Treetop Rangers MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Ranger |
| Released | 1998-10-12 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Urza's Saga |
| Set code | USG |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 279 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daren Bader |
Text of card
Treetop Rangers cannot be blocked except by creatures with flying.
"If you can't catch them, cut the trees down from beneath them. Force them to fight on our terms." —Mishra
Cards like Treetop Rangers
Treetop Rangers is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering with its distinct ability to be unblockable except by creatures with flying. Reflecting on cards of a similar nature, one might consider Skyshroud Elite, which shares the aspect of being elusive to certain kinds of blockers. While Treetop Rangers avoids terrestrial threats, Skyshroud Elite’s strength grows in the presence of nonbasic lands that an opponent controls.
Moving through the treetops, we encounter Trailblazer’s Boots, an equipment that grants a similar benefit of non-interaction, rendering the equipped creature unblockable as if it had the same ability by making the creature undetectable to lands. However, the difference here lies in the fact that Treetop Rangers come ready with their ability, whereas Trailblazer’s Boots require an additional step to equip.
Analyzing these options, the Treetop Rangers stand out with their built-in capability to bypass ground-based defenses, making them a straightforward choice for players aiming to deliver damage reliably in MTG. With their forest-camouflaged tactics, the rangers offer a strategic advantage in evasion without the need for extra investments or conditions.
Cards similar to Treetop Rangers by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Treetop Rangers may not draw cards directly, but their ability to be unblockable except by creatures with flying ensures repeated damage on an opponent, often allowing for consistent application of combat tricks or beneficial attack triggers from other cards, subsequently leading to indirect card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While not providing traditional mana acceleration, Treetop Rangers’ evasion can be a gateway to resource acceleration when combined with cards that benefit from successful attacks, such as those that create tokens or add extra lands to your battlefield.
Instant Speed: Although Treetop Rangers itself is not an instant, its low mana cost allows for flexibility in mana usage, leaving open the possibility to cast instant speed spells during your opponent’s turn. This maximizes mana efficiency and maintains the element of surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Treetop Rangers necessitates the discard of a card for the use of certain abilities. This can be counterintuitive when your hand is already depleting, forcing you to lose potentially crucial resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Treetop Rangers requires green mana for casting. This makes it less versatile in decks that aren’t heavily invested in green mana sources or multi-colored decks that can’t always guarantee the green mana needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost leaning on the higher end for its abilities, Treetop Rangers can be less efficient in terms of mana-to-effectiveness ratio. Other creatures in their mana range may offer more impactful abilities or better stats.
Reasons to Include Treetop Rangers in Your Collection
Versatility: Treetop Rangers can seamlessly integrate into decks that capitalize on evasive creatures. Its natural unblockability by non-fliers allows it to be a consistent source of damage and a great way to sneak in effects that trigger on dealing combat damage.
Combo Potential: In combination with cards that reward you for dealing combat damage to a player, Treetop Rangers can serve as a reliable mechanism to execute those strategies. Paired with equipment or auras that have beneficial effects upon hitting an opponent, Treetop Rangers becomes a modest but effective combo piece.
Meta-Relevance: With prevalent flying creatures in the current meta, Treetop Rangers stands out as a particularly advantageous inclusion. The ability to bypass blockers can be extremely crucial in specific matchups, making it a savvy pick for the keen player discerning of the changing tides of the metagame.
How to beat
Treetop Rangers is a unique Magic: The Gathering card, known for its ability to be unblockable by creatures with flying. This trait can be troublesome for decks that heavily rely on flying creatures for defense. To effectively counter this card, one effective strategy is to employ spells or abilities that can target and remove it before it can cause significant damage. Utilizing cards with the “reach” ability can also provide a solid defense against Treetop Rangers, giving you the capacity to block them despite their evasive capability.
Another tactic is to place effects on the board that restrict or punish the attacking phase, such as “Propaganda” or “Ghostly Prison,” making it costly for your opponent to attack. Board wipes like “Wrath of God” can clear out Treetop Rangers along with all other creatures, leveling the playing field. Simultaneously, faster aggro strategies might simply outpace a deck leveraging Treetop Rangers, emphasizing offensive pressure over defensive maneuvers. Adapting your gameplay to include such responses can greatly diminish the impact Treetop Rangers might have on the match.
Lastly, always remain aware of when your opponent plays Treetop Rangers and have a plan in place. Though not overwhelmingly powerful, underestimating its contribution to your opponent’s strategy could cost you the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Treetop Rangers MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Treetop Rangers 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Treetop Rangers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Treetop Rangers card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-05-01 | Creatures with the Reach ability (such as Giant Spider) don’t actually have Flying, so they can’t block this. |