Ballynock Trapper MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Kithkin Soldier
Released	2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set name	Eventide
Set code	EVE
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	2
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Randy Gallegos

Key Takeaways

Ballynock Trapper provides board control by tapping threats at instant speed without mana cost.
Strategically synergizes with untap-triggered abilities for card advantage or resource acceleration.
Demands a deck with white mana optimization for consistent utility and strategic play.

Text of card

: Tap target creature. Whenever you play a white spell, you may untap Ballynock Trapper.

No matter how large or small, fierce or fleeting, the kithkin have a trap for it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ballynock Trapper enables play styles that leverage tapping and untapping creatures. In multi-creature scenarios, this can translate into controlling the board by selectively neutralizing opponents’ threats.

Resource Acceleration: Coupled with cards that benefit from untapping, the Trapper can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration. This can come through untap-triggered abilities that might draw cards, generate mana, or create other advantageous effects.

Instant Speed: The ability to tap another target creature comes at no mana cost and can be activated at instant speed. This allows strategic flexibility to disrupt opponents’ combat plans or to simply use the ability as a deterrent during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its utility, the Ballynock Trapper necessitates occupying a slot within your hand until the appropriate moment arrives, potentially hindering your ability to hold onto other critical cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting and ability activation costs are intertwined with white mana, demanding a deck predominantly featuring this color or a well-engineered mana base to ensure consistent playability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that may be considered steep for its tap ability, the Ballynock Trapper faces competition from lower-cost alternatives, particularly for players seeking to optimize their decks for speed and efficiency.

Reasons to Include Ballynock Trapper in Your Collection

Versatility: Ballynock Trapper is not just a solid utility creature but also an effective tool for disrupting opponents. Its ability to tap potential attackers or blockers makes it a flexible addition to decks focused on control or those that need time to set up their board.

Combo Potential: This card shines in environments where untapping creatures is beneficial. It blends with combos that involve tapping and untapping creatures for value, either to generate mana, draw cards, or execute a win condition.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting competitive landscape, Ballynock Trapper offers proactive interaction against creature-based strategies. In matchups where tempo is crucial, it can offer essential board control to navigate through pivotal turns.

How to Beat

Ballynock Trapper is known for its ability to tap target creatures and can prove to be a nuisance for players who are not prepared to face it. To suppress this card’s influence in a game, consider employing strategies that remove creatures from the board. Instant-speed removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can effectively deal with Ballynock Trapper before it gets a chance to lock down your important creatures.

Artifact cards that grant your creatures hexproof, like Swiftfoot Boots, are also an excellent countermeasure. They can shield your assets from being targeted by the Trapper’s ability. If you play a deck that can generate a large number of creatures quickly, overwhelming the Trapper could dilute its effectiveness by making it harder to control the field with its tapping ability.

Ultimately, the key is to remain flexible and responsive. By incorporating these strategic elements into your deck, you can neutralize the Ballynock Trapper and maintain the upper hand in your Magic: The Gathering matches, ensuring that your creatures remain untapped and ready for battle.

Cards like Ballynock Trapper

Ballynock Trapper may not be the flashiest card in MTG, but it serves a niche role in decks looking for tap-down control. It stands in line with cards like Gideon’s Lawkeeper and Master Decoy, both providing a similar utility to control opponents’ creatures. The strength of Ballynock Trapper, however, lies in its inherent synergy with white’s creature-based strategies, as it taps without mana investment given you have another white creature to trigger its untap ability.

For a more aggressive comparison, Blinding Mage from the core set offers a mana-dependent tap option. It lacks the built-in untap mechanism of Ballynock Trapper but compensates with a lower initial casting cost. With careful play, Ballynock Trapper can provide more consistent control over the battlefield, disrupting the opponent’s strategies turn after turn without requiring additional mana investment.

While not a top-tier choice in deeper formats, Ballynock Trapper can be a real boon in Limited formats like Draft or Sealed, where controlling the battlefield often leads to victory. With its unique capabilities, it carves out its own space among MTG’s creature control options.

Cards similar to Ballynock Trapper by color, type and mana cost

Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions

Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions

Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions

Northern Paladin - Revised Edition (3ED)

Seasoned Marshal - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)

Coalition Honor Guard - Apocalypse (APC)

Mangara, the Diplomat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - Salvat 2011 (PS11)

Hero of Bladehold - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Galepowder Mage - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)

Kor Cartographer - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ballynock Trapper MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Ballynock Trapper and other MTG cards: