Waylaying Pirates MTG Card


Presents board control by deterring attacks, leading to a strategic advantage in maintaining card superiority. Generates Treasure tokens for mana ramp, enabling earlier plays of impactful cards to gain a competitive edge. Instant speed casting allows for flexible, disruptive play, altering the flow of combat in the player’s favor.
Waylaying Pirates - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Pirate
Released2023-11-17
Set symbol
Set nameThe Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Set codeLCI
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number85
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byZoltan Boros

Text of card

When Waylaying Pirates enters the battlefield, if you control an artifact, tap target artifact or creature an opponent controls and put a stun counter on it. (If a permanent with a stun counter would become untapped, remove one from it instead.)

"The only drink in your future is seawater."


Cards like Waylaying Pirates

Waylaying Pirates stands out in the Magic: The Gathering world with its crew of disrupting abilities. If we place it alongside cards like Dockside Extortionist, the differences become particularly clear. Although the Extortionist is a creature that provides an immediate surge of Treasure tokens, Waylaying Pirates delivers a more nuanced advantage by potentially deterring an opponent’s combat decisions.

Hostage Taker is another card that tampers with the battlefield’s status quo by exiling an opponent’s creature or artifact until it leaves the battlefield. Unlike Hostage Taker, Waylaying Pirates doesn’t remove threats directly but instead influences attacks. Moreover, the Pirates differ in that they are not merely about obtaining a singular short-term gain but focus on a more strategic combat approach.

Looking at the big picture, Waylaying Pirates finds its niche by synergizing piracy and combat deterrents, making it a card that can subtly turn the tides of battle in your favor. While other cards might offer more immediate rewards, Waylaying Pirates is the strategic player’s choice for ongoing battlefield advantage.

Dockside Extortionist - MTG Card versions
Hostage Taker - MTG Card versions
Dockside Extortionist - MTG Card versions
Hostage Taker - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Waylaying Pirates by color, type and mana cost

Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Waylaying Pirates offer a distinct advantage by potentially deterring opponents from attacking. Their presence can indirectly lead to card preservation, maintaining hand superiority during the match.

Resource Acceleration: By generating Treasure tokens, Waylaying Pirates can ramp up your mana resources. This acceleration is crucial for deploying high-impact cards sooner, giving you a practical edge.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Waylaying Pirates at instant speed provides a tactical advantage. It enables reactive play during an opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their combat strategies and keeping you one step ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Waylaying Pirates obliges players to discard another Pirate card just to get it onto the battlefield, which can strain your hand when you’re already managing limited resources.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s reliance on both blue and black mana makes it less flexible, necessitating a dedicated dual-color mana base that can complicate deck building for those preferring mono-color or other multi-color combinations.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost requiring three specific mana, Waylaying Pirates demands a significant investment which might hinder tempo, especially considering alternative creatures or spells that provide more immediate board presence or impact.


Reasons to Include Waylaying Pirates in Your Collection

Versatility: Waylaying Pirates brings a unique blend of aggression and control to the board. With its ability to disrupt your opponent’s strategy while building your own board presence, it complements a variety of deck archetypes and can adapt to different gameplay situations.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in environments rich with piracy and treasure mechanics. It can be a linchpin in decks focused on leveraging treasure tokens, enhancing both the offensive and defensive capabilities of your pirate-themed deck or any strategy that appreciates an extra bit of thievery.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts and control decks gain prominence, Waylaying Pirates stands out as a card that can tilt the scales. The ability to capitalize on shifting power dynamics ensures this card remains a worthwhile addition, particularly in game formats where tempo and disruption can decide the victor.


How to beat

Waylaying Pirates presents a unique twist on board control dynamics in Magic: The Gathering. Not only does it challenge opponents to reconsider attack mechanics due to its potential to generate Treasure, but it can also become a major threat if left unchecked. To successfully navigate against Waylaying Pirates, players must employ careful strategies.

Effective counters involve managing creature removals, such as using spells that can bypass the Pirate’s triggered abilities or sweepers that clear the board post-attack phase. Alternatively, enchantments that restrict or penalize attacking could diminish the value that Waylaying Pirates bring to the table. Ensuring that you have instant-speed interaction can mitigate the impact of Waylaying Pirates activating during combat.

Avoiding unnecessary confrontations and limiting the number of creatures going into the red zone are also key. This way, you’re not presenting additional opportunities for your opponent to accumulate treasures and fuel their mana base or enhance their future plays. By implementing these tactics, players can effectively dilute the advantages that Waylaying Pirates aim to create, ultimately securing their stronghold against this cunning adversary.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Waylaying Pirates MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Waylaying Pirates and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Waylaying Pirates has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-11-10 The enters-the-battlefield ability can target an artifact or creature that's already tapped. If so, you'll just put a stun counter on that artifact or creature.