Mantis Rider is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Flying, vigilance, haste
Complete guide
Mantis Rider is a quintessential Jeskai threat that combines speed, evasion, and defensive utility. This Human Monk hits the battlefield ready for combat, demanding an immediate answer from your opponents.
A Triple Threat of Keywords
Mantis Rider features three key evergreen abilities: Flying, Vigilance, and Haste. Flying ensures it can soar over blockers, Haste allows it to attack the turn it enters the battlefield, and Vigilance means it doesn't tap to attack, remaining available to block during your opponent's turn.
Navigating the Stack
When you cast Mantis Rider, it is a creature spell on the stack that can be countered. Once it resolves and enters the battlefield, its Haste ability immediately allows it to be declared as an attacker or use any abilities with the tap symbol without waiting for a new turn cycle.
The Power of Creature Types
As both a Human and a Monk, Mantis Rider benefits from tribal synergies. While it does not have triggered abilities of its own, its presence on the board as a specific type can be significant when paired with cards that care about the battlefield state or creature types.
Interaction examples
On turn three, you cast Mantis Rider. Because it has Haste, you immediately move to combat and declare it as an attacker. Due to Flying, your opponent cannot block it with ground creatures. After combat, Mantis Rider remains untapped because of Vigilance, ready to block a return attack.
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Human' or 'Monk' chosen, Mantis Rider benefits from being that type. While Roaming Throne doesn't double Mantis Rider's keywords (as they are static abilities, not triggered), Mantis Rider provides a fast, evasive body that fits perfectly into a deck centered around the types Roaming Throne enhances.
Solemn SimulacrumIf your opponent attacks with Solemn Simulacrum, you can use Mantis Rider to block it because Mantis Rider remained untapped thanks to Vigilance. Even though the opponent may draw a card from Solemn Simulacrum dying, Mantis Rider survives the combat with its 3/3 stats, allowing you to attack again on your next turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Mantis Rider
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
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Meta decks with Mantis Rider
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