Rushwood Dryad MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Dryad
Abilities Forestwalk
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Its forestwalk ability renders Rushwood Dryad unblockable, providing strategic advantages in green-heavy metas.
  2. Costing just two mana, it fits smoothly into your curve, aiding in swift and efficient game plan execution.
  3. Despite restrictions, its unblockability in specific matchups makes it a worthy collection addition for tactical players.

Text of card

Forestwalk (This creature is unblockable as long as defending player controls a forest.)

Rushwood is a living jewel that reflects its dwellers' hearts.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rushwood Dryad may not draw cards directly, but its stealth ability ensures it remains on the battlefield, often leading to repeated damage over several turns. This consistent presence can indirectly contribute to card advantage by forcing your opponent to deal with it, potentially expending more resources than the one card you invested.

Resource Acceleration: While Rushwood Dryad doesn’t directly accelerate your mana, its low casting cost facilitates a swifter, more efficient deployment of your game plan. At just two mana, this card easily slips into the curve, leaving plenty of room for additional spells or summoning creatures even in the early stages of the game.

Instant Speed: While the Dryad itself isn’t an instant, its forestwalk ability gives it an edge when played against an opponent with forests. This allows your Dryad to slip past defenses at a crucial moment, much like how instant speed spells can catch an opponent by surprise. The ability to potentially deal unblockable damage keeps your opponents on their toes and can alter their strategy in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Rushwood Dryad doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, it can sometimes lead to a strategic disadvantage. If you’re playing a deck that utilizes the Dryad, you may be required to discard other cards to sustain its presence on the battlefield, particularly in a green deck that might not have extensive card draw options to replenish your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Rushwood Dryad has an exclusively green mana cost, making it a natural fit only in mono-green or green-centric decks. This specificity can restrict deck-building options and may not be appealing for players who prefer multi-colored or less color-restricted decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although possessing forestwalk can make Rushwood Dryad unblockable in certain situations, its two-mana cost for a 1/1 creature can be seen as steep when compared to other creatures in the game. Players may find better value or efficiency in other two-mana creatures with either superior stats or more impactful abilities.


Reasons to Include Rushwood Dryad in Your Collection

Versatility: Rushwood Dryad is a green creature that can seamlessly integrate into various deck builds. Its forestwalk ability allows it to go unblocked as long as your opponent controls a Forest, making it a consistent source of damage in matchups where green lands are prevalent.

Combo Potential: As a two-mana creature, Rushwood Dryad can be deployed early in the game, serving as a catalyst for synergies with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or by bolstering your creature count for effects that scale with the number of creatures you control.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where green decks are common, Rushwood Dryad gains additional value. Its forestwalk makes it a subtle yet effective tool against those decks, ensuring it remains a relevant card choice for savvy players looking to gain an edge in their local meta.


How to beat

Rushwood Dryad is one of those nifty creatures in Magic: The Gathering that can be a thorn in your side – quite literally, if you’re not prepared. Its forestwalk ability allows it to sneak past your defenses if you’re tapping into green mana. To outmaneuver this elusive being, consider removing forests from your deck if forestwalk is a recurring nuisance. Alternately, use spells or abilities to change the land type or make your lands colorless – this negates the advantage of forestwalk entirely.

Spot removal cards are also an effective response. They come in handy for dealing with Rushwood Dryad before it can take advantage of its ability. Board wipes work too, clearing the field of all creatures, including those pesky Dryads lurking in the shadows. Lastly, don’t forget about creature enchantments that prevent damage from green creatures or block their attacks. With the right strategy and response cards, Rushwood Dryad’s advantage can quickly become a fleeting trick rather than a game-ending threat.

Controlling the battlefield is key in Magic: The Gathering and knowing how to neutralize cards like Rushwood Dryad will help you maintain dominance over the game. Adaptability and strategic deck construction are your allies in achieving victory.


Cards like Rushwood Dryad

Rushwood Dryad seamlessly fits into the realm of forestwalk creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It aligns closely with the likes of Nettle Sentinel, a similarly costed green creature that offers an aggressive stance for players. Unlike the permanent forestwalk ability of Rushwood Dryad, Nettle Sentinel can also take advantage of situations where many spells are played in a single turn, thus untapping frequently.

Moving to comparisons, there’s the Wirewood Elf, another creature that comes at a low cost and provides a modest stat line. Where Rushwood Dryad offers unblockability in forest-rich metas, Wirewood Elf leans towards ramping mana, catering to a different strategic avenue. Skyshroud Sentinel then enters the picture with a similar mana value but with a focus on deck manipulation over direct combat capabilities.

Ultimately, Rushwood Dryad stands out in scenarios ripe with forests where it can slip past defenses with ease. This ability to be an unblockable attacker in certain matchups gives it an edge among its peers and solidifies its place in MTG decks that capitalize on land types to gain advantages on the battlefield.

Nettle Sentinel - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Elf - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Sentinel - MTG Card versions
Nettle Sentinel - Eventide (EVE)
Wirewood Elf - Onslaught (ONS)
Skyshroud Sentinel - Nemesis (NEM)

Cards similar to Rushwood Dryad by color, type and mana cost

Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
Grizzly Bears - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Eladamri, Lord of Leaves - MTG Card versions
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Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Priest of Titania - MTG Card versions
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Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
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Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
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Tel-Jilad Chosen - MTG Card versions
Wyluli Wolf - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Whirling Dervish - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Grizzly Bears - Seventh Edition (7ED)
River Boa - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Eladamri, Lord of Leaves - Tempest (TMP)
Albino Troll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Silverglade Pathfinder - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Priest of Titania - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Quirion Elves - Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition (DDE)
Blurred Mongoose - Invasion (INV)
Llanowar Loamspeaker - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Genesis Hydra - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Scavenging Ooze - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
Heir of the Wilds - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wren's Run Vanquisher - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Muscle Sliver - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Ayula, Queen Among Bears - Fallout (PIP)
Tel-Jilad Chosen - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rushwood Dryad MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Eighth Edition, 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 Rushwood Dryad and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rushwood Dryad Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by Todd Lockwood.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 2631997normalblackTodd Lockwood
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 278★2003normalblackTodd Lockwood
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 2782003normalwhiteTodd Lockwood
42007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 2942003normalblackTodd Lockwood
52007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 294★2003normalblackTodd Lockwood

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rushwood Dryad has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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