Tradewind 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 , Tap two untapped creatures you control: Return target permanent to its owner's hand.

Complete guide

Tradewind Rider is a classic blue Spirit that provides unparalleled board control by bouncing permanents back to their owners' hands. By leveraging your other creatures as resources, you can reset powerful threats or reuse your own cards for additional value. Its flying ability also makes it an evasive threat while it stays on the battlefield.

What it Does

Tradewind Rider has an activated ability that allows you to return any target permanent to its owner's hand. To activate this, you must pay the cost: tap Tradewind Rider itself and tap two other untapped creatures you control. Because the cost involves tapping other creatures, those creatures do not need to have haste; however, Tradewind Rider itself must have haste or have been under your control since the beginning of your most recent turn to use its tap symbol.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you announce the activation of Tradewind Rider's ability and choose a legal target permanent. Second, you pay the costs by tapping Tradewind Rider and two other untapped creatures you control. The ability is then put onto the stack. When the ability resolves, the targeted permanent is returned to its owner's hand. If the target becomes illegal before resolution, such as gaining Hexproof, the ability will fail to resolve.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is forgetting that Tradewind Rider can target any permanent, including lands. Another mistake involves summoning sickness; while the two 'other' creatures you tap can be newly played that turn, Tradewind Rider cannot tap itself for its own ability unless it has been on the battlefield since the start of your turn. Lastly, remember that tapping the creatures is a cost, so your opponent cannot respond to the tapping itself, only to the ability once it is on the stack.

When to Play It

This card excels in creature-heavy decks where you have a surplus of bodies to fuel its ability. It is best used during your opponent's end step to clear blockers for your next turn, or in response to a spell that would destroy one of your important permanents, effectively 'saving' your card by returning it to your hand.

Interaction examples

Reusing Enter-the-Battlefield Effects

Solemn Simulacrum

If you have Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield, you can tap it as one of the two creatures to pay for Tradewind Rider's ability, targeting the Solemn Simulacrum itself. This returns the Golem to your hand, allowing you to cast it again next turn to search for another basic land.

Synergy Limitations

Roaming Throne

If you choose 'Spirit' for Roaming Throne, it will not cause Tradewind Rider's ability to trigger twice. This is because Tradewind Rider has an 'activated ability' (identified by the colon), not a 'triggered ability' (usually starting with When, Whenever, or At). Roaming Throne only interacts with triggered abilities.

Bouncing a Land

During your opponent's upkeep, you can tap Tradewind Rider and two other creatures to target one of your opponent's lands. By returning the land to their hand before they draw or cast spells, you can effectively set their mana production back a turn.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.