Wolfrider's Saddle MTG Card


Wolfrider's Saddle - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Number204
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRaoul Vitale

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants card advantage by creating a 2/2 Wolf token, enriching your battlefield presence.
  2. Promotes resourcefulness; remains on field ready to equip another creature after one’s demise.
  3. Allows mana-efficient gameplay through its low-cost equip feature, adding tactical flexibility.

Text of card

When Wolfrider's Saddle enters the battlefield, create a 2/2 green Wolf creature token, then attach Wolfrider's Saddle to it. Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and can't be blocked by more than one creature. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you equip Wolfrider’s Saddle, it not only boosts your creature but also creates a 2/2 green Wolf creature token. This extra token means you’re effectively getting two potential attackers or blockers for the price of one card, giving you a strategic edge on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: The added layer of utility in Wolfrider’s Saddle is its ability to stick around. Once the creature it’s attached to leaves the battlefield, the equipment remains, ready to be re-equipped to another creature. This ongoing benefit ensures that your resources are not depleted upon the loss of a single creature, keeping your board presence strong without having to expend additional cards.

Instant Speed: While Wolfrider’s Saddle itself is not an instant, it does offer reactive play possibilities. Equipping at only three mana means you can develop your board and still keep mana open for instant speed responses during your opponent’s turn. This flexibility can be crucial in maintaining the tempo and warding off threats while progressing your own game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Wolfrider’s Saddle requires you to have another creature on the battlefield to equip. This could be a downside in scenarios where you’re facing removal-heavy decks, leaving you with a useless artifact if your board is wiped clean.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a specific mana investment (three and a green), which means it might not fit seamlessly into multicolored decks that are already straining their mana bases to accommodate a wide array of spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you consider the cost to both cast and equip Wolfrider’s Saddle, the total investment can be quite steep. For the initial cast of four mana and additional three to equip, you might find other equipment or creature spells that give you more immediate or impactful benefits on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Wolfrider’s Saddle is a unique equipment card that can easily be incorporated into creature-based decks. It lends an added layer of resilience by providing a creature token upon entering the battlefield, which has applications in both aggressive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: The card’s ability to create a Wolf creature token not only increases your field presence but also synergizes with decks that capitalize on such tokens. Think strategies that bolster your creatures or benefit from the number of creatures you control.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creatures dominate, Wolfrider’s Saddle helps keep your board state robust. It’s a solid inclusion in current metas where equipping creatures for extra combat prowess can make the difference between victory and defeat.


How to beat

Wolfrider’s Saddle stands out in MTG as an equipment card that can grant notable advantages to players, but like any card, it has its countermeasures. The Saddle attaches to a creature, providing it with a slight power boost and the ability to spawn a 1/1 black Wolf creature token when it dies, provided you control another Wolf or Werewolf. This makes it particularly synergistic in decks that capitalize on creature types.

To effectively neutralize the benefits of Wolfrider’s Saddle, removal spells that bypass the creature’s death triggers are particularly useful. Enchantment removal like Disenchant or creature exile effects like Path to Exile can ensure that the creature equipped with the Saddle is dealt with before its death trigger can occur. This prevents the token generation and mitigates the opponent’s board presence. Another strategy is to preemptively control the board with board wipes, which can handle multiple creatures and, by extension, the accessories they carry. By carefully managing your removal resources and keeping an eye out for key moments to disrupt your opponent’s strategy, you can mitigate the impact of Wolfrider’s Saddle and maintain dominance during the game.


Cards like Wolfrider's Saddle

Wolfrider’s Saddle is a unique artifact in Magic the Gathering, distinctly enhancing creature capabilities on the battlefield. Its similarities start with Mortarpod, which also provides a creature with an additional ability, in this case to deal damage. While Mortarpod allows for immediate impact by sacrificing the creature, Wolfrider’s Saddle offers a persistent advantage by making the equipped creature harder to remove thanks to the bonus wolf creature it creates.

Another analogue is Trusty Machete, a card that, like Wolfrider’s Saddle, increases a creature’s potential power and toughness. Though Trusty Machete doesn’t summon an additional creature, its lower equip cost can be a strategic asset, allowing for more agility in gameplay. Conversely, Wolfhunter’s Quiver shares thematic synergy with Wolfrider’s Saddle by also referencing wolves and granting utilitarian abilities related to creature interaction, albeit focusing more on removal rather than enhancement.

Each artifact has its strategic niche, but Wolfrider’s Saddle provides a balanced mix of creature empowerment and board presence, proving to be a card of interest for players looking to solidify their control over the game through careful equipment choices.

Mortarpod - MTG Card versions
Trusty Machete - MTG Card versions
Wolfhunter's Quiver - MTG Card versions
Mortarpod - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Trusty Machete - Zendikar (ZEN)
Wolfhunter's Quiver - Dark Ascension (DKA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wolfrider's Saddle MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Wolfrider's Saddle and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wolfrider's Saddle has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wolfrider's Saddle card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2019-07-12 If the equipped creature has menace, it can’t be blocked at all.
2019-07-12 No player may take any actions between the time you create the Wolf token and the time Wolfrider’s Saddle becomes attached to it.
2019-07-12 The Wolf token that you create enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield will see the token enter as a 2/2 creature before Wolfrider’s Saddle becomes attached.

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