Callidus Assassin MTG Card
Key Takeaways
- Callidus Assassin enhances card advantage with its unique evasion and redeployment capabilities.
- Its specific mana cost and discard requirement pose potential downsides for deckbuilding flexibility.
- Incorporating Callidus Assassin can significantly impact strategy, making it a meta-relevant card.
Text of card
Flash Polymorphine — You may have Callidus Assassin enter the battlefield tapped as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it has "When this creature enters the battlefield, destroy up to one other target creature with the same name as this creature."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Callidus Assassin MTG card serves as a perfect example of how to efficiently maintain card advantage. With its strategic stealth ability, whenever it becomes blocked by a creature, you can simply return this card back to your hand instead of falling into the graveyard.
Resource Acceleration: While Callidus Assassin doesn’t directly provide any resources, this particular MTG card excels in resource acceleration through its tricky mechanic. Being a low-cost card, it can quickly be played again, helping you save on your mana resources, thereby accelerating your gameplay.
Instant Speed: Callidus Assassin MTG card enables you to swiftly disrupt your opponent’s strategies. Though it isn’t an Instant card, its effect arguably operates at a near-instant speed. As the card returns to your hand when blocked, you can easily redeploy it on your next turn or use its blocking effect to strategically throw off your opponent’s plans.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Callidus Assassin calls for you to discharge a card as an extra payment. This could be a pitfall if your deck is running low, leaving you with fewer cards for battle and potentially jeopardizing your game.
Specific Mana Cost: The summoning cost of Callidus Assassin requires a specific color, black, for it to be played. This concrete mandate limits its applicability to certain decks and strategies, making it less versatile.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Coming with a steep price of three mana, there are other assassin cards in the game that require fewer resources and provide better benefits. This makes the Callidus Assassin seem less efficient towards your game plan when compared to its contemporaries, and needs to be thoughtfully considered when included in the deck.
Reasons to Include Callidus Assassin in Your Collection
Versatility: Not all cards offer the dual play potential that Callidus Assassin does. With its power to strip away your opponent’s resources and transfer it to your own pool, it can be a considerable advantage in any player’s deck. This makes it flexible and adaptable to the changing gameplay strategies.
Combo Potential: Callidus Assassin opens up numerous combo avenues. Its unique ability to force opponents to discard or lose life while fattening your resources can be paired with cards that enhance this strategy for even more devastating results.
Meta-Relevance: In today’s MTG meta, control strategies are becoming increasingly popular. Callidus Assassin fits right into this trend. Its ability to disrupt opponents’ moves and enhance your gameplay, makes this card a must-have for the modern MTG player. This relevance to the current meta-game cannot be understated.
How to Beat the Callidus Assassin
At first glance, Callidus Assassin may seem invincible in any MTG battlefield with its evasive abilities and powerful defense. This illusion creature from the Time Spiral set has the potential to change the dynamics of the game, especially if the user’s strategy revolves around it. However, it’s not without its share of vulnerabilities.
In the world of ‘MTG,’ cards like Exile and Terminate hold sway over the assassin. These instant-speed removal spells can swiftly deal with Callidus Assassin before it gets a chance to flip and transform into Callidus Master. A smart way to combat this humanoid rogue is by exploiting its measly toughness attribute. Cards with solid power levels can incapacitate Callidus merely by dealing damage, and this includes burn spells like Lightning Bolt and Shock.
In addition, graveyard manipulation plays a crucial role here. By employing cards such as Tormod’s Crypt and Rest in Peace, you can effectively thwart your opponent’s plan to recur Callidus Assassin from the graveyard. Even counterspells, like Mana Leak, can come in handy to hinder the casting of this card in the first place.
In essence, although the Callidus Assassin is quite a menace in an ‘MTG’ match, appropriate strategic moves and card picks can help you beat this elusive rogue successfully.
BurnMana Recommendations
Exploring the vast array of MTG cards can be as thrilling as it is strategic. The Callidus Assassin card exemplifies a unique approach to maintain a solid advantage on the battlefield. Weighing its pros and cons, along with understanding its place in the current meta, can significantly enhance your gameplay. Resource acceleration, the potential for combos, and its ability to disrupt are all compelling reasons to consider this card for your collection. Yet, it’s essential to recognize its weaknesses and plan accordingly. If you’re intrigued by the complexity and tactical edge Callidus Assassin brings to your game, dive in deeper with BurnMana to discover more insights and strategies for optimal play.
Cards like Callidus Assassin
Callidus Assassin is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering. If we were to draw parallels, other cards like Shriekmaw and Bone Shredder come to mind. Just like Callidus Assassin, Shriekmaw enables you to force negative effects onto your opponent’s creatures. Yet, there are subtle differences. While Shriekmaw’s effect triggers when it enters the battlefield, Callidus Assassin’s effect is activated when it becomes untapped.
Now, turning our attention to Bone Shredder, it also bears similarity to Callidus Assassin, sharing the same destructive theme. Bone Shredder destroys non-artifact, non-black creatures as a form of entering the battlefield effect. However, it has an echo cost, which could be a drawback when resources are scant. Thus, while similar, Callidus Assassin and Bone Shredder offer varying strategic possibilities.
In conclusion, upon examination of card nuances, Callidus Assassin holds its ground as a formidable card in Magic: The Gathering. It complements its counterparts while offering tactical advantages that could make a significant impact during gameplay. Callidus Assassin, Shriekmaw, and Bone Shredder each stand out with their unique traits, forming an intriguing triad in the complex MTG universe.
Cards similar to Callidus Assassin by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Callidus Assassin MTG card by a specific set like Warhammer 40,000 Commander and Warhammer 40,000 Commander, 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 Callidus Assassin and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Callidus Assassin Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Bryan Sola.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-10-07 | Warhammer 40,000 Commander | 40K | 109★ | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bryan Sola | |
| 2 | 2022-10-07 | Warhammer 40,000 Commander | 40K | 109 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bryan Sola |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Callidus Assassin has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Callidus Assassin card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-07 | Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied creature will trigger when Callidus Assassin enters the battlefield. You get to choose the order of those abilities and the triggered ability it has due to its copy effect. Any “as -his creature] enters the battlefield” or “ -his creature] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the chosen creature will also work. |
| 2022-10-07 | Callidus Assassin copies exactly what was printed on the original creature (unless that creature is copying something else or is a token; see below) and it has the triggered ability. It doesn’t copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or any Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on. |
| 2022-10-07 | If Callidus Assassin somehow enters the battlefield at the same time as another creature, Callidus Assassin can’t become a copy of that creature. You may choose only a creature that’s already on the battlefield. |
| 2022-10-07 | If the chosen creature is a token, Callidus Assassin copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that created the token. Callidus Assassin is not a token in this case. |
| 2022-10-07 | If the chosen creature is copying something else (for example, if the chosen creature is another Callidus Assassin), then your Callidus Assassin enters the battlefield as whatever the chosen creature copied. |
| 2022-10-07 | The triggered ability that Callidus Assassin has is part of its copy effect and is a copiable value that other effects may copy. |
| 2022-10-07 | You can choose not to copy anything. In that case, Callidus Assassin enters the battlefield as a 3/3 creature. Notably, it does not have “When this creature enters the battlefield, destroy up to one other target creature with the same name as this creature.” |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.