Cliff Threader MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Kor Scout
Abilities	Mountainwalk
Released	2009-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Zendikar
Set code	ZEN
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	7
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Paul Bonner

Key Takeaways

Cliff Threader offers board advantage and can bypass enemy lines with its landwalking ability.
Resourceful in the right deck, it’s expedient with landfall synergies and instant speed spells.
While impactful, it requires careful play to mitigate its high mana cost and specific mana needs.

Text of card

Mountainwalk

"The crossing demands singular focus. Your life consists of these ropes, these hooks, and these rocky crags. Your past is miles below."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cliff Threader might not provide direct card draw, but by navigating tough terrains, it ensures your key creatures evade blockable pathways, effectively maintaining your presence on the board and securing continuance in your game strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct mana source, Cliff Threader’s unique landwalking ability can accelerate your resources by keeping crucial attackers free from blocks. This allows you to potentially end games quicker, making each of your attacks more efficient and resourceful.

Instant Speed: Cliff Threader isn’t an instant itself, but it’s the kind of card that benefits immensely from instant speed spells in your arsenal. Protecting this agile Kor Scout with your instants means you can confidently navigate through combat phases, knowing you have the means to keep your advantage firm even at the most crucial times.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In situations where holding on to every card counts, Cliff Threader’s demand that players discard to trigger specific abilities can be a severe setback, detracting from its potential benefits in tightly-contested matches.

Specific Mana Cost: Cliff Threader’s reliance on a particular combination of mana can create stumbling blocks for players aiming to streamline their deck’s mana base, potentially causing inconsistency in play sequences.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that may be deemed steep compared to other creatures in its class, Cliff Threader presents a challenge when players try to maintain mana efficiency, especially in the critical early to mid-game phases.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cliff Threader is a great tool for decks that require a consistent two-drop to establish an early board presence. Its ability to scale well into the late game with landfall makes it flexible for various deck builds.

Combo Potential: As a Kor Scout with a knack for handling mountainous terrains, Cliff Threader synergizes well with landfall mechanics and decks aiming to maximize value from terrain-based effects.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where the landfall strategy is prevalent, having a Cliff Threader can provide an edge by enabling faster and more impactful plays that align with the evolving dynamics of the game.

How to beat

Cliff Threader may seem like a niche card in Magic: The Gathering, but understanding its weaknesses is key to overcoming it. Primarily, this Kor Soldier card thrives in specific terrains, particularly with its landwalk ability. The card excels in environments with Mountains, where it can become unblockable and deal damage uninterrupted. Players facing this card should be strategic about their land base, possibly minimizing the number of Mountains or using nonbasic lands that don’t count as Mountains to subvert its landwalk ability.

To effectively counter Cliff Threader, consider employing removal spells before the opponent gets the chance to leverage its mountainwalk. Instant-speed removal spells can interrupt the card’s combat prowess, ensuring it never gets the chance to exploit its evasion ability. It’s also beneficial to focus on setting up a robust defense with creatures that have reach or flyers that can block Cliff Threader regardless of its landwalk capabilities.

Altogether, dealing with Cliff Threader requires strategy and anticipation, mitigating its strengths by adapting your land plays and having key removal or defensive cards at the ready. This will prevent Cliff Threader from becoming a persistent thorn in your side during MTG gameplay.

Cards like Cliff Threader

Cliff Threader is a part of the intriguing roster of creatures within Magic: The Gathering and adds unique flavor to Kor tribal decks. It shares characteristics with other two-mana creatures like Goblin Piker and Silvercoat Lion, which are also known for their straightforward designs. However, the key advantage Cliff Threader brings to the table is its landwalk ability, allowing it to be unblockable as long as the opponent controls a Mountain.

Additionally, we see similarities with cards like Makindi Sliderunner, which also benefits from land synergy. While both creatures thrive in a land-centric deck, the sliderunner’s power can grow with landfall, offering a potentially larger threat over time. Contrast that with Cliff Threader’s constant ability, making it reliable against certain red or mountain-based decks. Then there is the Highland Berserker, another Kor that can provide a team-wide boost with ally mechanics, though it lacks the situational unblockability of Cliff Threader.

Ultimately, the decision to include Cliff Threader hinges on its unique evasion capability. Its landwalk trait could be pivotal in games where unblockability defines those crucial points of damage, distinguishing it among its two-cost creature counterparts.

Cards similar to Cliff Threader by color, type and mana cost

Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions

Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cliff Threader MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Cliff Threader and other MTG cards: