Shambling Strider MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 263
2000-10-01 - Number 63
2007-09-10 - Number 129
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Yeti |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
o Roo G +1/-1 until end of turn
Freyalise forbid that any stranger should wander into the Striders' territory.
Cards like Shambling Strider
The allure of Shambling Strider in Magic: The Gathering lies in its combination of abilities. It’s reminiscent of other creatures such as Alpine Grizzly, sporting a solid power-to-cost ratio. What sets Shambling Strider apart, however, is its flexible mana cost and the potential to adjust power and toughness on the fly, offering strategic adaptability that the Grizzly lacks.
Looking to Frostburn Weird, players will find a similar ability to modify stats. While Frostburn Weird offers less overall power, its dual-colored nature affords deck-building versatility and can be a tactical defender in the early game. Conversely, Shambling Strider is strictly green, fitting seamlessly into mono-green decks that prefer a higher-powered creature.
Lichen Hydra is another creature worth mentioning; it scales its power throughout the game. But unlike the incremental growth of the Hydra, Shambling Strider allows for instant beefing up, making it a potent surprise during combat phases. When considering utility and surprise factor, Shambling Strider shines within its unique niche of cost-effective and flexible creatures in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Shambling Strider by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shambling Strider provides an edge by enabling filtering of the top cards of your library. This mechanism assures that you have the best chances to draw into more productive plays, thus keeping your hand filled with viable options throughout the match.
Resource Acceleration: Equipped with a variable power and toughness mechanic, Shambling Strider synergizes well within decks that thrive on high land counts or types. The ability to potentially increase its strength and influence on the board supports strategies that look for rapid expansion and impact.
Instant Speed: Though Shambling Strider doesn’t directly operate at instant speed, its strength and resourcefulness in response to land counts can be comparable to having an instant surprise up your sleeve. This grants you the capability to adjust tactics reactively, ensuring you’re never at a complete disadvantage even outside your own turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Shambling Strider’s effectiveness is primarily limited by its discard requirement, a mechanic that necessitates sacrificing a precious card from your hand to fuel its ability. This can put you at a disadvanatage, especially when your hand is already depleted and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Commanding a precise mix of mana types to cast, Shambling Strider can be a challenge for multi-colored decks to accommodate. This may lead to it being a dead draw if you can’t muster the specific mana necessary at the critical moment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Another consideration is its comparatively high mana cost. For the impact it has on the game, there may be alternative creatures or spells that offer more bang for your buck – important to think about when optimizing your deck’s mana curve and overall efficiency.
Reasons to Include Shambling Strider Mtg Card in Your Collection
Versatility: Shambling Strider fits well into multiple deck architectures given its hybrid mana cost and flexible power/toughness ratio, allowing for easy inclusion in both green and red builds.
Combo Potential: With its ability to adjust power and toughness dynamically, this card partners well with effects that track those stats, setting up powerful combo plays and unexpected synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In formats where creature stats matter or where instant-speed tricks can swing combat in your favor, Shambling Strider provides a tactical edge, aligning with today’s dynamic gameplay environments.
How to beat
Shambling Strider is an intriguing creature card that can present a challenge on the battlefield. To effectively strategize against it, understanding its multifaceted nature is key. Given its cost and stats, one straightforward strategy is to employ removal spells that can target it before its power is boosted by any additional effects. Cheap removal spells or those that bypass toughness, like “Path to Exile” or “Fatal Push,” are highly efficient here.
Counterplay can also involve tackling the Shambling Strider’s ability to manipulate its power and toughness. Employing instant-speed interactions that disrupt this adjustment can be effective. Setting up a board presence with creatures that either have deathtouch or can trade efficiently with it will also serve to limit its impact. Additionally, using enchantments or artifacts that restrict activation of abilities can dampen its versatility in a match.
Ultimately, while the Shambling Strider is a flexible threat, the aforementioned tactics within your deck can maintain control over the game. Recognizing the pivotal moment to take action against the Strider is just as crucial as the methods deployed, ensuring you stay one step ahead of this adaptable foe.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shambling Strider MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Beatdown Box Set, 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 Shambling Strider 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 Shambling Strider Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Douglas Shuler.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 263 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 2 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 63 | 1997 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 3 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 129 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shambling Strider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |