting threat to opponents, especially in multiplayer games where its ability can scale dramatically. Dockside Extortionist shares this concept of exploiting opponents’ resources but in a different manner, creating Treasure tokens rather than demanding sacrifices. This Tibalt’s trickster offers non-sacrificial resource advantage via token generation, showing how each pirate-themed card brings a special flavor to the game.
In essence, Rishadan Brigand offers a blend of offensive pressure and strategic disruption, setting it apart in a class of MTG’s piracy-themed arsenal.
Cards similar to Rishadan Brigand by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rishadan Brigand opens the door to increased hand resources by forcing opponents to sacrifice a permanent unless they pay three coins for each Brigand on the field. This can lead to a significant card advantage as opponents struggle to maintain board presence.
Resource Acceleration: Notably, disrupting opponents’ resources can indirectly accelerate your own strategy. By pressuring opponent’s resources, Rishadan Brigand can hinder their development, potentially giving you the upper hand and the ability to outpace them in the game.
Instant Speed: Although Rishadan Brigand itself isn’t an instant, its disruptive ability is comparably valuable. Upon hitting the battlefield, it instantly changes the landscape of the game, forcing immediate decisions from your opponents, which can be as strategically decisive as any instant spell.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Wielding the Rishadan Brigand effectively hinges on controlling three or more Islands. Failing to meet this requirement forces you to discard a card, a setback that can leave your hand depleted, reducing strategic options.
Specific Mana Cost: Stipulating two blue mana within its cost, the card demands a strong commitment to blue mana in your deck’s composition. This may restrict deck flexibility, making it a challenging fit outside of mono-blue or heavily blue-focused strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including three generic and two blue, Rishadan Brigand sits at a price point where players expect significant impact on the game state. Its mana cost can delay your board development, especially when competing with other card options that may affect the battlefield more immediately upon casting.
Reasons to Include Rishadan Brigand in Your Collection
Versatility: Rishadan Brigand isn’t just a pirate – it’s a flexible disruption tool for any deck that can handle three colors of mana. It can delay your opponents by forcing them to sacrifice permanents, which is useful in various game situations.
Combo Potential: The Brigand shines when combined with cards that punish or capitalize on opponents losing resources. Think of it as a piece of a larger puzzle, working alongside other cards that manipulate opponent’s hands and boards.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where opponents rely heavily on accumulating a wide board presence, Rishadan Brigand can be a game-changer, especially in multiplayer formats where its ability is magnified.
How to beat
Rishadan Brigand is a notorious card in MTG that can disrupt your opponent’s plans by forcing them to sacrifice their permanents unless they pay three coins per permanent. To counter this strategy, one effective approach is to minimize the number of targets available for Rishadan Brigand’s ability. This can be achieved by playing fewer permanents or utilizing permanents that can quickly return to your hand or regenerate.
Another method is to employ instant-speed removal spells to eliminate the brigand before its ability takes effect. Counterspells are also a valuable tool to prevent it from entering the battlefield in the first place. Additionally, maintaining a reserve of mana can be crucial to afford the cost imposed by Rishadan Brigand’s ability, allowing you to circumvent the need to sacrifice your precious permanents.
Being proactive in establishing board control and applying pressure on your opponent can force them to use Rishadan Brigand defensively, mitigating its impact. Ultimately, flexibility, anticipation, and the strategic use of resources are key to overpowering the controlling grip of Rishadan Brigand in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rishadan Brigand MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and The List, 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 Brigand 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 Brigand Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 1999-10-04. Illustrated by Scott Hampton.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-10-04 | Mercadian Masques | MMQ | 92 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Scott Hampton | |
| 2 | The List | PLST | MMQ-92 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Scott Hampton |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rishadan Brigand has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |