River Hoopoe MTG Card
2017-07-14 - Number 143
2019-11-07 - Number 1477
2020-08-13 - Number 256
2022-07-08 - Number 269
2020-09-26 - Number HOU-143
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Bird |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying : You gain 2 life and draw a card.
"It's a cruel thing to give such a sad song to such a colorful creature." —Sana, former Ahn-crop initiate
Cards like River Hoopoe
The River Hoopoe stands out in MTG as a charming combination of life gain and card draw. It invites comparisons with Courser of Kruphix, which also provides a steady advantage over time. While Courser of Kruphix gives you life incrementally with each land drop and allows for deck manipulation, River Hoopoe requires mana investment to draw a card and gain life. This bird from the Hour of Devastation set is akin to Staff of the Mind Magus in terms of incremental life gain, but it adds the benefit of bolstering your hand directly.
Further comparisons bring Azure Mage to mind, which, like River Hoopoe, is a creature that can also draw cards. However, the Mage lacks the life gain that makes the Hoopoe so versatile. Thrasios, Triton Hero presents another parallel, giving an option between card draw and putting a land onto the battlefield, though it comes without the life gain and requires a four color identity for optimization.
All things considered, while other cards in MTG can mimic aspects of River Hoopoe’s utility, few blend the life gain and card draw mechanics so seamlessly. This gives the River Hoopoe a unique appeal to players who thirst for both life stability and strategic depth in their game.
Cards similar to River Hoopoe by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: River Hoopoe provides consistent card draw capability that keeps your hand filled with options. With its activated ability, you have the power to draw an extra card each turn, ensuring you never run out of steam in long matches.
Resource Acceleration: Not only does River Hoopoe offer card advantage, but its life gain ability can be a crucial resource in stabilizing your health total. This can effectively buy you more time to deploy your strategy, aligning well with control or midrange decks that thrive on a game going long.
Instant Speed: The beauty of River Hoopoe lies in the flexibility of its activated ability, which can be used at instant speed. This means you can smartly manage your resources, waiting until the end of your opponent’s turn to draw a card or gain some life, keeping your options open and your gameplay unpredictable.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: River Hoopoe does not have a discard requirement. However, for players looking to maintain card advantage, trading a card for this creature’s activation could hinder your game plan, especially if faced with hand disruption strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: River Hoopoe’s initial casting cost is split between green and blue mana, which can restrict the card’s inclusion to only multicolored decks, potentially limiting the range of strategies it can reinforce.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though its ability to draw a card and gain life is beneficial, the combined cost of five mana (three generic, one green, one blue) for this effect may be deemed too steep. This is particularly notable when measured against other MTG creatures with similar abilities at a lower cost threshold, affecting its overall utility.
Reasons to Include River Hoopoe in Your Collection
Versatility: River Hoopoe is a multicolored card that serves dual purposes. It’s a creature that can attack and block, but its true value lies in the ability to gain life and draw cards which is beneficial for any deck that aims for longevity and resource advantage.
Combo Potential: With its activated ability, the card pairs well with strategies that untap creatures or generate a lot of mana, allowing you to draw and gain life multiple times a turn. This can significantly enhance engine-style decks focused on card advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In any meta where games go long, the consistent life gain and card draw from River Hoopoe can out-value opponents. Its low casting cost also means it’s easily slotted into decks without compromising the curve.
How to beat
River Hoopoe is a unique creature card that provides both life gain and card draw, a combination that can give your opponents a continuous advantage in longer games. One effective way to overcome this card is by disrupting your opponent’s mana base, making it difficult for them to pay for River Hoopoe’s activated ability. Cards like Blood Moon or Field of Ruin can hinder their ability to produce the necessary mana colors, shutting down the hoopoe’s advantage.
Dealing with the hoopoe directly is an alternative approach. Removal spells that can target creatures with flying, like Murder or Fatal Push, prove very useful in this case. Since the hoopoe itself doesn’t have any inherent protection, a single removal spell can take it out of the equation before it starts generating value for your opponent. Additionally, countering it upon casting with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak prevents it from ever impacting the board.
Keep in mind that timely removal and counterplays are key. Delaying this card’s visit to the battlefield or swiftly removing it upon arrival, cuts short its potential to tip the game in your opponent’s favor. By understanding the dynamics and having the right answers, you can mitigate the River Hoopoe’s otherwise substantial influence on the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase River Hoopoe MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation 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 Hoopoe 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 River Hoopoe Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 143 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1477 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 3 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 256 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | HOU-143 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | ||
| 5 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 269 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where River Hoopoe has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |