Auriok Windwalker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities	Flying
Released	2004-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Fifth Dawn
Set code	5DN
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	5
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeremy Jarvis

Key Takeaways

Tap ability lets Auriok Windwalker equip artifacts for free, providing a sustained strategic edge.
Instant speed activation offers flexibility and the element of surprise during gameplay.
Specific mana cost and higher casting may limit its inclusion in some multicolored decks.

Text of card

Flying : Attach target Equipment you control to target creature you control.

Each generation, a handful of Auriok girls are allowed to visit the Cave of Light. They return riding the wind and brandishing steel.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Auriok Windwalker grants a strategic upper hand by equipping artifacts at no mana cost. This ability can be used repeatedly, ensuring a sustained advantage throughout the match as you equip powerful artifacts to your creatures without spending additional resources.

Resource Acceleration: By forgoing the need for mana to attach equipment, Auriok Windwalker effectively accelerates your resource management. This can be especially crucial in the middle to late game, where mana can then be directed towards casting impactful spells or building a formidable board presence.

Instant Speed: The Windwalker’s ability can be activated at instant speed, allowing for surprise switches in artifact attachments during combat or in response to an opponent’s actions. This added flexibility can create unexpected plays, turning the tides of battle in your favor without warning.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Auriok Windwalker doesn’t require you to discard cards, it does necessitate having another artifact you’re willing to equip to it. This can lead to a dilemma of resource allocation, which can prove disadvantageous if your artifact arsenal is limited.

Specific Mana Cost: Auriok Windwalker demands a specific mana combination (two generic and two white mana), potentially restricting its incorporation into multicolored decks that may not consistently generate the required white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to bring into play, Auriok Windwalker’s abilities may be viewed as suboptimal, particularly when alongside lower cost creatures that provide similar or greater impact on the game’s state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Auriok Windwalker showcases flexibility by easily fitting into artifact-centric decks. Its ability to attach equipment for free is a boon for strategies that depend on synergizing with various pieces of equipment.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to instantly equip at no mana cost opens up opportunities for dynamic combinations, creating instant threats or utilizing equipment-based triggers on the fly.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where equipment decks are prevalent, Auriok Windwalker’s utility increases. It offers an immediate response to equip powerful items, making it a considerable asset against a variety of match-ups.

How to Beat Auriok Windwalker

The Auriok Windwalker is a unique asset for artifact strategies in MTG, offering the ability to grant mobility to your equipment with its tap ability. Overcoming this card requires disrupting the synergy it creates between artifacts and creatures. One effective strategy is to remove the Windwalker before its ability can be used. Instant speed removal such as Path to Exile or Abrupt Decay are excellent choices, as they allow you to react in a timely manner, potentially during your opponent’s turn before they can equip a powerful artifact for free.

Another angle of approach is to limit the value Auriok Windwalker can provide by countering the artifacts it aims to attach. Cards like Stony Silence or Kataki, War’s Wage can halt the benefits gained from those artifacts, effectively negating the Windwalker’s tactical advantage. Additionally, ensuring that any artifacts on the battlefield are swiftly dealt with, through cards like Shatter or Naturalize, can significantly reduce the impact that Auriok Windwalker has on the game.

Keep in mind, dealing with Auriok Windwalker is not just about removing the creature itself but also about dismantling the combo potential it represents. Addressing the wider range of threats and focusing on the pivotal points of the artifact-centric strategy will serve you well in securing victory against decks utilizing this card.

Cards like Auriok Windwalker

Auriok Windwalker is a unique figure in the tapestry of Magic: The Gathering creature cards. This card finds its kinship in other artifact-centric creatures, one being Brass Squire. Both these cards share the ability to manipulate equipment attachments at no mana cost. Auriok Windwalker, however, offers the added flexibility of targeting any creature on the battlefield, not just itself like Brass Squire. This makes it exceptionally versatile in decks that rely on equipment synergy.

Another card, Leonin Shikari, also dances in this equipment-focused arena, allowing you to attach equipment at instant speed. Yet, it lacks the direct ‘attach’ ability inherent to Auriok Windwalker, requiring manual equipping within the constraints of your mana pool. Conversely, Armory Automaton enters the battlefield and captures all available equipment, presenting a powerful but one-off effect unlike the continued use offered by Auriok Windwalker.

These comparisons highlight the unique place Auriok Windwalker holds. It deftly combines versatility and tactical advantage, positioning it as a preferred choice for MTG players crafting a strategy that leverages the power of equipment and the dynamic nature of combat.

Cards similar to Auriok Windwalker by color, type and mana cost

Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions

Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions

Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Auriok Windwalker MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn, 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 Auriok Windwalker and other MTG cards: