Maraleaf Rider
Creature — Elf Knight
Sacrifice a Food: Target creature blocks this creature this turn if able.
They both hunger for battle.
Kieran Yanner
Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
• #166Rulings
If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Tough Cookie (an Artifact Creature — Food Golem) to activate Maraleaf Rider's ability (an ability with "Sacrifice a Food" in its cost).
(wotc • 2024-11-08)
If the target creature can block other creatures but can't block Maraleaf Rider, it's free to block any other creature or to not block at all.
(wotc • 2019-10-04)
If the target creature can't block for any reason (such as being tapped), then it doesn't block. If there's a cost associated with having it block, its controller isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to block in that case either.
(wotc • 2019-10-04)
Rulings
If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Tough Cookie (an Artifact Creature — Food Golem) to activate Maraleaf Rider's ability (an ability with "Sacrifice a Food" in its cost).
(wotc • 2024-11-08)
If the target creature can block other creatures but can't block Maraleaf Rider, it's free to block any other creature or to not block at all.
(wotc • 2019-10-04)
If the target creature can't block for any reason (such as being tapped), then it doesn't block. If there's a cost associated with having it block, its controller isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to block in that case either.
(wotc • 2019-10-04)