Viashino Sandsprinter MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Viashino Warrior |
| Abilities | Cycling,Haste,Trample |
| Released | 2019-06-14 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Modern Horizons |
| Set code | MH1 |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 153 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jason A. Engle |
Text of card
Trample, haste At the beginning of the end step, return Viashino Sandsprinter to its owner's hand. (Return it only if it's on the battlefield.) Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
Cards like Viashino Sandsprinter
Viashino Sandsprinter is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, closely related to cards like Blistering Firecat in gameplay style. Each card offers a brief burst of power, giving players a chance to deal quick damage. Viashino Sandsprinter, much like the Firecat, has the ability to surge onto the battlefield with trample, becoming an immediate threat. However, it bounces back to a player’s hand at the end of the turn, allowing for strategic re-deployment.
Akin to the Sandsprinter is Spark Elemental. With its single-red mana cost for a burst of three damage, Spark Elemental provides similar aggressive utility, yet it differs by sacrificing itself at the end of turn. This makes it a consumable resource, unlike the continuous potential threat of the Viashino Sandsprinter. Another comparable card, Ball Lightning, brings a significant impact to the game with its 6/1 stats. Although it packs a heftier punch upon entry, its high mana cost and single-use nature contrast with the more flexible and recurring threat of the Sandsprinter.
While evaluating these options, Viashino Sandsprinter delivers a remarkable blend of aggression and reusability to the battlefield, establishing itself as a valuable asset in speed-oriented decks in MTG.
Cards similar to Viashino Sandsprinter by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Viashino Sandsprinter may not directly allow you to draw cards, the creature’s cycling ability presents an opportunity to replace it in your hand with another card, thus ensuring that your hand remains fueled with options to maintain pressure or respond to opponents’ threats.
Resource Acceleration: Viashino Sandsprinter’s cycling cost can serve as a strategic advantage, allowing you to filter through your deck more efficiently. Although it doesn’t produce mana or tokens, the cycling ability still aids in reaching the essential spells or lands that keep your gameplay tempo accelerated.
Instant Speed: The cycling ability of Viashino Sandsprinter can be activated at instant speed, providing flexibility in gameplay. This means you can adapt to the fluid situation of the game by deciding whether to introduce a hasty attacker or cycle it for another card when the moment is right, thereby keeping your opponent guessing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One potential downside to playing Viashino Sandsprinter is that at the beginning of your end step, you’re compelled to bounce it back to your hand unless it was cast during the same turn. This cycling constraint can factor into card choice strategy, particularly when considering tempo or board presence maintenance.
Specific Mana Cost: Viashino Sandsprinter demands a specific mana alignment, requesting one generic and two red mana. This requirement can restrict its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce these mana types, potentially excluding it from more versatile multi-color deck builds where mana flexibility is paramount.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of three, which includes two red mana, the investment for a 4/1 creature is considerable when evaluated against other options within the same mana range. In some cases, decks may prefer creatures or spells that offer a more resilient body or additional abilities for a similar cost.
Reasons to Include Viashino Sandsprinter in Your Collection
Versatility: Viashino Sandsprinter offers flexibility by being a creature that can immediately swing for damage thanks to its haste. It fits well in aggressive decks that aim to reduce the opponent’s life total quickly.
Combo Potential: This creature can be paired with cards enabling you to recast it or benefit from creature entries and exits each turn, such as with the renowned “Flamerush Rider” for an impactful board presence.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where quick and aggressive plays can overpower slower strategies, Viashino Sandsprinter can be a key player, providing swift pressure on the opponent while keeping your mana open for other spells during your turn.
How to beat
The Viashino Sandsprinter is a unique creature in MTG, offering both agility and flexibility on the battlefield. Its inherent ability to gain haste until end of turn is highly valuable for aggressive strategies, as it can surprise opponents with sudden bursts of damage. This card thrives in environments that favor swift, impactful plays, making it a notable inclusion in decks that aim to pressure opponents early in the game.
To effectively counter this card, it’s important to anticipate its arrival and have instant-speed removal at the ready. Cards like Shock or Fatal Push are perfect fits, as they allow you to quickly respond to the Sandsprinter’s entry before any damage can be dealt. Additionally, board control spells that can target multiple creatures, such as Flame Sweep or Cry of the Carnarium, give you the edge by eliminating the Sandsprinter alongside other threats, maximizing your defensive efforts.
Remember, the Viashino Sandsprinter can return to your hand at the beginning of the next end step. Therefore, a focus on timing your responses and maintaining resource efficiency will ensure that this swift creature doesn’t sprint past your defenses.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Viashino Sandsprinter MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons, 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 Viashino Sandsprinter 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 Viashino Sandsprinter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |