Skyhunter Patrol MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Cat Knight
Abilities First strike,Flying
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Flying and first strike make Skyhunter Patrol a consistent, dual-threat card on the battlefield.
  2. Its white mana requirement may limit easy inclusion in multicolored decks.
  3. Combos with equipment/auras enhance its combat effectiveness significantly.

Text of card

Flying, first strike

"They are the first to raise the alarm when the levelers attack, and the first to risk their lives to defend the pride." —Raksha Golden Cub, leonin kha


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skyhunter Patrol helps maintain your battlefield presence by offering a solid flying creature. Its ability to stay above ground-based blockers gives you an advantage in both offense and defense, often necessitating an answer from your opponent and potentially costing them card resources.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, Skyhunter Patrol synergizes well with equipment and aura cards that could provide resource acceleration. Pairing it with cards that tap for mana or cards that trigger upon attacking can indirectly speed up your resource growth.

Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant itself, Skyhunter Patrol benefits from instant-speed spells that could protect it or disrupt your opponent’s strategies. Its keyword ‘Flying’ lets it stay a consistent threat, compelling opponents to leave mana open or reserve combat tricks, which can put you at an advantage.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Skyhunter Patrol needs both white mana symbols in its casting cost, restricting its seamless addition to multicolored decks without adequate white mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of four for a 2/2 flyer, Skyhunter Patrol’s cost-effectiveness is debatable, especially when compared with other creatures at the same cost that offer additional abilities or stronger stats.

Discard Requirement: While Skyhunter Patrol doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, its higher mana demand may pressure hand resources, potentially leading to earlier discards to maintain board presence or reach vital lands.


Reasons to Include Skyhunter Patrol in Your Collection

Versatility: Skyhunter Patrol is a card that can be seamlessly integrated into various white-based decks, particularly those that rely on flying creatures to evade ground blockers and press an aerial advantage.

Combo Potential: As a creature with flying and first strike, the Patrol can be paired with equipment or auras that amplify its combat abilities, making it a formidable threat in combination-focused archetypes.

Meta-Relevance: With flying being a relevant evasion ability in many metas, the Patrol has the potential to shine in environments where it can consistently connect with opponents, maintain board presence, and dodge common sorcery-speed removal.


How to beat

Skyhunter Patrol is a recognizable creature in the realm of MTG, valued by players for its flying and first strike abilities. Having the power to attack from above and handle combat with the advantage of hitting first makes it a strategic piece on the battlefield. However, there are ways to counter this white-aligned card. Focus on spells that target flying creatures or utilise creatures with reach to deter it. Cards like Plummet are specifically designed to handle flying threats.

Another tactic is to employ board wipes that clear multiple creatures, bypassing the Patrol’s first strike ability—think Day of Judgment or Wrath of God, which equally affect all creatures regardless of abilities. Alternatively, making Skyhunter Patrol lose flying through spells like Gravity Well can ground it, making it vulnerable to common combat. Implement removal spells that can bypass its combat advantages, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, ensuring that the card doesn’t stay on the field long enough to pose a significant threat.

Harnessing such counters effectively reduces the impact of Skyhunter Patrol on the game, allowing you to maintain control and push towards victory despite its presence.


Cards like Skyhunter Patrol

Skyhunter Patrol is a versatile creature within Magic the Gathering’s vast library of cards. With its flying and first strike abilities, it shares some similarities with other White creatures such as the Concordia Pegasus and Aven Skirmisher. While the Concordia Pegasus also has flying, it does not have the first strike ability, making the Skyhunter Patrol a more formidable option in combat.

Another card worth comparing is the Elite Inquisitor. Like Skyhunter Patrol, the Elite Inquisitor enjoys first strike, and it comes with additional protections against Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies. However, this increase in defensive prowess comes with a slight bump in the mana cost. There’s also the Gustcloak Savior, which offers a unique mechanic that allows you to untap creatures and remove them from combat, providing a different strategic angle compared to the straightforward combat benefits of Skyhunter Patrol.

Evaluating Skyhunter Patrol alongside its peers, it stands out due to its balanced offensive and defensive capabilities. It’s a solid card for players looking to elevate their game with a cost-efficient creature that can take control of the skies and strike down adversaries swiftly.

Concordia Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Aven Skirmisher - MTG Card versions
Elite Inquisitor - MTG Card versions
Gustcloak Savior - MTG Card versions
Concordia Pegasus - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Aven Skirmisher - Fate Reforged (FRF)
Elite Inquisitor - Innistrad Promos (PISD)
Gustcloak Savior - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Skyhunter Patrol by color, type and mana cost

Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Hero of Bladehold - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Guard - MTG Card versions
Galepowder Mage - MTG Card versions
Kor Cartographer - MTG Card versions
Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions
Akroan Mastiff - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - Revised Edition (3ED)
Moorish Cavalry - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Witch Hunter - Chronicles (CHR)
Carrier Pigeons - Alliances (ALL)
Tormented Angel - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Seasoned Marshal - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Coalition Honor Guard - Apocalypse (APC)
Mangara, the Diplomat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Akroma's Devoted - Legions (LGN)
Aven Cloudchaser - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Seht's Tiger - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Valor - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Guardian Seraph - Magic 2010 (M10)
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Hero of Bladehold - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Mausoleum Guard - Innistrad (ISD)
Galepowder Mage - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)
Kor Cartographer - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)
Sunspire Gatekeepers - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Akroan Mastiff - Journey into Nyx (JOU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skyhunter Patrol MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Salvat 2005, 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 Skyhunter Patrol and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skyhunter Patrol Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Matt Cavotta.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 222003normalblackMatt Cavotta
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL L542003normalwhiteMatt Cavotta
32005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL L192003normalwhiteMatt Cavotta
42007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 41★2003normalblackMatt Cavotta
52007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 412003normalblackMatt Cavotta
62011-04-01Duel Decks: Knights vs. DragonsDDG 192003normalblackMatt Cavotta
72022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 2452015normalblackMatt Cavotta

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skyhunter Patrol has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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