Homarid Warrior MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Homarid Warrior
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Homarid Warrior offers board control and can lead to a more dominant position on the battlefield.
  2. Its tap/untap ability adds strategic depth, comparable to instant-speed interactions for flexibility.
  3. Resource requirements can limit playability, underscoring the need for a carefully designed deck.

Text of card

oo U Homarid Warrior may not be the target of spells or effects until end of turn and does not untap as normal during your next untap phase. If Homarid Warrior is untapped, tap it.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Homarid Warrior card offers subtle card advantage by effectively stalling an opponent’s creature. While it may not draw you extra cards directly, it allows for board control which can lead to a more advantageous position.

Resource Acceleration: This card, by itself may not accelerate your resources directly, but it can enhance battlefield presence, indirectly leading to resource acceleration by protecting your more valuable creatures or disrupting opponent strategies.

Instant Speed: Although Homarid Warrior doesn’t have instant speed, its ability to tap or untap creatures at will adds a layer of flexibility that can be leveraged similarly to instant-speed interactions, allowing for strategic plays during combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One drawback of the Homarid Warrior card lies in its demand for players to part with a card from their hand. This stipulation can leave you in a bind if you’re already running short on playable options.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card comes with a restrictive mana cost that includes blue mana. This requirement can complicate things for decks that aren’t rich in blue mana resources, potentially hindering its playability across diverse deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature of its capabilities, the Homarid Warrior enters the battlefield at a steep cost. When evaluated against other cards with similar or lower mana demands, this aquatic warrior often falls short in the economy of the game, edging you towards alternative, more cost-efficient creatures.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Homarid Warrior is a flexible addition to any blue deck that requires sturdy blockers. Its shapeshifting power level makes it adaptive during different phases of the game, providing a reliable defense in times of need.

Combo Potential: This creature’s ability to tap and untap creatures can be harnessed in various combos, playing well with mechanics that reward those actions or with cards that have tap/untap triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where tempo plays are crucial, Homarid Warrior can shift the balance, disrupting opponents’ strategies while defending your life total, making it a relevant utility player in certain matchups.


How to beat

The Homarid Warrior card in MTG presents a unique challenge with its surprising toughness and shroud ability, which prevents it from being targeted by spells or abilities. To outmaneuver this maritime menace, one must cleverly navigate the battlefield. For starters, using board wipes like Wrath of God clears the way regardless of shroud, as it doesn’t target individual creatures. Tapping strategies can also be quite advantageous. Cards that change the combat dynamic, such as Sleep, which taps all creatures an opponent controls, can leave the Homarid Warrior vulnerable without directly targeting it.

Moreover, leveraging global enchantments or artifacts that affect all creatures can counter the Homarid Warrior’s defenses. For example, Meekstone restricts its ability to untap if its power is too great, while Cursed Totem shuts down any activated abilities without needing to target. It’s not just about raw power; it’s about strategic play that considers the Homarid’s unique defenses. Understanding and using the wide array of global effects and board-altering strategies will assure that the Homarid Warrior’s watery warfare remains under control.


Cards like Homarid Warrior

The Homarid Warrior, a creature card from Magic: The Gathering’s older sets, creates interesting parallels with other MTG cards of similar nature. Like the Merfolk of the Pearl Trident, the Homarid Warrior holds the strengths of a blue creature. However, the Homarid Warrior offers the additional utility of temporary power boosts in exchange for a higher casting cost. This flexibility can be impactful during the right moments in a match.

Comparing it to other three mana cost blue creatures, such as the Phantom Warrior, we notice a trade-off. While Phantom Warrior guarantees unblockable attacks every turn, Homarid Warrior leans on adaptability with the ability to manipulate its power for strategic blocks or surprises in combat. Taking a look at the Cursecatcher, although it’s a downside in terms of power, it compensates with a unique ability to counter spells unless the opponent pays extra mana, giving it a more control-oriented angle.

Although Homarid Warrior doesn’t see much play in the current metagame, in terms of versatility and potential in a creature-heavy deck, it does have its merits when compared to its contemporaries in Magic: The Gathering realms. Its ability to sway a tight combat phase potentially can make a crucial difference in the ebb and flow of a game.

Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Cursecatcher - MTG Card versions
Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Phantom Warrior - Portal (POR)
Cursecatcher - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Cards similar to Homarid Warrior by color, type and mana cost

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Chasm Drake - MTG Card versions
Belltower Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Water Elemental - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Air Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Sandbar Crocodile - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Pirate Ship - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Segovian Leviathan - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Mawcor - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Timin, Youthful Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Geology Enthusiast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Coastal Hornclaw - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Cloudhoof Kirin - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Drelnoch - Coldsnap (CSP)
Adarkar Windform - Coldsnap (CSP)
Infiltrator il-Kor - Future Sight (FUT)
Mulldrifter - The List (PLST)
Chasm Drake - Magic 2012 (M12)
Belltower Sphinx - Magic 2012 (M12)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Homarid Warrior MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fallen Empires, 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 Homarid Warrior and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Homarid Warrior Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 1997-03-24. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 22b1993normalblackRandy Asplund-Faith
21994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 22a1993normalblackDaniel Gelon
31994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 22c1993normalblackDouglas Shuler
41997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 921997normalwhitePete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Homarid Warrior has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 It taps when the ability resolves if it was not already tapped. It may be used even if it is already tapped.
2005-08-01 Does not cause Auras on it to be removed when the effect is activated. An Aura on the battlefield is neither a spell nor an ability.

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