Obscura Interceptor MTG Card


Grants card advantage and strategic flexibility with its flash ability to outplay opponents. Can increase game tempo, but demands careful hand and deck management due to discard. Supports disruptive strategies, shining in metas with prevalent multi-color spell usage.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Cephalid Wizard
Abilities Connive,Lifelink, Flash
Power 3
Toughness 1

Text of card

Flash Lifelink When Obscura Interceptor enters the battlefield, it connives. When it connives this way, return up to one target spell to its owner's hand.


Cards like Obscura Interceptor

Obscura Interceptor cements its place in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering’s versatile creature cards. Reflecting on its siblings in strategy, it’s easy to spot its kinship with cards like Spell Queller. The Queller, much like Obscura Interceptor, offers a way to counter spells by exiling them. Nevertheless, Obscura Interceptor brings an additional dimension with its connive ability, allowing you to fine-tune your hand and bolster the creature itself.

Contrastingly, cards such as Deputy of Detention provide a broader sweep, exiling multiple targets sharing a name. Despite this, it lacks the instant-speed versatility and self-improvement mechanics innate to Obscura Interceptor. Other noteworthy equals include Elite Spellbinder, which, while it doesn’t exile spells, it essentially hinders your opponent’s future plans by increasing the cost of a card in their hand. Again, useful but not as directly disruptive or self-enhancing as Obscura Interceptor.

At the junction of flexibility, self-advancement, and disruption, Obscura Interceptor stands distinguished. Whether we are assessing board impact, ability to shift game momentum, or simply evolving your battlefield presence, this card’s unique set of qualities carves itself a distinct niche within the creature and counter-spell hybrid space in Magic: The Gathering.

Spell Queller - MTG Card versions
Deputy of Detention - MTG Card versions
Elite Spellbinder - MTG Card versions
Spell Queller - MTG Card versions
Deputy of Detention - MTG Card versions
Elite Spellbinder - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Obscura Interceptor. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Esper MidrangeEsper Midrange StandardEsper MidrangeStandard Showcase Challenge 2023-11-25
Esper LegendsEsper Legends StandardEsper LegendsStandard Challenge 32 2024-01-13
Esper FlashEsper Flash StandardEsper FlashStandard Challenge 64 2023-12-03 (1)
Esper ReanimatorEsper Reanimator StandardEsper ReanimatorCCG Standard 1K
Esper ComboEsper Combo StandardEsper ControlMTGA

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Obscura Interceptor provides a clear benefit when it comes to card advantage as it facilitates additional draw opportunities during play. By optimizing your hand, you are better positioned to outmaneuver the competition.

Resource Acceleration: The introduction of this card into your game can significantly boost your resource acceleration. Commanding this card can set a tempo that propels you ahead, giving you the leverage to activate more potent spells or creatures earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: The Obscura Interceptor’s capability to act at instant speed is a tactical asset. This ability allows for reactive play during your opponent’s turn, permitting the strategical conservation of mana and providing the flexibility to respond to threats on the fly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Obscura Interceptor requires discarding a card to activate its ability. This could put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already low on cards or if the discarded card is critical to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Obscura Interceptor demands both white and blue mana, making it less flexible for decks that are not tailored around these colors. This could potentially restrict its integration into a wide array of multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a three-mana cost that includes two specific colors, it might be more costly compared to other options in your deck. Players might find other creatures or spells that provide similar benefits for a lower or more generic mana cost, possibly leading to more efficient deck building choices.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Obscura Interceptor can be a flexible addition to a variety of deck builds, lending itself well to strategies that require quick responses or benefit from creatures with flash. Its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies at critical moments makes it a versatile inclusion.

Combo Potential: With its ability to exile a target spell from the stack if you control another creature with greater power, Obscura Interceptor synergizes well in decks that can consistently present a board state to meet this condition, enabling potent combos and interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where combat tricks and instant-speed interaction are key, Obscura Interceptor’s value can shine. It becomes particularly effective in metas dominated by spells that can be negated by its unique exile ability.


How to beat

Obscura Interceptor is a versatile card that can pose quite a challenge to face in Magic: The Gathering. It brings together a blend of flash, flying, and a disruptive ability that can counter multi-colored spells or give card advantage by drawing a card. This makes Obscura Interceptor not only a sudden threat in the air but also an obstacle for your spells to resolve, particularly those with more than one color.

To effectively counter this card, players should look towards utilizing spells that can remove creatures at instant speed, such as Murder or Fatal Push, to deal with it before the opponent can make use of its ability. Single-color decks can alleviate the pressure because the counter ability of Obscura Interceptor doesn’t target single-color spells, reducing its impact significantly. Moreover, spells with uncounterable capabilities or abilities that provide hexproof to your spells can prevent the disruption from Obscura Interceptor.

Having a balanced strategy that includes instant speed removal, uncounterable spells, or spell-protection methods, ensures that your deck can stand firm against the threats posed by Obscura Interceptor. Keep your plays flexible and be ready to adapt when this card makes an appearance on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is an evolving strategy game where cards like Obscura Interceptor can make or break your play. With its flexibility and potential for disrupting rival tactics, this card deserves consideration for your collection. Building a deck that maximizes its advantages could lead to a significant edge in gameplay. Anticipate metagame shifts and adapt your deck’s strategy accordingly—Obscura Interceptor might just be the keystone you need. Ready to enhance your deck-building skills and outwit opponents in your next match? Discover more insights and advanced strategies with us, where your MTG gameplay evolves into mastery.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Obscura Interceptor MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna and Streets of New Capenna Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Obscura Interceptor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Obscura Interceptor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-04-29 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 3892015NormalBlackErin Vest
22022-04-29Streets of New Capenna PromosPSNC 209s2015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
32022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 3242015NormalBlackErin Vest
42022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 2092015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
52022-04-29Streets of New Capenna PromosPSNC 209p2015NormalBlackJason A. Engle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Obscura Interceptor has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Obscura Interceptor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-04-29 If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to connive but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still connives. Abilities that trigger “when
-hat creature] connives,” such as that of Obscura Interceptor, will trigger.
2022-04-29 If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to connive but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still connives. If you discard a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything. Abilities that trigger “when
-hat creature] connives” will trigger.
2022-04-29 If no card is discarded, most likely because that player's hand is empty and an effect says they can't draw cards, the conniving creature does not receive a +1/+1 counter.
2022-04-29 Once an ability that causes a creature to connive begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the conniving creature after you discard a nonland card but before it receives a counter.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.