Starry-Eyed SkyriderHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Beacon for the Army

Starry-Eyed Skyrider features three distinct abilities that revolve around the keyword flying. First, it has flying itself, making it a reliable attacker and blocker. Second, it has a triggered ability that triggers whenever it attacks, allowing you to grant flying to one other target creature you control. Finally, it possesses a static ability that automatically grants flying to any attacking tokens you control, regardless of how or when they entered the battlefield.

Navigating the Attack Phase

When you move to the declare attackers step, you first declare Starry-Eyed Skyrider as an attacker. This triggers its second ability, and you must choose a legal target creature you control at this time. Once the ability resolves, that target gains flying until the end of the turn. Simultaneously, the static ability is always active; as long as Starry-Eyed Skyrider is on the battlefield, any creature that is currently a token and currently attacking gains flying immediately without the need for a trigger.

Maintaining the Advantage

A common mistake involves timing the removal of Starry-Eyed Skyrider. If your opponent destroys this creature after attackers are declared but before blockers are chosen, the static ability granting flying to your attacking tokens vanishes instantly. This means your tokens can suddenly be blocked by non-flying creatures. However, the triggered ability is different: once the target creature has been granted flying by the resolution of the attack trigger, it keeps flying until the end of the turn even if Starry-Eyed Skyrider leaves the battlefield.

Strategic Deployment

You should play Starry-Eyed Skyrider in decks that rely on 'go-wide' token strategies or those that need to push through damage using utility creatures that lack evasion. Because its static ability applies to any attacking tokens, it is particularly effective in combat-focused phases where you are generating creatures mid-combat or attacking with a large board of tokens that would otherwise be blocked by ground units.

Interaction examples

Guiding the Automaton

Solemn Simulacrum

When you attack with both Starry-Eyed Skyrider and Solemn Simulacrum, the Skyrider's ability triggers. You target the Solemn Simulacrum, giving it flying until the end of the turn. This allows your Golem to fly over your opponent's ground blockers to deal damage or safely trigger its 'dies' ability later.

Doubling the Scouts

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Human' as it entered the battlefield, Starry-Eyed Skyrider's attack ability will trigger twice. When the Skyrider attacks, you can target two different creatures you control (or the same one twice, though redundant) to give them flying until the end of the turn.

Aerial Formation

If you attack with Starry-Eyed Skyrider alone while you control three 1/1 Soldier tokens that are also attacking, all three tokens immediately gain flying due to the Skyrider's static ability. If an opponent uses a spell to destroy the Skyrider before blockers are declared, the tokens lose flying, but if they destroy it after blockers are declared, the tokens remain blocked as they were.