Skirk Outrider MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin
Released	2003-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Legions
Set code	LGN
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	114
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Greg Staples

Key Takeaways

Skirk Outrider enhances Goblin decks, multiplying its power with each Goblin, ensuring a formidable presence.
Lacks instant-speed flexibility but contributes to board development during main phases for impactful gameplay.
While mana cost is high, Outrider’s tribal synergy offers substantial benefits in Goblin-themed decks.

Text of card

Skirk Outrider gets +2/+2 and has trample as long as you control a Beast.

Once the goblins thought about it, they preferred being atop a slateback to being in front of, behind, or underneath one.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skirk Outrider doesn’t directly grant card advantage in the traditional sense of drawing cards. However, with its tribal synergies in a Goblin deck, it can effectively enhance the value of each creature you control, getting more utility out of your cards.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Skirk Outrider lacks an innate ability to accelerate resources such as adding mana, it can contribute to resource acceleration by its mere presence. It often forces opponents to deal with it quickly before its power potential can be maximized, diverting their resources and potentially slowing down their game plan.

Instant Speed: The Skirk Outrider operates at sorcery speed, which means that while it doesn’t have the flexibility of instant speed plays, it allows you to develop a robust board presence during your main phases. This can lead to a stronger, more immediate impact on the game as soon as the card hits the table.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Skirk Outrider doesn’t require discarding cards, but it’s pivotal to note that any card that does can pose a handicap by depleting your hand. Especially in a format that values card advantage, having to discard can set you back significantly against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Skirk Outrider requires red mana to play. This specification means it fits primarily into red or red-inclusive decks. For players running multicolored decks, having the right mana at the right time can be challenging, reducing the card’s flexibility and potential playability across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Skirk Outrider is relatively high for a creature with its abilities. In competitive play, where every mana point counts, players often look for a better cost-to-benefit ratio. There are more cost-efficient creatures that could be utilized in its place to achieve a similar—or even greater—impact on the game at a lower mana cost.

Reasons to Include Skirk Outrider in Your Collection

Versatility: Skirk Outrider can be a solid addition to decks focused on exploiting the Goblin tribal theme or Red-based aggro strategies. Its ability to grow in power alongside other Goblins gives it a natural place in decks that aim to overwhelm opponents with a swarm of creatures.

Combo Potential: As a Goblin, Skirk Outrider can be paired with cards like Goblin Warchief to reduce its casting cost or synergize with cards like Krenko, Mob Boss to generate a formidable board presence quickly. The potential for explosive turns can be just what a Goblin deck needs to clinch the victory.

Meta-Relevance: Given that Goblins are a perennial favourite among aggressive and combo-centric players, Skirk Outrider can have a place in meta-games that favour quick builds. It’s well-suited for environments where establishing a fast board presence can disrupt slower, more controlling decks and pave the way for an early win.

How to Beat

Skirk Outrider presents an interesting challenge with its potential to become quite powerful on the battlefield. Key to understanding its strength is the boost it receives from having the most goblins on your side of the field. A mere 2/2 creature by itself, the Outrider can quickly escalate to a 4/2 threat, making it a formidable force if left unchecked in goblin-oriented decks.

To effectively tackle Skirk Outrider, it’s essential to manage the goblin population. Spot removal spells are an efficient way to deal with this creature before it gets buffed. Instant speed removal like Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push can quickly neutralize the threat if you respond promptly to its summoning. Alternatively, board wipes like Wrath of God erase all creatures, ensuring that Skirk Outrider’s condition for empowerment is never met.

Board control spells are another effective countermeasure. By using tools like Cry of the Carnarium or Pyroclasm, you can clear away early-game goblin tokens and small creatures, ensuring that Skirk Outrider remains underpowered. In sum, keeping the battlefield clear of goblins and utilizing timely removal are the keys to overcoming Skirk Outrider’s potential surge in power.

Cards like Skirk Outrider

The Skirk Outrider holds its own in the pantheon of creature cards in MTG, particularly among those with the ability to get stronger under certain conditions. When examining its likeness to other cards, we find it parallel to the likes of Ghitu Lavarunner. While the Lavarunner gains power and toughness when there are two or more instant and sorcery cards in the graveyard, the Outrider thrives in a battlefield rich with Goblins, increasing its might with every Goblin in play.

Another related card is Goblin Bushwhacker, which also revels in a Goblin-filled environment by granting temporary boosts when kicked. However, contrary to the Outrider, Bushwhacker’s influence extends to all other Goblins, offering an aggressive tempo play rather than a single beefed-up threat. There’s also the Goblin Piledriver, which gets more potent with each attacking Goblin, accentuating a more offensive strategy compared to the Skirk Outrider’s more static power increase.

The evaluation of Skirk Outrider’s utility becomes intriguing when set against these similar options. It might not provide an army-wide buff or articulate its strength instantly during combat, but its consistent augmentation in a goblin-centric deck ensures its relevance in a more sustained game plan.

Cards similar to Skirk Outrider by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Rocket-Powered Turbo Slug - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skirk Outrider MTG card by a specific set like Legions, 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 Skirk Outrider and other MTG cards: