Equestrian Skill MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2016-04-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadows over Innistrad |
| Set code | SOI |
| Number | 204 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Zoltan Boros |
Key Takeaways
- Equestrian Skill provides card advantage and could change the course of the game with strategic card draws.
- Its instant-speed utility allows for surprise maneuvers, giving players a dynamic edge during play.
- While powerful, the card’s discard requirement and specific mana cost demand thoughtful deck integration.
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +3/+3. As long as enchanted creature is a Human, it has trample.
From the jagged peaks of Stensia, to the tangled woods of Kessig, to the bogs of Nephalia, the Gavony Riders prepare for all terrain.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Equestrian Skill, you’re not just outfitting a creature with a substantial boost but also potentially creating a scenario where you’re drawing cards. This can happen as you effectively outmaneuver blockers or deter opponents from engaging, thus preserving your resources while dwindling theirs.
Resource Acceleration: Equestrian Skill is pivotal in ramping up your board’s capabilities quickly. By enhancing a creature, especially one with a tapping ability, you can expedite your mana production or other resource-based abilities, ensuring you’re leaps and bounds ahead in the race for supremacy.
Instant Speed: The power of instant speed spells in MTG cannot be overstated, and Equestrian Skill slips comfortably into this dynamic. By waiting for the optimum moment, perhaps in reaction to an opponent’s move, you maintain the element of surprise, deploying your Skill to turn the tides in your favor when least expected.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Equestrian Skill comes with the prerequisite of discarding another card. This mechanic requires careful consideration as it reduces hand advantage, potentially putting players at a disadvantage when they least expect it or can afford it.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s inclusion of a specifically colored mana requirement can pose a challenge. Decks that aren’t tailored to optimize such a color scheme might find it difficult to incorporate Equestrian Skill effectively, potentially limiting its strategic viability and versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment cost that may be viewed as steep for its provided benefits, players often analyze alternate options. Card slots in a deck are precious, and the effectiveness of Equestrian Skill must be weighted against other cards that could fulfill similar roles at a lower mana investment, potentially offering more immediate or impactful in-game advantages.
Reasons to Include Equestrian Skill in Your Collection
Versatility: Equestrian Skill offers an array of possibilities for any deck that prioritizes creature enhancements. This card can turn even the most unassuming creature into a formidable threat, making it a versatile pick for various deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: When paired with other cards that capitalize on boosted creatures, Equestrian Skill not only stands strong on its own but can also become a key component in powerful synergies and combos, raising the potential of your gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting landscape of competitive play, a card like Equestrian Skill with its capability to enhance creatures could be crucial in tackling decks that rely heavily on non-creature spells, keeping your strategy in line with current meta trends.
How to beat
Equestrian Skill is an enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering that empowers a target creature with enhanced abilities, notably granting it +3/+3 and the keyword ‘trample’ if you control a land that is a Plains. This card can quickly elevate a modest creature into a significant threat, especially in decks that harness the synergy of ‘plains’ land type.
To effectively counteract Equestrian Skill, consider using removal spells that can target enchantments or creatures. Direct damage spells might not suffice due to the power boost, but spells like Disenchant or Naturalize are precise tools to dismantle the enchantment itself. For more comprehensive board control, board wipe spells like Wrath of God can reset the playing field entirely, removing the creature along with its auric enhancement. Additionally, favoring instant-speed interaction helps, as you can wait for your opponent to commit their mana to Equestrian Skill and respond accordingly, thereby gaining a more favorable position and maintaining resource parity.
Tactically, it’s also advantageous to keep the board clear of significant targets for Equestrian Skill, limiting its value. By understanding the landscape of threats and answers available, players can adeptly navigate encounters with cards like Equestrian Skill, ensuring dominance in their matches.
Cards like Equestrian Skill
Equestrian Skill brings a unique aura to the realm of buffing creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This enchantment echoes the functions of cards like Gryff’s Boon, bestowing a creature with not only an increase in power but also the much-coveted trample ability. What makes Equestrian Skill particularly noteworthy is the added bonus it provides for already sizable creatures—those with power 3 or greater gain trample, turning them into formidable threats that can crush through defenders.
In essence, it shares a kinship with cards such as Squire’s Devotion. While Squire’s Devotion leans towards lifelink and creates a token, Equestrian Skill bypasses these for a direct and potent power pump. Another parallel can be identified in Mammoth Umbra. This card also grants a strength boost and protective features, but Equestrian Skill prioritizes relentless offense with the trample effect—a game changer when pushing for damage against an opponent’s life total.
Comparatively, Equestrian Skill fits seamlessly into decks emphasizing creature strength synergy. Its ability to transform even a modest creature into a pressing threat makes it a solid choice for players looking to capitalize on board presence and overwhelm opponents with unpreventable damage.
Cards similar to Equestrian Skill by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Equestrian Skill MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Equestrian Skill and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Equestrian Skill has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
