Mtenda Herder MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Scout
Abilities	Flanking
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	29
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zina Saunders

Key Takeaways

Mtenda Herder enhances creature-based strategies by promoting rapid board development and potential combo plays.
The card’s disadvantages include a discard condition and a rigid mana cost that may limit its versatility.
Despite comparisons, Mtenda Herder offers a unique, enduring influence in creature-focused decks.

Text of card

Flanking (Whenever a creature without flanking is assigned to block this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.)

"All animals—even humans—can be herded. The trick is to make them think they choose their own destination." —Mangara

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Mtenda Herder doesn’t directly let you draw cards, it supports strategies that capitalize on creature count, indirectly contributing to potential card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Mtenda Herder is a cost-efficient creature that can help you populate the board early in the game, accelerating your board presence and paving the way for more impactful plays in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: This creature card may not be an instant, but it can synergize well with other cards in your arsenal that operate at instant speed, allowing you to respond swiftly to your opponent’s actions while continuing to develop your own game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Mtenda Herder card comes with a discard condition that can be quite limiting during gameplay. By having to get rid of another card to utilize Mtenda Herder’s abilities, players might find themselves at a resource disadvantage, especially in tight situations where every card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Mtenda Herder’s casting cost mandates the use of green mana, which may not seamlessly fit into all deck archetypes. Players running multicolor decks or those not heavily invested in green mana sources might encounter issues seamlessly integrating this card into their strategies, potentially limiting its overall utility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the cost to play Mtenda Herder is not exorbitant, it does require a fair amount of mana investment. Given the dynamic and competitive nature of gameplay, there are alternatives available that may provide similar or better effects for a lower mana investment, making Mtenda Herder a less attractive choice for players looking to optimize their deck’s mana curve and efficiency.

Reasons to Include Mtenda Herder in Your Collection

Versatility: Mtenda Herder can adapt to various deck archetypes due to its low mana cost and creature type synergy. This makes it an accessible play in the early turns for a variety of strategies.

Combo Potential: With its ability to untap creatures, it offers combo potential in decks focusing on tap and untap mechanics. The efficiency of chains that require creature tapping can be significantly increased.

Meta-Relevance: As decks evolve and new sets are released, Mtenda Herder remains relevant in formats where summoning sickness restrictions can hinder speed and momentum. This makes it a useful inclusion against decks that aim to outpace the opponent.

How to beat

Mtenda Herder is a unique creature card that brings a dynamic element to Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to untap target creature certainly poses an intriguing challenge on the field. To gain an upper hand against Mtenda Herder, strategic gameplay is crucial. Primarily, it operates best in a deck bustling with creatures to maximize its utility, making it less effective in leaner setups. Thus, reducing the number of creature targets it can influence can be a key strategy.

Removal spells are your best friend when facing the Herder. Options like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dispatch the card before its ability becomes a recurring issue. Alternatively, enchantments like Pacifism restrict the Herder’s effectiveness without needing to remove it from the board. If the goal is to minimize its ability to untap creatures, then countering spells that aim to proliferate the number of creatures on the opponent’s field will help keep the herder in check.

Lastly, an understanding of when to time your actions is essential. If Mtenda Herder is part of an intricate combo, try to disrupt the sequence before it fully unfolds. Focusing on the broader strategy, rather than just the individual card, will often lead to a more comprehensive victory.

Cards like Mtenda Herder

When looking at Mtenda Herder in the expansive world of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), several cards share a functional resemblance to this unsung hero of the savannah. Take a card like Norwood Ranger, for example, a simple green creature card that also boasts a low casting cost and primarily serves as an early-game presence. However, Norwood Ranger lacks the influence Mtenda Herder has on the battlefield, not impacting other creatures.

In the context of synergy and symbiosis, cards like Veteran Armorer resonate with the role Mtenda Herder plays. Veteran Armorer, much like Mtenda Herder, bolsters your other creatures – but it does so in a static manner, affecting defense rather than attack. Stepping into the realm of enhancing attack, the Goblin Bushwhacker charges in. This card offers a similar boost in offense but does so with an explosive one-time effect rather than a consistent ability like our herding friend.

To sum up, while Mtenda Herder may not be complex, it holds a niche in MTG where it can subtly tip the scales in creature-heavy matches, similar to its counterparts but with a distinct, enduring influence on your troops’ offensive capabilities during skirmishes.

Cards similar to Mtenda Herder by color, type and mana cost

Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions

Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mtenda Herder MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Mtenda Herder and other MTG cards: