Courier Hawk MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Bird
Abilities Flying, Vigilance
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Courier Hawk’s flying enables it to bypass ground blockers, subtly shifting card advantage to the player’s favor.
  2. Through synergies with enchantments, it can become a key piece in ramping up player resources with card draws.
  3. Its vigilance and low cost allow for a strong defensive stance while keeping mana available for instant interactions.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Flying, vigilance

The Orzhov started using hawks as messengers in order to bypass the many toll roads and bridges that dot Ravnica. Soon the service became one of their most profitable businesses.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Courier Hawk may seem modest, but with its flying ability, it often gets through enemy defenses, ensuring it can persistently chip away at opponent life totals while avoiding ground blockers. This presents small but incremental gains across multiple turns, subtly tilting the card advantage in your favor as it demands an answer from your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While Courier Hawk itself may not directly contribute to resource acceleration, its synergy with equipment and enchantments that draw cards or Ramp; for example, attaching a “Curiosity” turns every successful attack into an additional draw, fueling your game with more resources.

Instant Speed: Although Courier Hawk isn’t an instant, having a low casting cost means it slots perfectly into a play curve, allowing you to maintain a mana reserve for instant speed interactions on your opponent’s turn. Its vigilance ensures it remains a defensive resource post-attack, which further supports holding back mana for instant spells without leaving your guard down.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other creatures that offer added benefits, Courier Hawk requires you to have specific cards in hand to capitalize on its full potential, which may not always be possible, especially in the late game.

Specific Mana Cost: Courier Hawk’s casting cost, including white mana, may not seamlessly fit into multicolor decks that prioritize other colors, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering it’s a small flying creature, Courier Hawk’s mana cost might be seen as steep, particularly when you can find other creatures with similar capabilities or stronger abilities at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include Courier Hawk in Your Collection

Versatility: Courier Hawk offers a unique blend of evasion and defense with its flying and vigilance abilities. This makes the card a suitable fit for multiple deck types, including those prioritizing air superiority or needing reliable blockers that can stay active every turn.

Combo Potential: As a creature with the ability to remain untapped after attacking, it works well with cards that tap creatures for benefits, or with equipment that takes advantage of vigilance. Its synergies with various life gain or counter strategies also shouldn’t be underestimated.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where flying creatures often dictate combat dynamics, having a low-cost flier like Courier Hawk can be crucial. It’s particularly effective in formats where staying ahead on life while establishing board presence is key to outlasting opponents in the early to mid-game.


How to beat

Courier Hawk is a straightforward card in MTG, known for its combination of flying and vigilance abilities. This makes it a useful card for maintaining a defensive stance while slowly chipping away at the opponent’s life total. To successfully counter Courier Hawk, consider employing removal spells that can target flying creatures. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade are perfect to dismantle the threat without much fuss. Additionally, utilizing creatures with reach or those equipped with flying itself can keep Courier Hawk in check.

Arcane Flight could elevate your own creatures to block or even overpower the modestly stated Hawk. It’s also wise to play around the Hawk’s timing. Since it’s commonly used as a low-cost defender, deploying more aggressive creatures with greater power can overwhelm an opponent relying on the Hawk for protection. In essence, while the Courier Hawk brings agility and consistency to the battlefield, it is vulnerable to tailored removal strategies, efficient aerial combatants, and overwhelming force.


Cards like Courier Hawk

The Courier Hawk stands out in MTG as a modest yet reliable flying creature. Known for its evasion capabilities, it reminds seasoned players of cards like Squadron Hawk. Though Squadron Hawk may not have the vigilance ability of the Courier Hawk, it allows a player to search their library for up to three copies of itself, ensuring you have a steady stream of fliers.

Considering evasion tactics, Gustcloak Savior offers a different tactic, protecting your creatures from unfavorable blocks. However, it does require a higher mana investment compared to the nimble Courier Hawk. On a different note, Healer’s Hawk may come to mind; it’s a small flyer like Courier Hawk, though it trades vigilance for lifelink, granting you health with each successful hit on your opponent.

Evaluating these options, the Courier Hawk gains appreciation among MTG pilots for its dual abilities to both attack and block effectively. This balance of versatility and cost-efficiency highlights why Courier Hawk can be a tactical inclusion in certain MTG decks, especially when valuing consistent board presence.

Squadron Hawk - MTG Card versions
Gustcloak Savior - MTG Card versions
Healer's Hawk - MTG Card versions
Squadron Hawk - Magic 2011 (M11)
Gustcloak Savior - Onslaught (ONS)
Healer's Hawk - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Cards similar to Courier Hawk by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
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Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
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Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Soul Shepherd - Weatherlight (WTH)
Soltari Monk - Tempest (TMP)
Talon Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Keeper of the Light - Exodus (EXO)
Faith Healer - Urza's Saga (USG)
Angelic Page - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Avenger en-Dal - Nemesis (NEM)
Spirit Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Flumph - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cloudreach Cavalry - Legions (LGN)
Samite Healer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kor Firewalker - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Courier Hawk MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Conspiracy, 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 Courier Hawk and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Courier Hawk Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2014-06-06. Illustrated by Mark Poole.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 122003normalblackMark Poole
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 682003normalblackMark Poole

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Courier Hawk has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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