Branchblight Stalker MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Elf Scout |
| Abilities | Toxic |
| Released | 2023-02-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Phyrexia: All Will Be One |
| Set code | ONE |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 160 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Krharts |
Text of card
Toxic 2 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get two poison counters.)
Some Vicious Swarm aspirants hang motionless in the canopy for weeks, allowing poisonous flowers to root in their flesh and weave tendrils through their hair.
Cards like Branchblight Stalker
Branchblight Stalker holds a unique position among the green creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When looked upon next to Tangle Mantis, both share the trample ability, allowing extra damage to be dealt to a player if its combat damage is not entirely blocked. Where the Branchblight Stalker stands out is in its additional prowess to provide counters to other creatures you control, spreading strength across the battlefield, unlike the standalone Tangle Mantis.
Comparatively, Abundance Centaur offers a somewhat parallel benefit, enhancing fellow creatures upon entering the battlefield. However, it’s the persistent advantage granted by Branchblight Stalker through the mere act of mutating that sets it apart, altering the state of the game with each successful mutation. Contrast that with Wildwood Scourge, which grows individually with each counter but does not distribute this advantage to others.
To summarize, while the aforementioned cards share similarities with Branchblight Stalker, it’s the Stalker’s capacity to empower through mutation that consummates its considerable value as a card, offering a strategic edge within Magic: The Gathering’s vast roster of green creatures.
Cards similar to Branchblight Stalker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Branchblight Stalker grants the ability to remove key threats from the opponent’s side of the battlefield, effectively diminishing their resources while maintaining your own.
Resource Acceleration: By potentially eliminating mana dorks or creatures that provide ramp to an opponent, Branchblight Stalker can indirectly slow down an opponent’s resource acceleration, giving you a comparative advantage.
Instant Speed: This card offers flexibility as it can be cast at instant speed, providing a strategic edge by allowing you to react to your opponent’s moves during their turn or end step, aligning with efficient turn management and surprise tactics.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Branchblight Stalker compels players to discard another card, which could deplete your hand, especially when you’re trying to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires black and green mana, narrowing its utility to decks that support this specific color combination, potentially limiting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its abilities and stats, the mana cost of Branchblight Stalker is on the higher side, making it less appealing when faster, lower-cost options might be available to occupy the same role in your strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Branchblight Stalker offers flexible deployment across various deck types, thriving in strategies that capitalize on +1/+1 counter synergies or creature-based tactics.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to distribute counters upon entering the battlefield primes it for combos with proliferate mechanics or doubling effects that increase the potency of counters exponentially.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its efficiency in matching up against numerous creature types, the Branchblight Stalker can be a formidable addition to any collection aiming to stay competitive within the evolving meta landscape where creature interactions are key.
How to beat
Branchblight Stalker presents a unique challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This creature card demonstrates its might by dealing with your creatures through wither, shrinking them with every strike. To effectively counter this, focusing on removal spells that can bypass wither, such as “Path to Exile” or “Murder”, is key. These spells eliminate the threat instantly, preventing any wither counter accumulation.
Enchantment-based solutions such as “Pacifism” or “Frogify” can neutralize Branchblight Stalker without initiating combat, thereby sidestepping its wither ability altogether. Control strategies also play a crucial role. Delaying the Stalker’s arrival with counterspells like “Cancel” or “Mana Leak” means you maintain control of the board and prevent wither counters from ever becoming an issue.
Adaptability is crucial when facing cards like Branchblight Stalker. Ensuring your deck has a balance of instant-speed interaction, control elements, and non-combat solutions will prepare you to handle such threats effectively. Remember, a well-timed removal or alteration can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat in the intricate world of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Branchblight Stalker MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Branchblight Stalker and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Branchblight Stalker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Branchblight Stalker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-02-04 | A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action and doesn't use the stack. In other words, it happens immediately and players can't respond to it, just like a player losing the game due to having 0 or less life. |
| 2023-02-04 | Any other effects of that damage, such as life gain from lifelink, still apply. |
| 2023-02-04 | Conversely, replacement effects that apply to the number of counters put on a player can modify the counters placed this way. For example, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider's last two abilities can apply to counters placed this way. |
| 2023-02-04 | Damage dealt by a creature with toxic grants the same number of counters regardless of how much damage is dealt. Notably, if a replacement effect modifies the damage in some way (such as that of Gratuitous Violence), the number of counters given remains unchanged. |
| 2023-02-04 | If a creature with toxic deals combat damage to a creature or planeswalker, or if it deals noncombat damage, toxic has no effect and no player gets poison counters. |
| 2023-02-04 | Multiple instances of toxic are cumulative. For example, if a creature has toxic 2 and gains toxic 1 due to another effect, combat damage that creature deals to a player will cause that player to get 3 poison counters. |
| 2023-02-04 | Toxic doesn't change the amount of combat damage a creature deals. For example, if a 2/2 creature with toxic 1 deals combat damage to a player, that creature will deal 2 damage. The results of that damage are the player loses 2 life and gets a poison counter. |