Slayer's Plate MTG Card


Boosts creatures, creating Spirit tokens, maintaining pressure post creature’s death. Accommodates instant speed interactions, utilizing opportune moments for equipping. Has a high mana investment cost, which could slow down game tempo.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +4/+2. Whenever equipped creature dies, if it was a Human, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield. Equip


Cards like Slayer's Plate

Slayer’s Plate is a unique equipment card in the vast arsenal of Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other equipment cards, such as Sword of Vengeance, which confers a suite of abilities to the equipped creature. However, what sets Slayer’s Plate apart is its creature-specific design—providing a significant boost in power and toughness and generating a Horror creature token when the equipped creature dies.

Likewise, Grafted Wargear is another card that increases power and toughness with the added bonus of not requiring a mana investment to equip. Yet the potential drawback of sacrificing the equipped creature when Grafted Wargear is removed is absent in Slayer’s Plate. Trusty Machete is also in the same realm but offers a more modest stat increase without additional effects.

Considering the synergy, especially in a creature-heavy deck that can capitalize on the Horror token, Slayer’s Plate offers a strategic edge. When comparing utility, the card’s afterlife gives it an edge over some peer equipment, making it an appealing choice for players looking to combine offense with an enduring board presence.

Sword of Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Grafted Wargear - MTG Card versions
Trusty Machete - MTG Card versions
Sword of Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Grafted Wargear - MTG Card versions
Trusty Machete - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Slayer's Plate by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
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The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
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Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Alloy Myr - MTG Card versions
Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Herald's Horn - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Alloy Myr - MTG Card versions
Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Herald's Horn - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Slayer’s Plate is a dynamo in generating card advantage, particularly in decks revolving around creature strategies. Once equipped, it not only boosts one of your creatures substantially but also has the potential to create more threats upon the equipped creature’s death. This ensures that even if the creature is dealt with, you continue to apply pressure on your opponent with the newly-created Spirit token.

Resource Acceleration: Although Slayer’s Plate doesn’t directly increase your mana pool, it accelerates your board presence, a resource of its own right. By augmenting your creature with a significant power boost, it enables faster clock against your opponents, turning each creature into a larger threat. Moreover, the resulting token can be pivotal in maintaining momentum after a board wipe or removal spell.

Instant Speed: While the act of equipping is not at instant speed, Slayer’s Plate shines in decks that can manipulate and create openings at instant speed. It’s about finding the opportune moment during your turn or right before your opponent’s end phase to equip a creature and swing the game in your favor. This strategy can be devastating in combination with creatures that have flash or instant speed spells that return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield for a swift equip.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Slayer’s Plate doesn’t require discarding as a direct condition of its own, equipping it on a creature can make you a target for opponents’ discard strategies, potentially forcing you to lose valuable cards from your hand as they attempt to reduce the threat level.

Specific Mana Cost: Slayer’s Plate comes with a colorless mana cost, which is generally universal, but it still requires three mana to cast and a substantial additional three mana to equip, which can be a sizeable investment in terms of resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The combined six mana to both play and equip Slayer’s Plate can hinder your game pace, especially since there are other equipment cards available that provide beneficial abilities to creatures at a lower mana cost, increasing your deck’s overall efficiency.


Reasons to Include Slayer’s Plate in Your Collection

Versatility: Slayer’s Plate is an equipment card that can turn almost any creature into a substantial threat, boosting power and toughness significantly. It can be included in various deck archetypes, enhancing your board presence and overall strategy.

Combo Potential: When the equipped creature dies, you get a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying, which offers synergy with strategies revolving around creature tokens and sacrifice mechanics, adding another layer of potential plays.

Meta-Relevance: With many decks focusing on creature-based strategies, having Slayer’s Plate can give you an edge by making your creatures more resilient threats while providing additional value upon their death, keeping you relevant in a constantly evolving competitive landscape.


How to beat

Slayer’s Plate is a powerful artifact in the realm of MTG, equipping creatures with a significant power boost and a dread-inspiring ability to create Horror tokens upon the creature’s demise. Combat strategies can be seriously upended when facing a creature adorned with this formidable piece of equipment. When contemplating counterplay, consider artifact removal spells such as Naturalize or Disenchant, which dismantle the Plate’s threatening presence from the battlefield. Alternatively, creature removal that doesn’t destroy, such as Path to Exile or Unsummon, can neutralize the equipped monster without triggering the creation of Horror tokens.

It’s also worth plotting a strategy around non-targeted mass removal spells like Damnation or Wrath of God, which can sweep the board clean without having to individually target the armored threat. Utilizing these methods, one can dismantle an opposing strategy reliant on the Slayer’s Plate and maintain a stable ground on the battlefield. By focusing on adaptive tactics and a keen awareness of your arsenal, overcoming the obstacle posed by Slayer’s Plate becomes a manageable feat for any seasoned player.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Slayer's Plate MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad 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 Slayer's Plate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Slayer's Plate Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Ben Maier.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 2642015NormalBlackBen Maier
22016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 264s2015NormalBlackBen Maier
32023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 2572015NormalBlackBen Maier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Slayer's Plate has restrictions

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