Sludge Strider MTG Card
2009-02-06 - Number 126
2009-09-04 - Number 95
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Insect |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Whenever another artifact comes into play under your control or another artifact you control leaves play, you may pay . If you do, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Underneath the cities of Esper are cycles of life unseen by those who feed them.
Cards like Sludge Strider
Sludge Strider occupies a unique niche in MTG as a blend of life modification and artifact synergy. When paralleled with cards like Syndicate Trafficker, which also leverages artifact manipulation, Sludge Strider stands out due to its passive ability to affect life totals upon artifact interactions. Syndicate Trafficker, however, revolves around sacrificing an artifact to become more potent on the battlefield.
Turning to Esperzoa, we observe another creature with an artifact-centric theme. Esperzoa requires the return of an artifact to your hand at the beginning of your upkeep, having a more notable presence in decks with recurring artifact benefits, differing from Sludge Strider’s gameplay dynamic that is designed around more frequent and smaller incremental advantage through artifact usage.
In the grand scheme of artifact-related mechanics in MTG, Sludge Strider presents an advantage consistent with decks invested heavily in artifacts and multi-colored mana bases, offering regular life swings that can subtly tip the scales over the course of a game. It may not boast the raw power of other artifact creatures, but its constant ability to impact life totals and board presence should not be underestimated.
Cards similar to Sludge Strider by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sludge Strider presents an opportunity to incrementally gain card advantage by allowing for intermittent draws or discard effects as creatures enter or leave the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Each time Sludge Strider’s ability triggers, it potentially converts board state changes into a loss of resources for opponents, effectively accelerating your advantage while decelerating theirs.
Instant Speed: Sludge Strider’s triggered ability operates at instant speed. This flexibly allows players to adapt to in-game events and opponents’ actions, making it a dynamic card during any phase of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sludge Strider’s activated ability necessitates discarding a card, which might deplete your hand when you need options to react to the game’s evolving state.
Specific Mana Cost: The card requires a precise mix of black, red, and blue mana, making it less versatile and harder to play in decks that aren’t dedicated to a Grixis color scheme.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a three colored mana and one generic mana total cost, Sludge Strider’s impact may fall short against other creatures or spells at the same mana threshold that may provide more immediate or potent effects to the board state.
Reasons to Include Sludge Strider in Your Collection
Versatility: Sludge Strider is a card that thrives in multicolor decks, mainly those that run Esper colors. It can be a utility player in any game stage, capable of being both an offensive and defensive asset due to its life drain ability.
Combo Potential: This card shines in setups that manipulate +1/+1 counters or artifact synergies. Every artifact that comes into play or leaves the battlefield while Sludge Strider is on the field nudges your opponent’s life total and pads your own, making it a subtle yet consistent threat.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts are prevalent, Sludge Strider can become a continuous source of life differential. It’s particularly useful when countering strategies focused on treasure, thopter, or servo tokens, offering not just a roadblock but a way to tip the scales in your favor with each artifact movement.
How to beat
Sludge Strider adds an intriguing layer of strategy to the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This Esper-colored creature comes with an ability that might seem insignificant at first – a single life gain and loss triggered by artifact movements – but can accumulate to a significant advantage over time. Yet, despite its potential, Sludge Strider isn’t without vulnerabilities.
Direct removal spells are effective, as they completely bypass the incremental life adjustments and remove the threat. Cards like Path to Exile or Murder will do the job neatly and prevent any further nuisance. Additionally, since Sludge Strider depends on the synergy with artifacts, countering or removing key artifacts from play can significantly weaken its impact. Employing artifact hate cards like Stony Silence or Vandalblast can disrupt the Sludge Strider’s strategy, nullifying the life point trades it relies on.
In essence, focusing on the primary tactic to eliminate Sludge Strider or its supporting artifacts quickly negates its advantages, ensuring that this pesky creature does not tip the scales in your opponent’s favor over the course of a match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sludge Strider MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Planechase, 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 Sludge 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
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Printings
The Sludge Strider Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2009-09-04. Illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-02-06 | Conflux | CON | 126 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Franz Vohwinkel | |
| 2 | 2009-09-04 | Planechase | HOP | 95 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Franz Vohwinkel |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sludge Strider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sludge Strider card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-02-01 | If Sludge Strider and another artifact enter the battlefield under your control at the same time, Sludge Strider’s triggered ability will trigger. Similarly, if Sludge Strider and another artifact you control leave the battlefield at the same time, Sludge Strider’s triggered ability will trigger. |
| 2009-02-01 | If an artifact creature with 0 toughness enters the battlefield under your control, Sludge Strider’s ability will trigger a total of twice: Once when that creature enters the battlefield, and once when it’s put into a graveyard. Both abilities will be put on the stack after the state-based action check that puts the 0-toughness creature into the graveyard is finished. |