Crafty Cutpurse MTG Card
Text of card
Flash When Crafty Cutpurse enters the battlefield, each token that would be created under an opponent's control this turn is created under your control instead.
Possession is eleven-tenths of the pirate code.
Cards like Crafty Cutpurse
Crafty Cutpurse is a unique card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, with its ability to turn the tides by stealing tokens as they enter the battlefield. It shares conceptual space with cards like Agent of Treachery, which also intercepts the opponent’s resources, but Agent of Treachery can take control of any permanent, not just tokens.
Identity Thief is another card in this vein but with a different approach. As it attacks, Identity Thief can become a copy of another target creature, essentially morphing its characteristics while denying your opponent their creature’s abilities for the turn. However, Crafty Cutpurse offers an immediate and potentially game-altering effect at the exact moment the tokens would be created.
Cards like Hushwing Gryff need to be mentioned too. While not directly taking resources, it does prevent creatures from triggering enter-the-battlefield effects, which can neutrally impair tactics reliant on those triggers, similar to the preventive strategy Crafty Cutpurse employs with tokens. Overall, Crafty Cutpurse provides a niche but powerful tool against token strategies, setting it apart from other resource disruption cards in the game.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crafty Cutpurse enables a sneaky shift in board presence by granting you ownership of all tokens that would enter the battlefield under your opponent’s control this turn. This twist has the potential to not only pad your side of the battlefield but also to deprive opponents of critical assets, essentially providing you with a two-for-one scenario.
Resource Acceleration: While this card in itself doesn’t directly provide traditional mana acceleration, the ability to steal Treasure tokens and other mana-generating tokens can serve as an indirect resource boost. You could potentially hijack key tokens that are intended for your opponent’s resource plans, thereby accelerating your own ability to cast spells sooner than expected.
Instant Speed: Crafty Cutpurse’s instant speed is its hidden gem, allowing for reactive plays that can disrupt opponents’ carefully laid strategies at a moment’s notice. Casting it in response to an opponent’s token-generating spell can drastically shift the tide of the game, making it a versatile tool in the right situation.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Crafting a strategy around the Crafty Cutpurse can be tricky as it does not directly influence your hand or resources. Unlike some other cards, it doesn’t demand discarding as a condition, thus does not inherently thin your hand, which for some players may translate to less immediate impact on the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The Crafty Cutpurse comes with a mana cost that is split between blue and generic mana. While the specific requirement for blue mana can easily fit into mono-blue or dual-color strategies, it might not seamlessly slot into more diverse mana base decks without the right fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana price tag to summon it onto the battlefield, the Crafty Cutpurse sits at a point where competition for a slot in a deck is fierce. Several other cards at this mana cost provide more straightforward utility or power, making the Cutpurse potentially less appealing in decks that need to maximize every mana spent.
Reasons to Include Crafty Cutpurse in Your Collection
Versatility: Crafty Cutpurse can be a strategic addition to decks that thrive on disrupting opponent strategies. Its ability to steal tokens can turn the tide in mirror matches or against token-heavy decks.
Combo Potential: This card works well with mechanics that benefit from the presence of extra creatures, such as revolt or ascend, making it a game-changer in the right combo.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where token-generating strategies are prevalent, Crafty Cutpurse can serve as an unexpected counter that allows you to gain advantage from your opponent’s moves.
How to beat
Crafty Cutpurse presents a unique challenge in the world of Magic: The Gathering as it turns the tide of treasure and token creation in your opponent’s favor. When dealing with this crafty pirate, the best strategy often involves suppressing their ability altogether. Instant speed removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can exile or destroy Crafty Cutpurse as it enters the battlefield, preventing its trigger from stealing your tokens.
Another effective strategy is to hold off on casting spells that create tokens until after you’ve neutralized the Cutpurse threat. Counterspells are also an excellent defense, stopping Crafty Cutpurse before it can hit the board and wreak havoc. Additionally, playing around their flash ability by pacing your token-generating spells, or opting for non-token strategies, can sidestep the disruption Crafty Cutpurse aims to cause. By maintaining control of the board and being mindful of your opponent’s potential to flash in this pirate, you can navigate your way to a win.
Ultimately, while Crafty Cutpurse can disrupt momentum, a thoughtful approach to each match—incorporating timely removal, strategic spell casting, and considering alternative win conditions—will ensure you’re well-prepared to outmaneuver this thieving menace.
BurnMana Recommendations
Delving into the intricate dynamics of MTG leads us to cards like Crafty Cutpurse, a cunning addition that can swing the momentum in your favor. Understanding its advantages, from card advantage to meta-relevance, is key to optimizing your gameplay. Whether you’re seeking to thwart token-based strategies or incorporate unexpected combos in your deck, it’s essential to keep abreast of the evolving game tactics. Stealing tokens, shaping the battlefield, and strategic timing are just the beginning. Curious about perfecting your deck with Crafty Cutpurse or discovering efficient counters? Explore with us as we dive deeper into advanced strategies to refine your MTG prowess.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crafty Cutpurse MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Commander 2021, 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 Crafty Cutpurse and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Crafty Cutpurse Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Grzegorz Rutkowski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-01-19 | Rivals of Ixalan | RIX | 33 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Grzegorz Rutkowski | |
| 2 | 2021-04-23 | Commander 2021 | C21 | 117 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Grzegorz Rutkowski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crafty Cutpurse has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crafty Cutpurse card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | Crafty Cutpurse won’t retroactively change the control of tokens that have already entered the battlefield. |
| 2018-01-19 | Crafty Cutpurse’s replacement effect is applied before any other replacement effects that would also modify how the token enters the battlefield. For example, if an opponent controls Anointed Procession, your Crafty Cutpurse’s effect applies before that of Anointed Procession and you won’t get twice as many tokens. |
| 2018-01-19 | If a token would be created tapped and attacking, but the token’s controller isn’t an attacking player, that token is created tapped but not attacking. If a token would be created blocking a creature, but the token’s controller isn’t a defending player, that token is created but isn’t blocking. |
| 2018-01-19 | If the effect that creates the token also creates a delayed triggered ability, Crafty Cutpurse doesn’t change who controls that ability. For example, if your opponent activates the ability of Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, that opponent controls the delayed triggered ability. When the ability triggers, that player can’t sacrifice the token, so it remains on the battlefield. |
| 2018-01-19 | If two or more players each have resolved Crafty Cutpurse’s triggered ability and a token would be created, the token’s would-be controller chooses one of the applicable Crafty Cutpurse effects to apply. Then the new would-be controller of the token repeats this process among the remaining Crafty Cutpurse effects, and so on, until there are no more possible such effects to apply. Each effect can be applied to the token only once this way. |
| 2018-01-19 | On the other hand, if the effect that creates the token grants a triggered ability to the token, the player who controls the token at the time the ability triggers will be the player who controls that ability. For example, if your opponent activates the second ability of Jace, Cunning Castaway, the token has the ability. If the ability triggers, you’ll control it, so you’ll have to sacrifice the token. |
| 2018-01-19 | The above procedure means that if each player in a two-player game has resolved Crafty Cutpurse’s triggered ability and one would create a token, it really will enter the battlefield under that player’s control. The token would enter the battlefield under player A’s control, so player B’s effect affects it. Now that token would enter the battlefield under player B’s control, so player A’s effect affects it. Each replacement effect has now been used, so the token will enter the battlefield under player A’s control. |
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.