Deadeye Tormentor MTG Card

Deadeye Tormentor offers discard advantage and can disrupt opponent strategies when involved in combat. Its usage is conditional upon engaging in combat, which can limit the card’s reliability in certain situations. While mana-specific and higher in cost, it remains versatile and fitting for decks leveraging discard mechanics.

Ixalan (XLN)
2017-09-29 - Number 98

Deadeye Tormentor - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 615

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number XLN-98

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Pirate
Abilities	Raid
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

Raid — When Deadeye Tormentor enters the battlefield, if you attacked with a creature this turn, target opponent discards a card.

Despite their noble heritage, the pirates of the Deadeye Fleet are known for underhanded tactics and despicable trickery.

Cards like Deadeye Tormentor

Deadeye Tormentor holds its ground in the roster of disruptive creatures in MTG. This card stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Ravenous Rats, which similarly forces an opponent to discard a card upon entering the battlefield. Yet, Deadeye Tormentor carves its niche by requiring the Raid mechanic to activate its ability — a small twist relying on having attacked with a creature in the same turn.

Burglar Rat is another family member in the discard upon entry effect, offering the same outcome without any prerequisite. However, Deadeye Tormentor’s pirate synergy and potential for being a 3/2 versus Burglar Rat’s always 1/1 stats, provides aggressive decks more punch and synergy. Then we have Yarok’s Fenlurker, which also causes an opponent to exile a card when it enters the battleground. Despite the Fenlurker offering a permanent exile effect, it also boosts itself under certain conditions, which Deadeye Tormentor doesn’t.

Assessing Deadeye Tormentor against these peers reveals the card’s unique position in MTG, particularly in decks that capitalize on the Raid mechanic and require a combination of creature threats and hand disruption.

Cards similar to Deadeye Tormentor by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Deadeye Tormentor enables you to initiate a discard on your opponent when it enters the battlefield, potentially disrupting their plan and giving you an informational edge.

Resource Acceleration: While Deadeye Tormentor itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can clear the way for your assaults by forcing opponents to lose resources, thus indirectly speeding up your path to victory.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the Tormentor’s Raid ability can be triggered by other instant-speed actions you’ve taken earlier in the turn, granting you tactical flexibility at a moment’s notice.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside of Deadeye Tormentor is its reliance on the raid mechanic to trigger its discard effect. Without successfully attacking with a creature this turn, you won’t get the added benefit, making it less reliable in controlling the opponent’s hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Deadeye Tormentor’s casting cost includes both generic and black mana, necessitating a commitment to black mana sources within your deck. This requirement potentially restricts its inclusion in multi-colored decks or those that are mana-flexible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, there are other creatures and spells in the game that can induce discarding at a lower mana value. This makes Deadeye Tormentor slightly less cost-effective, especially when considering other options available for a similar impact in gameplay.

Reasons to Include Deadeye Tormentor in Your Collection

Versatility: Deadeye Tormentor offers flexible gameplay as it can adapt to various deck themes, particularly those keen on utilizing discard mechanisms for control or resource deprivation strategies.

Combo Potential: With its Raid ability, Deadeye Tormentor can be pivotal in decks that capitalize on attacking with multiple creatures, enhancing the synergy in pirate-themed builds or those looking to integrate discard triggers.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely heavily on a particular combo or key cards, forcing opponents to discard can disrupt their plans. In a meta that is combo-centric, this can be a strategic addition to your arsenal.

How to Beat Deadeye Tormentor

Deadeye Tormentor challenges players with a Raid ability that activates when you attack with a creature on the same turn it’s cast. To counter this, maintaining a solid defense is crucial. Building your board presence and having blockers ready can discourage an opponent from attacking, thereby neutralizing the Raid trigger. Additionally, instant-speed removal spells or effects that can remove the Tormentor before the attack phase can prevent its ability from causing you to discard.

In other strategies, playing cards that benefit from discarding, such as those with Madness or Flashback, can actually turn Deadeye Tormentor’s ability to your advantage. This way, what is meant to disrupt your game plan can be transformed into an unforeseen boon. Moreover, cards that grant an immunity to discard or replace your hand quickly, like Library of Leng or Elixir of Immortality, can safeguard you against the unwelcome discard effect.

Ultimately, efficient resource management and knowledge of your deck’s synergies are key to turning the tables on Deadeye Tormentor. By incorporating cards that mitigate or capitalize on his discard effect, he becomes less of a menace and more of a manageable obstacle. It’s this level of strategic insight and preparation that can define the outcome against such disruptive cards.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deadeye Tormentor MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Mystery Booster, 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 Deadeye Tormentor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deadeye Tormentor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Eric Deschamps.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2017-09-29	Ixalan	XLN	98	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	615	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	XLN-98	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deadeye Tormentor has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Deadeye Tormentor 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	Raid abilities care only that you attacked with a creature. It doesn’t matter how many creatures you attacked with, or which opponent or planeswalker controlled by an opponent those creatures attacked.
2018-01-19	Raid abilities evaluate the entire turn to see if you attacked with a creature. That creature doesn’t have to still be on the battlefield. Similarly, the player or planeswalker it attacked doesn’t have to still be in the game or on the battlefield, respectively.