River Darter MTG Card

Benefitting from evasion, River Darter forces opponents to expend removal spells, providing card advantage. Aligned with certain strategies, it aids in resource acceleration by enabling triggered effects. Specially effective against Dinosaur decks, River Darter’s unblockable trait presents a tactical edge.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Warrior
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

River Darter can't be blocked by Dinosaurs.

"Don't make splashes. Make progress." —Tishana

Cards like River Darter

River Darter stands out in the realm of blue creatures in Magic: The Gathering with its specific advantage against certain types of opponents. It’s akin to cards like Watertrap Weaver, which also plays with the theme of meddling with your adversary’s creatures. While Watertrap Weaver can temporarily tap a creature upon entering the battlefield, River Darter consistently bypasses Murfolk and Dinosaur defenses through its natural ability to be unblockable by these types.

In the same context, Mist-Cloaked Herald mirrors the unblockable trait of River Darter, though it is not restricted by creature types. The Herald boasts a universal evasion ability, making it a consistent choice for decks focusing on direct damage to opponents. Contrastingly, River Sneak also shares similarities, yet it gains strength from the synergy within a Murfolk-centric deck—a different angle of strategy to consider.

Delving into the details of these creatures shows that River Darter can be particularly efficient in a meta heavy with Murfolks and Dinosaurs. Its evasion ability tailored to circumvent specific creatures adds a layer of strategic depth when devising a decklist, reflecting how nuanced choices matter in deck building and gameplay in Magic: The Gathering.

Watertrap Weaver - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
River Sneak - MTG Card versions
Watertrap Weaver - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
River Sneak - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The River Darter may not draw cards directly, but it often necessitates a response from the opponent, potentially costing them removal spells and giving you the upper hand in card economy.

Resource Acceleration: While not inherently a source of resource acceleration, this elusive creature aligns well with strategies that capitalize on unblocked creatures to trigger effects, possibly ramping up your board presence.

Instant Speed: Although River Darter itself is not an instant, its mere presence can impact the playstyle, urging you to keep mana available for tricks and responses that can leverage its evasion abilities to your advantage when timing is crucial.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: River Darter demands that you discard when you could be advancing your board state or maintaining card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and green mana, this card may not fit seamlessly into a deck that isn’t dedicated to these colors or a multi-colored strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana for a 2/1 creature, other cards in the same mana range may provide greater impact or versatility in a match.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: River Darter thrives in a diverse range of decks, proving to be particularly valuable in those that revolve around the Merfolk tribe or focus on unblockable creature strategies. Its inherent ability to be unblockable by Dinosaurs provides a tactical advantage in specific game scenarios.

Combo Potential: As a Merfolk, River Darter benefits from various tribal synergies, enabling it to work in combination with cards that pump or provide utility to Merfolk creatures. This can lead to advantageous board states and unexpected victory paths.

Meta-Relevance: With Dinosaurs featuring in various formats, River Darter’s niche capability can serve as a meta-specific response. Its evasion can be surprisingly effective, making it a wise inclusion when Dinosaurs are prevalent in the competitive scene.

How to beat

River Darter stands out in MTG due to its unique ability to become unblockable when attacking creatures of a certain type. It shines particularly against decks that rely heavily on Merfolk, making it a force to be reckoned with in specific metagames. The key to overcoming this swift swimmer is maintaining a flexible defense that isn’t overly reliant on Merfolk.

One effective strategy is to employ removal spells that can target the River Darter irrespective of its unblockable state. Cards like Shock or Fatal Push are excellent choices for swiftly removing it from play before it can deal damage. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, clearing away the River Darter along with all other creatures.

Alternatively, you can bypass the confrontation altogether. Instead, focus on advancing your board state or winning conditions that don’t involve combat. Rely on planeswalkers, direct damage spells, or alternative win conditions. By doing so, you’ll minimize the impact River Darter has on the game and steer the match towards victory in your favor.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase River Darter MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Mystery Booster, 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 River Darter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The River Darter Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 472015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4722015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
32020-09-26The ListPLST RIX-472015NormalBlackWinona Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where River Darter has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal