Coiling Stalker MTG Card
2022-02-18 - Number 346
2022-02-18 - Number 179
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Snake Ninja |
| Abilities | Ninjutsu |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever Coiling Stalker deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control that doesn't have a +1/+1 counter on it.
Cards like Coiling Stalker
Coiling Stalker brings a unique dynamic to creature cards in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarities to other creatures like Hired Blade, which also lies in wait with flash, ready to surprise the opponent. Coiling Stalker offers an edge with its additional ability to slink back to the hand, making it a persistent threat that can be reused, much like the tactic employed by the infamous Drifter il-Dal.
Looking at other analogs, Nimble Obstructionist stands out with its flash ability, providing a surprise blocker or an end-of-turn threat. The stork has an additional cycling capability, which offers card advantage but lacks the reusability trait of Coiling Stalker. There’s also Ambush Viper, a flash creature with deathtouch, designed to serve as an excellent defensive play against tougher creatures. Unlike Coiling Stalker, this viper doesn’t return to the player’s hand but serves as a one-time surprise that can take out much larger threats.
In weighing the attributes and functionality of various flash creatures, Coiling Stalker proves its worth with its elusive nature and knack for staying relevant throughout the game, positioning it as a flexible option in decks looking for recurring threats.
Cards similar to Coiling Stalker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Coiling Stalker shines when it comes to generating card advantage for its controller. In MTG, maintaining a hand full of options is crucial, and Coiling Stalker excels at supplying a steady stream of cards to keep those options open. Its ability to potentially draw its owner additional cards can significantly tip the balance of a game in their favor.
Resource Acceleration: As a formidable card, Coiling Stalker helps players ramp up their resources at an impressive rate. The magic in its design includes an ability to accelerate mana availability which plays a pivotal role in outpacing opponents. This quickened access to resources allows for larger threats to hit the board sooner and can be the edge needed for a victory.
Instant Speed: Coiling Stalker’s versatility is further emphasized by its instant-speed nature. This key characteristic enables players to deploy it at the most opportunistic times, catching opponents off guard or maximizing the effectiveness of the card’s entry onto the battlefield. The flexibility to react with Coiling Stalker during an opponent’s turn or at the end of their cycle is a strategic advantage not to be underestimated.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Coiling Stalker’s activation demands a card to be discarded. This can backfire when you’re strapped for cards in hand, potentially costing you valuable momentum and resources during the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The Stalker necessitates precise mana types for casting. This restriction means players will have to adjust their mana bases accordingly, which could reduce the deck’s overall consistency if not carefully managed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher mana cost to consider, players might find the Coiling Stalker falls behind other creatures or spells in the same cost bracket. Players must evaluate whether the impact on the board justifies the investment, especially when options with lower costs could fit more efficiently into their strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Coiling Stalker is a flexible card that seamlessly integrates into various deck archetypes. Its capacity to be both an early threat and a late-game surge in power makes it adaptable to the ever-changing battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergy-rich environments, where its ability to grow through specific actions taken in the game can turbo-charge strategies focused on creature size and lethal combat strikes.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies prevail or evolve, Coiling Stalker’s potential to become a dominant force on the board cannot be underestimated, especially when thoughtfully paired with other strategic pieces.
How to beat
Coiling Stalker is a sneaky asset in Magic: The Gathering that can carve a path to victory through its elusive nature. With its ability to slink by creatures without flying or reach, it evokes strategies reminiscent of cards like Invisible Stalker. The key to triumphing over this slippery foe lies in the removal of its protections or overwhelming the battlefield with blockers.
Considering spells that can target without relying on direct interaction, such as board wipes or enchantments that don’t single out creatures are excellent choices. Think Supreme Verdict or Starfield of Nyx, which bypass hexproof or similar abilities. Additionally, forcing sacrifices, with cards like Liliana of the Veil, bypasses the difficulty of targeting the creature directly. Trample-enabling cards also allow your creatures to deal excess damage over those pesky blockers.
Mitigating the damage done by Coiling Stalker is also key, whether through life gain, such as with Absorb, or creature buffs to turn the tide. Ultimately, to conquer a Coiling Stalker, adapting your approach to manage its unique abilities will ensure that you maintain upper hand control on the game board.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Coiling Stalker MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty and Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Coiling Stalker and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Coiling Stalker Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-02-18 and 2022-02-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | NEO | 346 | 2015 | Normal | Black | M.Matsumoto | |
| 2 | 2022-02-18 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | NEO | 179 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Coiling Stalker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Coiling Stalker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-02-18 | Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example). |
| 2022-02-18 | As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature. The Ninja card stays revealed and isn't put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won't enter the battlefield at all. |
| 2022-02-18 | If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike. |
| 2022-02-18 | Puff of smoke not included. |
| 2022-02-18 | The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature's controller chooses which player or planeswalker it's attacking. |
| 2022-02-18 | The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. In most cases (see below), if you wait until the combatdamage step or end of combat step, it will be after combat damage has been dealt, so the Ninja won't deal combat damage. |
| 2022-02-18 | The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked. |
| 2022-02-18 | The target of Coiling Stalker's triggered ability will become an illegal target if a +1/+1 counter is placed on it before the triggered ability resolves. |