Stromkirk Occultist MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vampire Horror
Abilities Madness,Trample
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage by allowing you to draw when inflicting combat damage.
  2. Madness enables casting at a reduced cost, accelerating your resources.
  3. Instant casting of the card adds a layer of versatility and surprise.

Text of card

Trample Whenever Stromkirk Occultist deals combat damage to a player, exile the top card of your library. Until end of turn, you may play that card. Madness (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Stromkirk Occultist offers a unique advantage by granting players the ability to draw a card whenever it deals combat damage to a player. This trait ensures a steady influx of options, keeping your hand filled with potential answers or threats.

Resource Acceleration: Madess – If the Stromkirk Occultist is discarded, you may cast it for its madness cost, allowing you to effectively bypass its original mana cost. This can be a vital resource acceleration technique, helping you deploy more threats or answers ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: The madness mechanic offers a form of instant speed interaction. While the card itself doesn’t play at instant speed, it can be cast for its madness cost in response to discard events, which often occur on both your own and your opponent’s turns, increasing the card’s versatility and surprise factor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Stromkirk Occultist’s triggered ability can be a double-edged sword. In order to capitalize on the card’s potential, you’re compelled to discard whenever it deals combat damage to a player. This can backfire dramatically when you’re holding key cards and have to make the tough choice of discarding something of value.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for a red-centric deck, Stromkirk Occultist demands a precise mana arrangement to be played effectively. This strict cost of one colorless and two red mana can be restrictive, especially in multicolor decks that might struggle with color fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the arena of three mana creatures, the Occultist comes with a demand for a more significant investment. While its abilities are certainly powerful, the initial outlay may not always align with the pace and development of your board, particularly when other cards with lower mana costs can fulfill similar roles more efficiently.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Stromkirk Occultist offers adaptability in various deck builds, notably those emphasizing aggressive strategies coupled with card advantage. Its ability to cast instants from the top of your library on dealing combat damage makes it a flexible choice in red-centric or multicolor decks.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in combinations that capitalize on attacking creatures and drawing cards. Whether it’s enabling delirium or powering up with prowess, the Occultist can easily integrate into combo setups, leading to explosive plays and unforeseen victories.

Meta-Relevance: Playing in a meta dense with creature-based strategies? Stromkirk Occultist’s Trample ability ensures it remains a relevant threat, piercing through potential blockers while simultaneously refueling your hand, keeping you one step ahead of the opposition.


How to beat

Stromkirk Occultist is a card that commands attention on the battlefield with its unique ability to grant card advantage in red decks. Players often harness its potential in aggressive strategies, leveraging its Trample and the ability to exile the top card of the library for some strategic play. Despite its strengths, overcoming this formidable foe requires a well-planned approach.

Defeating a Stromkirk Occultist often hinges on minimizing its combat effectiveness or removing it from the field before its abilities can trigger. Efficient removal spells are key, with options like Fatal Push and Path to Exile being prime examples of spells that can handle the creature at a low cost. Cards that can exile it upon death, such as Declaration in Stone, also prevent its recursion. It’s also worth considering countermeasures like enchantments that negate abilities or prevent damage, helping to nullify the advantages Stromkirk Occultist may provide to your opponent. Therefore, keeping a sharp eye for the right removal spell and strategic timing can turn the tide to your advantage.

Understanding your own deck’s strengths and the versatile ways to counter an opponent’s threats is essential. In doing so, you can ensure that cards like Stromkirk Occultist do not stand in the way of your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’ve been captivated by the dynamic playstyle Stromkirk Occultist introduces to MTG, you’re on the right track. Its card drawing on combat damage and madness at an alternate cost present intriguing tactical avenues. Whether you’re optimizing an aggro deck or weaving intricate combos, this vampire is ready to power your plays. Could it elevate your strategic game and keep your opponents constantly guessing? Explore more about weaving the Occultist into your deck and harnessing its full potential to secure dominance in your matches. Dive deeper with us, where strategy meets passion in MTG.


Cards like Stromkirk Occultist

Stromkirk Occultist is part of a unique breed of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, not least because of its innovative Trample and Madness abilities. A comparative glance at other creatures like Asylum Visitor shows some shared characteristics, such as the Madness ability. However, what sets the Occultist apart is its “Whenever Stromkirk Occultist deals combat damage to a player, exile the top card of your library. Until end of turn, you may play that card” effect, enabling a card advantage that Asylum Visitor doesn’t directly offer.

Another card worth mentioning is Bloodhall Priest, which also benefits from Madness and rewards you when you have no cards in hand. Unlike the Priest, Stromkirk Occultist doesn’t need an empty hand to deliver value, granting more flexibility in various gameplay scenarios. Moreover, Falkenrath Gorger is a card that can synergize with the Occultist by giving it and other vampires in your hand Madness, broadening the possible strategic plays. While Falkenrath Gorger assists in enabling Madness, it lacks the card advantage engine inherent to the Occultist.

Examining these similarities and differences aids in understanding where Stromkirk Occultist stands among its peers. Its combination of direct combat benefits and card advantage capabilities make it a noteworthy card for players who appreciate aggressive strategies coupled with tactical depth.

Asylum Visitor - MTG Card versions
Bloodhall Priest - MTG Card versions
Falkenrath Gorger - MTG Card versions
Asylum Visitor - Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)
Bloodhall Priest - Eldritch Moon (EMN)
Falkenrath Gorger - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)

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Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
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Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
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Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stromkirk Occultist MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Eldritch Moon Promos, 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 Stromkirk Occultist and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Stromkirk Occultist Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 1462015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
22016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 146s2015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
32019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1532015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
42021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 1512015normalblackMagali Villeneuve
52023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 1792015normalblackMagali Villeneuve

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stromkirk Occultist has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stromkirk Occultist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2016-07-13 If you don't play the card, it will remain exiled.
2016-07-13 Playing the card exiled with Stromkirk Occultist's second ability follows the normal rules for playing that card. You must pay its costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if the card is a creature card, you can cast that card by paying its mana cost only during your main phase while the stack is empty.
2016-07-13 The card exiled by Stromkirk Occultist's second ability is exiled face up.
2016-07-13 Unless an effect allows you to play additional lands that turn, you can play a land card exiled with Stromkirk Occultist's second ability only if you haven't played a land yet that turn.
2016-07-13 You may pay alternative and additional costs for that card, such as emerge and escalate costs. If it has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.
2016-07-13 You may play that card that turn even if Stromkirk Occultist is no longer on the battlefield or no longer under your control.

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