Cephalid Facetaker MTG Card

Cephalid Facetaker - New Capenna Commander (NCC)

New Capenna Commander (NCC)
2022-04-29 - Number 124

New Capenna Commander (NCC)
2022-04-29 - Number 23

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Cephalid Rogue
Power	1
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Grants card advantage through control of opponents’ creatures, shifting battlefield power dynamics.
Instant speed ability enables strategic play, interrupting enemies and seizing opportune moments.
Demands specific mana and discard, which may limit deck diversity and hand resources.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cephalid Facetaker MTG card by a specific set like New Capenna Commander and New Capenna 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 Cephalid Facetaker and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Cephalid Facetaker can't be blocked. At the beginning of combat on your turn, you may have Cephalid Facetaker become a copy of another target creature until end of turn, except it's 1/4 and has "This creature can't be blocked."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cephalid Facetaker provides an unusual form of card advantage. By gaining control of an opponent’s creature, you effectively remove a card from their side of the battlefield while adding it to your own, creating a swing in the balance of power.

Resource Acceleration: Although Cephalid Facetaker doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, it allows you to utilize the abilities of the stolen creature. If the taken creature has mana abilities or can produce tokens, you thus gain resource acceleration indirectly.

Instant Speed: The ability to take control of an opponent’s creature at instant speed is a significant tactical advantage. You can disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn, wait to see which creatures they commit to an attack or block with, or simply choose the most opportune moment to tip the scales in your favor without giving them time to respond.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cephalid Facetaker demands that you discard a card to activate its theft ability. This cost can deplete your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage, especially when you’re running low on card options.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Cephalid Facetaker, you’re committing to both blue mana and a total of four mana. This specific requirement can hinder deck versatility, as it aligns strictly with blue-centric decks that can reliably provide this mana combination.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering the ability’s impact, the card’s mana value may appear steep. In the landscape of MTG, where tempo and efficiency are key, there are other creatures and spells that could offer similar or better effects without such a substantial investment, making it less favorable in fast-paced games.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cephalid Facetaker offers a range of strategic uses, adept at slipping into control or combo decks with its ability to disrupt opponent strategies by temporarily taking their creatures.

Combo Potential: This card’s capability to hijack abilities can seamlessly connect with various combos, amplifying its power when matched with cards to untap or proliferate for continuous control.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where single-creature strategies reign, Cephalid Facetaker’s control elements become increasingly impactful, positioning itself as a valuable asset in your arsenal.

How to beat

The Cephalid Facetaker is one of those Magic: The Gathering cards that can slip under the radar until it starts causing trouble on the battlefield. Its ability to assume the identity of other creatures gives it a certain unpredictability, making it a card that opponents must approach with caution. To effectively counter it, consider removal options that don’t target, such as board wipes or sacrifice effects. Cards with the latter effect can be especially potent, as they circumvent the Facetaker’s copy ability. Moreover, graveyard disruption can be invaluable since the Facetaker’s ability can be compromised by removing the copied card from the graveyard. Cards like Relic of Progenitus or Leyline of the Void ensure that once a creature hits the graveyard, it stays out of the Facetaker’s reach. Always remember, as with any MTG card that has the potential to change the tide of a match, key strategy and timing of your countermeasures are critical to overcoming the deceptive Cephalid Facetaker.

BurnMana Recommendations

The world of MTG offers a nuanced battlefield where every card can be a game-changer, and Cephalid Facetaker is no exception. This card brings a unique blend of disruption and opportunity, making it a staple for any blue-focused deck enthusiast. Navigating its pros and cons is the key to leveraging its full potential. Whether you’re looking to turn the tides at instant speed or seeking to outmaneuver your opponent with strategic plays, Cephalid Facetaker offers both. Curious about integrating this card into your deck or mastering it against your foes? Discover insights, strategies, and much more through our deep dive into the Cephalid Facetaker’s multifaceted role in MTG.

Cards like Cephalid Facetaker

The Cephalid Facetaker brings a unique twist to the realm of blue creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. When we look at other blue creatures like Clone, which also allows you to copy another creature, the Facetaker stands out because it offers the additional benefit of stealing the copied creature’s abilities until end of turn. Unlike Clone, Cephalid Facetaker requires sacrifice and mana to activate its ability, adding a strategic layer to its use.

Phantasmal Image is another card that shares the cloning mechanic. However, it comes with a fragility clause where it must be sacrificed if targeted by a spell or ability. Cephalid Facetaker, conversely, steps around this limitation, as its abilities are activated at instant speed and it does not self-destruct when targeted. There is also Vesuvan Shapeshifter, which mimics creatures at the cost of returning it to its owner’s hand, allowing for repeated use. Yet, the Facetaker’s immediacy in assuming control of abilities gives it an edge in surprise maneuvers.

Comparing these cards highlights how Cephalid Facetaker offers a unique package of versatility and tactical advantage among blue creatures that mimic others, particularly for players who enjoy reactive gameplay and seizing opportunities as they arise.