Sandsteppe War Riders MTG Card
2023-04-21 - Number 39
2023-04-21 - Number 126
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Warrior |
| Abilities | Bolster,Trample |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Trample At the beginning of combat on your turn, bolster X, where X is the number of differently named artifact tokens you control. (Choose a creature with the least toughness among creatures you control and put X +1/+1 counters on it.)
Cards like Sandsteppe War Riders
Sandsteppe War Riders finds its company among the varied creatures that bolster player arsenals in Magic: The Gathering. This card echoes the attributes of Siege Behemoth, as both allow some form of evasion for damage. However, Sandsteppe War Riders requires a more strategic setup, encouraging players to use its Outlast ability to steadily grow its presence on the battlefield.
Looking to cards like Ankle Shanker, there’s a similar emphasis on attacking as a cohesive unit. Ankle Shanker grants deathtouch and first strike to your attacking creatures, differing from the War Riders’ focus on individual enhancement. There’s also Shared Animosity, an enchantment that ups the ante of each attacking creature for every other attacking creature sharing a type. It gives a nod to the synergistic playstyle that Sandsteppe War Riders stimulate but with an immediate communal boost rather than a gradual one.
Examining these comparisons, Sandsteppe War Riders presents a distinct path for players to accrue power through patience and tactical growth, which is an intriguing route compared to other cards that provide instant or group combat advantages. This aspect potentially makes it a sleeper hit in specific MTG decks designed around counter manipulations and long-term field control.
Cards similar to Sandsteppe War Riders by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sandsteppe War Riders offers a potent advantage by potentially creating multiple creature tokens with every attack, quickly populating your board and outweighing your opponent’s resources.
Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes exceptionally well with decks focused on ramping up mana. Each token produced can be advantageously utilized with convoke or other mechanics that allow you to tap creatures for additional resources, accelerating your gameplay dramatically.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Sandsteppe War Riders can benefit from instant-speed spells that complement its function. Instant-speed tricks that bolster your creatures or generate additional tokens during combat can transform the War Riders into an overwhelming force on the battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sandsteppe War Riders demands a card to be discarded upon activation. This is particularly taxing in game scenarios where your hand is already depleted or when you’re attempting to maintain card advantage against your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: A precise mana blend is necessary to cast Sandsteppe War Riders, and it requires a steady base of both white and green mana sources in your deck. This can be restrictive as it potentially deters inclusion in multicolored or color-flexible decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Sandsteppe War Riders is on the higher side when weighed against other creatures with similar stats or effects. This can affect the tempo of your gameplay, as playing it may mean foregoing the casting of multiple spells or setting up defenses earlier on.
Reasons to Include Sandsteppe War Riders in Your Collection
Versatility: Sandsteppe War Riders offers strategic flexibility for various deck builds, aligning seamlessly with tactics that pivot around creature-based aggression or wide board strategies.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with effects that trigger upon creature attacks, enhancing decks focused on amplified assault phases or token generation.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to bolster and capitalize on expansive creature states, Sandsteppe War Riders maintains relevance in metas favoring board presence and combative pressure.
How to beat
Sandsteppe War Riders can be a challenging card to go up against on the battlefield, presenting a formidable presence in creature-heavy decks within Magic: The Gathering. To overcome this, focusing on removal spells that can target multiple creatures, like Wrath of God or Damnation, can be pivotal. This approach clears the board and neutralizes the cascading advantage that Sandsteppe War Riders aim to create. Additionally, spot removal spells such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can remove them before their effect becomes overwhelming.
Another strategy is utilizing control elements like counterspells or bounce spells. Counters like Mana Leak or Negate can prevent the War Riders from entering play, whereas bounce spells like Unsummon can return them to the opponent’s hand, disrupting their game plan. When facing such relentlessly aggressive strategies, adaptability and timing are key. By preventing your opponent from establishing a board presence or by smartly navigating around their threats, you can secure your victory against the unyielding might of Sandsteppe War Riders.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of efficient blockers. Deploy creatures with high toughness or those with deathtouch like Typhoid Rats to discourage attacks. These defensive moves can provide the necessary time to set up your strategy and handle the War Riders effectively.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sandsteppe War Riders MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine Commander and March of the Machine Commander, 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 Sandsteppe War Riders and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
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Printings
The Sandsteppe War Riders Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Kekai Kotaki.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 39 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kekai Kotaki | |
| 2 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 126 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kekai Kotaki |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sandsteppe War Riders has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sandsteppe War Riders card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | A token’s name is its subtypes plus the word “Token” unless it’s copying another object or it was given a specific name by the effect that created it. For example, Myr tokens are named “Myr Token,” and they have a different name than Phyrexian Myr tokens, which are named “Phyrexian Myr Token.” |
| 2023-04-14 | To determine the number of differently named artifact tokens you control, count each artifact token you control once, but only if its English name isn’t exactly the same as another artifact token you’ve already counted this way. |