Basilica Stalker MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Vampire Detective |
| Abilities | Disguise,Flying,Surveil |
| Released | 2024-02-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Set code | MKM |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 78 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Nicholas Gregory |
Text of card
Flying Whenever Basilica Stalker deals combat damage to a player, you gain 1 life and surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put it into your graveyard.) Disguise (You may cast this card face down for as a 2/2 creature with ward . Turn it face up any time for its disguise cost.)
Cards like Basilica Stalker
Basilica Stalker has carved its niche in the realm of creatures within Magic: The Gathering. When looking at creatures with lifelink, Vampire Nighthawk emerges as a notable comparison. Sharing the valued lifelink ability, Vampire Nighthawk also offers flying and deathtouch, providing versatility on both offense and defense. However, Basilica Stalker boasts its own unique prowess with its ability to grow stronger whenever its controller gains life, potentially outscaling the Nighthawk over time.
Another competitor in this space is Ajani’s Pridemate, a card well familiar to players favoring life-gain strategies. Both Ajani’s Pridemate and Basilica Stalker thrive in environments where life gain is plentiful, turning each instance of health restoration into a power boost. The main difference, however, lies in their base stats and cost efficacy, with Ajani’s Pridemate generally hitting the board sooner.
To conclude, while there are various creatures that share a lifelink characteristic, the potential for Basilica Stalker to become a dominant force in life-gain decks allows it to stand out among its peers. With the right synergies, this card has the capability to significantly impact the flow and outcome of a game, making it a valuable component in any life-gain deck archetype.
Cards similar to Basilica Stalker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Basilica Stalker excels in providing sustained card advantage. Each time you gain life, which can be a common occurrence in decks built around life gain strategies, you get to draw a card. This can lead to an overwhelming lead in resources as you outdraw your opponent over the course of the game.
Resource Acceleration: For decks that focus on ramping up their resources, the Basilica Stalker can fit perfectly. Though not direct mana acceleration, it indirectly contributes to resource acceleration by allowing you to find your key ramp spells more quickly through the consistent card draw it offers each time you gain life.
Instant Speed: Even though the Basilica Stalker itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed life gain spells. This can lead to unexpected card draw during your opponent’s turn, keeping your hand filled with options and disrupting their plans when they thought you were tapped out or out of plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Basilica Stalker mandates discarding another card to utilize its full potential. For players already struggling with card advantage, this can exacerbate problems by depleting their hand further.
Specific Mana Cost: A rigid mana requirement that needs both black and white mana can sometimes hamper deck flexibility, potentially making it a less versatile choice for decks that cannot consistently generate the necessary mana colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The overall casting cost could be seen as steep, particularly when compared to other cards in the MTG universe with similar abilities but at a lower mana cost, which might provide a similar impact without taxing your mana reserves as heavily.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Basilica Stalker offers an adaptable presence in decks harnessing life gain strategies or seeking cost-efficient creatures. As a vampire, it slots seamlessly into tribal themes and proves valuable in midrange builds as well.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with mechanics that trigger upon life gain or life loss, allowing for interesting combinations that can amplify its impact on the game. It can serve as both an offensive asset and a defensive resource.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where small incremental advantages can tip the scales, Basilica Stalker can play an important role. It’s particularly effective if the environment favors long games, where its lifelink ability can become a recurring advantage.
How to beat
Basilica Stalker has emerged as a notable threat in MTG, finding its niche within Orzhov decks that capitalize on lifegain and loss strategies. This creature’s power grows as you gain life, becoming an increasing menace on the battlefield. Overcoming this threat requires a tactical approach, focusing on removing it before it spirals out of control or minimizing the lifegain synergy upon which it thrives.
Instant-speed removal spells like ‘Path to Exile’ or ‘Murderous Rider’ can effectively handle this creature before your opponent can benefit from the life-gain trigger at the end of their turn. Alternatively, graveyard control cards such as ‘Rest in Peace’ can negate its potency by preventing it from taking advantage of death-triggered lifegain. Keeping the Stalker off the board is vital to stifling your opponent’s game strategy.
Addressing the surrounding lifegain mechanics is equally crucial. Cards like ‘Tibalt, Rakish Instigator’ prevent opponents from gaining life, rendering Basilica Stalker’s ability moot. With these countermeasures, the Stalker’s impact is significantly reduced, stabilizing your position and setting the stage for a victorious outcome against this Orzhov adversary.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Basilica Stalker MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Basilica Stalker 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Basilica Stalker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |