Windscouter MTG Card


Windscouter enables strategic foresight, optimizing card draws to sculpt your hand and strategy. The card’s instant speed allows for adaptable and surprising play, crucial in dynamic games. Discard requirements and specific mana costs may limit Windscouter’s versatility in some decks.
Windscouter - Prophecy
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Scout
Abilities Flying
Released2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set nameProphecy
Set codePCY
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number53
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBrian Snõddy

Text of card

Flying Whenever Windscouter attacks or blocks, return it to its owner's hand at end of combat.

These nimble ships were designed for hit-and-run tactics.


Cards like Windscouter

Windscouter is a creature card that offers a blend of flight and strategic insight in Magic: The Gathering gameplay. Its kinship can be seen with cards like Welkin Tern, another flyer with a similar mana cost and power. Both cards allow for early aggressive plays in the air, but Windscouter has a slight advantage with its looting ability, giving players card selection to refine their hand.

Mistral Charger is another card that echoes the attributes of Windscouter with evasion and a low cost. While Mistral Charger may boast a higher toughness, it lacks the ability to sift through the deck which can be pivotal in many matches. Then looking to Faerie Seer, it also facilitates a peek into the future cards with its scry ability, but Windscouter edges ahead with its reusable looting feature each time it attacks.

When evaluating these cards, Windscouter appeals to those who value not only the offensive airborne assaults but also the capacity to influence upcoming draws. This adaptability makes it a versatile card, able to maintain hand quality while applying pressure on your opponent from above.

Welkin Tern - MTG Card versions
Mistral Charger - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Welkin Tern - MTG Card versions
Mistral Charger - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Windscouter by color, type and mana cost

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Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Windscouter card offers players the potential to scout ahead, meaning peeking at upcoming cards and making informed decisions to optimize the draw and plan the strategy more effectively.

Resource Acceleration: This card can significantly streamline your deck’s performance by offering a way to sift through your deck more quickly, thereby potentially accelerating your access to necessary resources.

Instant Speed: Windscouter’s instant speed nature enables flexible play, allowing you to react swiftly to the evolving state of the game without having to commit to a play prematurely, ensuring you maintain the element of surprise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Windscouter forces you to discard a card, potentially diminishing your hand and reducing strategic options, especially if you’re already behind.

Specific Mana Cost: Windscouter requires a precise combination of mana, which can be problematic in multi-colored decks and may hinder its inclusion outside of blue-focused strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that’s on the higher side for its abilities, Windscouter might not always present the best value, especially when compared to other cards with similar effects that come at a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Windscouter in Your Collection

Versatility: Windscouter offers a unique blend of flying prowess, enabling it to seamlessly integrate into various deck builds, from blue-focused control decks to aggressive fliers.

Combo Potential: With its ability to scry upon dealing combat damage, Windscouter can help set up top-deck combos or synergize with library manipulation strategies, ensuring you draw into the answers or threats you need.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where smaller creatures dominate the battlefield, Windscouter’s evasion and utility can make it an unexpected yet impactful player, holding its own against the current trends and deck choices.


How to beat

Windscouter poses a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering. Its elusive nature often catches players off-guard, creating an environment where traditional removal spells might fall short. When faced with a Windscouter, the strategy shifts towards indirect methods of mitigation, such as board wipe spells that do not target or spells that hinder its ability to attack or block effectively. Cards that change the rules of engagement, like those imposing additional costs to attack or block, can also trip up a Windscouter’s efficacy. Likewise, countering it before it hits the battlefield remains a solid tactic, given its cost and potential impact. Additionally, employing creatures with reach or spells that can deal damage without targeting can circumvent Windscouter’s defenses.

Building a deck with versatility in mind is essential, incorporating answers not only for evasive creatures like Windscouter but for a wide range of threats. This holistic approach ensures that when you do encounter a Windscouter, it won’t catch you unprepared, and you’ll have the tools needed to navigate around the roadblock it presents and sail towards victory. A well-rounded deck, adapting to threats on the fly, is a hallmark of a seasoned MTG player.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Windscouter MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Windscouter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Windscouter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal