Assassin MTG Card
2012-10-05 - Number 4
2014-03-14 - Number 1
2016-08-26 - Number 5
2019-05-03 - Number 6
2019-08-23 - Number 9
2023-04-21 - Number 17
2023-08-04 - Number 14
2024-04-19 - Number 7
2024-07-05 - Number 4
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Type | Token Creature — Assassin |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game.
Cards like Assassin
Assassin cards in Magic: The Gathering bring a unique set of skills on the battlefield, sharing a common theme of eliminating opposing threats. A classic example that often comes to mind is Royal Assassin, an iconic card that can destroy tapped creatures at a low cost. It’s a powerful deterrent for opponents, discouraging aggressive attacks.
Considering other cards in the assassination theme, we have Nekrataal, which not only removes a threat but also puts a body on the board. Its enter-the-battlefield effect to destroy a nonartifact, nonblack creature is highly valuable. Comparatively, there’s the newer card, Murderous Rider, that provides a two-for-one benefit. It serves as a removal spell through its adventure and then converts into a lifelinking creature, potentially shifting the game’s dynamics.
Each assassin card comes with strategic pros and cons. From the direct and singular focus of Royal Assassin to the versatility of Murderous Rider, players have diverse options to control the board. Their cunning abilities to take out key pieces make assassin cards a core strategy for many MTG decks focused on disruption and control.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When it comes to the elusive allure of the Assassin MTG card, card advantage can often be a defining trait. These stealthy characters typically dispose of opponent’s creatures, paving the way for card advantage through strategic removal and ensuring your grip on the game stays strong.
Resource Acceleration: Assassins in MTG might not create resources in the conventional sense, but they excellently pave the way for a more direct form of acceleration. By eliminating key threats or blockers, they essentially ramp up your potential for dealing damage, indirectly speeding up your path to victory.
Instant Speed: The true power of an assassin lies in the element of surprise, which translates beautifully in MTG terms to instant speed capabilities. This allows you to react with lethal precision to your opponent’s moves, disrupting their strategy and maintaining control at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Assassin cards often come with abilities that require you to discard cards to activate potent effects. This can place strain on your hand, especially in longer matches where card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Many assassin cards feature a strict color identity, typically black mana. This commitment can restrict deck diversity and make it challenging for players to integrate them into multi-colored decks effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The abilities that assassins possess usually command a higher mana cost. This can prove to be a setback when trying to maintain tempo against decks that operate efficiently on lower mana curves.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Assassin-themed cards in MTG often offer flexible removal options. Many of these cards can discretely deal with high-threat creatures, making them useful in a variety of decks, from control to midrange.
Combo Potential: Assassins are excellent at creating synergies with cards that benefit from creatures dying. They can seamlessly integrate into strategies revolving around sacrifice mechanics or death triggers, bolstering your board presence while disrupting opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by creature-heavy decks, having an assassin card up your sleeve means you can effectively control the pacing of the game by removing key creatures, giving you an upper hand against several popular archetypes.
How to Beat
The challenge of facing an Assassin MTG card on the battlefield is one that requires strategic planning and resourcefulness. These stealthy characters often come with abilities that allow them to eliminate key creatures or disrupt an opponent’s game plan. To gain the upper hand against them, it’s vital to understand their mechanics and identify the opportune moment to act.
One effective method is to maintain a diversified and vigilant board presence. Assort your creatures in a way that no single loss will significantly derail your strategy. Enchantment removals or instant-speed removal spells can also be handy as they can be used to counteract the Assassin’s abilities before they fully unfold.
Furthermore, cards that grant your creatures hexproof or indestructible are excellent defensive measures against targeted removals that many Assassins employ. It’s also crucial to apply continuous pressure, forcing the Assassin player to react defensively rather than allowing them to dictate the pace and flow of the match. By staying proactive and adapting to their covert tactics, overcoming an Assassin card becomes a manageable task.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Assassin MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska, 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 Assassin and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Assassin Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-07-05. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 4 | 2003 | Token | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 2 | 2014-03-14 | Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska | DDM | 1 | 2003 | Token | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 3 | 2016-08-26 | Conspiracy: Take the Crown | CN2 | 5 | 2015 | Token | Black | Josu Hernaiz | |
| 4 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 6 | 2015 | Token | Black | Zezhou Chen | |
| 5 | 2019-08-23 | Commander 2019 | C19 | 9 | 2015 | Token | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 6 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 17 | 2015 | Token | Black | Josu Hernaiz | |
| 7 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 14 | 2015 | Token | Black | Josu Hernaiz | |
| 8 | 2024-04-19 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander | OTC | 7 | 2015 | Token | Black | Josu Hernaiz | |
| 9 | 2024-07-05 | Assassin's Creed | ACR | 4 | 2015 | Token | Black | Rimas Valeikis |