Showstopper MTG Card


Showstopper - Dragon's Maze
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2013-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameDragon's Maze
Set codeDGM
Number102
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred bySteve Prescott

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts card advantage by crucial creature fetching, tipping the strategic balance in your favor.
  2. Spawns tokens at instant speed, enabling fast-paced play and unexpected board developments.
  3. Demands a card discard upon casting, which could be a strategic hurdle to overcome.

Text of card

Until end of turn, creatures you control gain "When this creature dies, it deals 2 damage to target creature an opponent controls."

The audience quickly realized a few things: it wasn't a magic trick, there wasn't candy in there, and they'd need new clothes.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Delves into a player’s deck to fetch any creature card, ensuring a strategic upper hand and bolstering one’s hand.

Resource Acceleration: As a formidable deployer of creature tokens, this card serves as a catalyst for ramping up one’s board presence swiftly, ultimately accelerating the player’s game plan.

Instant Speed: Showstopper’s instantaneity grants the agility to disrupt adversaries’ strategies at the zenith of combat or in response to game-altering plays, making it an unpredictable and flexible asset.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of playing Showstopper is the need to discard a card upon casting. This additional cost requires careful consideration of your hand, as it may deplete valuable resources and affect your long-term strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Showstopper comes with a particular color identity tied to its mana cost. This can be a challenge if your deck isn’t aligned with these colors, potentially limiting the card’s playability across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the mana investment needed to cast Showstopper, players may find the cost steep in comparison to other options. The mana expenditure could be used towards advancing your board presence or saving for a more impactful spell in the later stages of the game.


Reasons to Include Showstopper in Your Collection

Versatility: Showstopper can be a dynamic addition to decks that aim to control the board by utilizing creature death triggers. Its flexibility means it can seamlessly fit into various strategies, particularly those that thrive on sacrificial tactics.

Combo Potential: This card has the capacity to synergize with decks that capitalize on creatures dying. It can turn any board wipe into a potential game-ender by dealing damage to opponents when your creatures are sent to the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-heavy decks are dominant, Showstopper’s ability can act as a deterrent, discouraging opponents from removing your creatures or forcing unfavorable trades, maintaining the equilibrium of the battlefield in your favor.


How to Beat Showstopper

Showstopper is an intriguing card from the Magic: The Gathering universe that can turn the tide of a match with its dramatic effect. When it’s on the field, ending the game quickly becomes crucial since it allows creatures to deal damage to opponents when they die. To counter this card effectively, focus on prevention and control strategies. Key tactics include using counterspells to stop Showstopper from hitting the board in the first place, or employing removal spells on your opponent’s creatures before Showstopper can be activated. It’s essential to manage the board, keeping creature numbers low to minimize the impact of their departure.

Avoiding overcommitting to the board when Showstopper is a potential threat is wise, as this could backfire by allowing a significant damage swing against you. Instead, consider using instant-speed spells to disrupt your opponent’s plans during their turn. Moreover, graveyard hate cards that remove creatures from the game or effects that counter abilities can nullify Showstopper’s impact altogether. Be vigilant, adapt your playstyle, and Showstopper’s grand exit can be reduced to a minor inconvenience rather than a game-ending spectacle.


Cards like Showstopper

Showstopper from Magic: The Gathering brings unique flair to the array of removal spells available. It lines up against cards like Rakdos Charm, offering a multi-modal utility but Showstopper narrows its focus to creatures dying this turn, giving it a more specific but impactful role. Unlike Rakdos Charm, it doesn’t provide artifact destruction or graveyard interaction but it shines by disrupting your opponent’s combat phase or end-of-turn strategies.

Comparing it further, cards like Massacre Girl also initiate a chain reaction of creature deaths but this initiates from her own entry to the battlefield, unlike Showstopper which requires the creatures to die during the same turn it’s played. Moreover, Massacre Girl can potentially clear the entire board, while Showstopper might be more situational depending on the number of creatures dying.

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, the subtle differences between these cards reveal how Showstopper can be an unexpected tactical advantage in the right deck, especially when timed perfectly to capitalize on its potential to simultaneously be a removal spell and a means to clear the path for your victory.

Rakdos Charm - MTG Card versions
Massacre Girl - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Charm - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Massacre Girl - War of the Spark (WAR)

Cards similar to Showstopper by color, type and mana cost

Fire Covenant - MTG Card versions
Delirium - MTG Card versions
Spontaneous Combustion - MTG Card versions
Backlash - MTG Card versions
Unlicensed Disintegration - MTG Card versions
Kolaghan's Command - MTG Card versions
Strangling Soot - MTG Card versions
Fires of Undeath - MTG Card versions
Auger Spree - MTG Card versions
Bedevil - MTG Card versions
Warhost's Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Fire Covenant - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Delirium - Mirage (MIR)
Spontaneous Combustion - Conspiracy (CNS)
Backlash - Invasion (INV)
Unlicensed Disintegration - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Kolaghan's Command - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Strangling Soot - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Fires of Undeath - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Auger Spree - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Bedevil - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Warhost's Frenzy - Dominaria United (DMU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Showstopper MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Showstopper and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Showstopper has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 Creatures that come under your control after Showstopper resolves won’t have the ability.
2013-04-15 If another player gains control of a creature you control after Showstopper resolves, and then later that turn that creature dies, the creature’s controller when it died controls the triggered ability. That player chooses a creature that one of their opponents controls as a target.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks