Eiganjo Free-Riders MTG Card

Eiganjo Free-Riders - Saviors of Kamigawa

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Abilities	Flying
Released	2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Saviors of Kamigawa
Set code	SOK
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	8
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kev Walker

Key Takeaways

Eiganjo Free-Riders enables retriggering enter-the-battlefield effects, optimizing resource management.
Instant-speed play of the Free-Riders introduces a layer of flexibility and tactical surprise.
High mana cost and upkeep demands can offset the Free-Riders’ potential card advantages.

Text of card

Flying At the beginning of your upkeep, return a white creature you control to its owner's hand.

"The air filled with dust and the sound of wingbeats. The mothriders had joined the fray." —*Great Battles of Kamigawa*

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Eiganjo Free-Riders offers an inherent advantage by enabling you to reuse enter-the-battlefield abilities of other creatures. Each time you cast it, you get an opportunity to trigger these effects again, keeping your hand resources optimized.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or treasures, the Free-Riders can accelerate your board presence by working synergistically with creatures that generate resources when they enter the battlefield or creatures that get stronger with every summoning.

Instant Speed: Eiganjo Free-Riders can be played at instant speed with the help of various spells or abilities within MTG, allowing you to be flexible in your play and responsive to your opponent’s actions, thus maximizing tactical opportunities.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Eiganjo Free-Riders necessitates returning a white creature you control to its owner’s hand during the upkeep phase. This ongoing demand can swiftly deplete your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage should your board presence be challenged.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Eiganjo Free-Riders is specifically white, potentially restricting its integration. Decks not heavily investing in white mana may find it challenging to consistently meet this requirement, limiting the card’s versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that can be a liability due to its return-a-creature mechanism, the mana cost is on the higher end. When evaluating mana economy, players might consider whether the benefits justify the cost, especially when there are other creatures in the same cost bracket that don’t pose the risk of diminishing your field presence.

Reasons to Include Eiganjo Free-Riders in Your Collection

Versatility: Eiganjo Free-Riders can adapt to various gaming strategies, thanks to its ability to fly over defenses. This skill enables it to fit seamlessly into aggro and midrange decks aiming for aerial supremacy.

Combo Potential: The card has synergy with strategies that revolve around flickering or bouncing creatures to reuse enter-the-battlefield effects. Utilizing Eiganjo Free-Riders effectively can leverage these strategies for maximum board control.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame with a high density of ground-based creatures, Eiganjo Free-Riders becomes a formidable threat. It can dodge numerous types of removal while applying pressure on opponents with its evasion ability, making it a tactical addition to decks facing such environments.

How to beat Eiganjo Free-Riders

Eiganjo Free-Riders may appear daunting with its capacity to become an obstacle for the opponent’s game plan in Magic: The Gathering. Its flying ability grants it a clear path over ground-based defenses, making it a persistent threat in the sky. In facing this card, one approach is to control the battlefield with removal spells. Employ efficient removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, which can deal with the Free-Riders before they start to impact the board significantly.

Another strategy involves utilizing creatures with reach or other flying creatures. These can block the Free-Riders, nullifying its evasion advantage. Cards such as Silkweave Net or Sentinel Spider can be particularly effective. Additionally, countering the card before it hits the battlefield is a vital tactic. Having counters ready, like Counterspell or Mana Leak, ensures that the Free-Riders won’t disrupt your strategy.

Ultimately, dealing with Eiganjo Free-Riders demands a mix of timely removal, strategic blocking, or preventing it from coming into play altogether. By preparing your deck with these types of responses, you’ll be well-equipped to handle this and other flying threats in your MTG matches.

Cards like Eiganjo Free-Riders

Eiganjo Free-Riders is an interesting component to the dynamics of creature play in MTG. It shares some similarities with cards like Ghostly Pilferer, which also disrupts your opponent’s plans by offering a form of repeated advantage. Eiganjo Free-Riders requires you to return a creature you control to your hand unless you discard a card. This can be strategically used to re-utilize enter-the-battlefield effects or to save creatures from removal.

Looking at another card, Ninja of the Deep Hours offers a different but related mechanic known as Ninjutsu, which allows you to swap an unblocked attacker with the Ninja, potentially drawing a card. While not identical, the tactical repositioning of creatures can evoke a similar sense of board control to what Eiganjo Free-Riders promotes. Stonecloaker stands out too, allowing you to return it to your hand to rescue other creatures or disrupt graveyard strategies, providing a versatile solution but without the card advantage.

Each card brings its own nuances to the game. While Eiganjo Free-Riders isn’t as straightforward in card advantage as Ninja of the Deep Hours, it can offer more recurring utility, making it an interesting choice for decks looking to exploit bouncing creatures or discard synergies within the MTG landscape.

Ninja of the Deep Hours - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Eiganjo Free-Riders by color, type and mana cost

Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions

Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions

Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Eiganjo Free-Riders MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Eiganjo Free-Riders and other MTG cards: