Mantis Rider
Creature — Human Monk
Flying, vigilance, haste
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- RUW
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- The List
- Price
- $0.17
- EDHREC rank
- #16519
Mantis Rider puts three keywords on a 3/3 body for three mana — flying, vigilance, and haste at once is a rare combination that demands an immediate answer. Outside of dedicated Jeskai or monk-tribal shells like The Archimandrite, it rarely earns a slot over cards that do more for the same cost.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
The Archimandrite
The Archimandrite cares about monks, and Mantis Rider is one of the best monks in the game — haste means it attacks the turn it enters, vigilance means it holds back on defense, and The Archimandrite's anthem effect turns it into a genuine clock.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Modern and Pioneer, Mantis Rider saw real play in Jeskai tempo and burn shells — three keywords on a three-drop is legitimate pressure in those formats, and the haste means damage starts immediately. Those shells have largely moved on to more efficient threats, so Mantis Rider sits on the fringe rather than the maindeck. In Commander, it's a role-player at best: 40-life tables blunt the impact of a single 3/3, and it earns a seat almost exclusively in monk-tribal decks where The Archimandrite or a similar commander turns the keyword package into a recurring advantage engine.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.17 bulk tier
At $0.17, Mantis Rider is pure bulk — you're not paying for scarcity, you're paying for cardboard. Budget isn't a consideration here; the only question is whether the card does enough work for your deck.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.