Eyeblight Assassin MTG Card
2015-07-17 - Number 95
2018-06-08 - Number 143
2020-11-20 - Number 123
2021-08-26 - Number 325
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Assassin |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Eyeblight Assassin enters the battlefield, target creature an opponent controls gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
"Boggart blood disgusts me almost as much as the foul creatures themselves."
Cards like Eyeblight Assassin
Eyeblight Assassin emerges as an intriguing creature within Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of utility creatures. Its most direct comparison is to the likes of Skinthinner, which provides a creature-eliminating ability upon being morphed. While Skinthinner can be transformative in play, Eyeblight Assassin offers its elf synergy and the immediate -1/-1 debuff upon entering the battlefield without extra mana investment.
Another card that shares some strategic potential is Nekrataal, which also destroys a nonartifact, nonblack creature upon arrival. The key difference lies in Nekrataal’s unconditional destruction versus Eyeblight Assassin’s temporary debuff. This can be less potent but also targets a wider range of creatures not limited to nonartifact and nonblack.
Ultimately, Eyeblight Assassin holds its unique position with its elf tribal connections and immediate board impact. This flexibility can be advantageous in a range of situations, making it a worthy consideration for decks that benefit from its specific traits and synergies.
Cards similar to Eyeblight Assassin by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Eyeblight Assassin enters the battlefield, its ability to force the opponent to weaken one of their creatures can indirectly lead to gaining card advantage. By weakening an opposing creature, it sets up favorable trades or removes a key piece from the opponent’s board without losing card resources.
Resource Acceleration: While Eyeblight Assassin itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, its presence can conserve resources by potentially eliminating the need to use other removal spells on weakened creatures, leaving mana and cards available for further plays.
Instant Speed: Although Eyeblight Assassin is a creature and not an instant, its impact is felt immediately upon entering the battlefield. This provides a pseudo-instant speed advantage, allowing players to react to threats by deploying the Assassin and influencing the board at a critical moment, similar to instant speed interaction.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Eyeblight Assassin does not have a discard requirement; however, it does have a high mana cost in relation to its ability, which can be a significant drawback. This can leave players in a bind when they need to conserve their hand for other strategies or impactful plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Eyeblight Assassin requires both black and generic mana, which can slightly limit deck-building options. Its inclusion in a deck demands a reliable black mana source, potentially restricting its usage in multicolored or more versatile mana bases.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana to cast, with a 2/2 body, can be considered inefficient when compared to other creatures in the same mana range. Given the potential board state on turn three, a 2/2 creature with a one-time use ability might not be impactful enough, especially in formats where mana efficiency is key to success.
Reasons to Include Eyeblight Assassin in Your Collection
Versatility: Eyeblight Assassin can seamlessly integrate into a multitude of deck builds, particularly those that seek to control the board by weakening opposing creatures. Its flexible nature makes it a solid choice for various gameplay strategies.
Combo Potential: With its ability to give an opponent’s creature a debuff, it synergizes well with cards and strategies that capitalize on decreasing an adversary’s creature power. It can be a key piece in orchestration of intricate combos that tilt the board in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: As the game’s landscape often includes creatures key to an opponent’s victory, Eyeblight Assassin’s targeted weakening ability can diminish their threat levels, making it a worthy addition in a meta where creature-based strategies dominate.
How to beat
Eyeblight Assassin represents a niche yet tactical choice for players delving into the intricacies of MTG. Its ability to weaken an opponent’s creature upon entering the battlefield can disrupt strategies reliant on maintaining a strong board presence. Going against Eyeblight Assassin requires an understanding that its power lies in its sacrifice, turning the tides in combat by debuffing your more formidable creatures.
Counterplay includes using hexproof-equipped creatures to nullify the Assassin’s one-time ability, ensuring your key players remain unaffected. Moreover, instant-speed removal spells can preemptively take out the Assassin before its ability triggers, effectively nullifying its presence. Consider also that the Assassin’s stats are quite modest; sturdy creatures with enough resilience can withstand the -1/-1 effect, maintaining their dominance on the battlefield.
In essence, while Eyeblight Assassin can be a tactical speed bump, it can readily be outmaneuvered. By anticipating its coming and preparing your own defenses or removal tactics, you maintain control over the pace and power on the board, rendering the Eyeblight Assassin’s impact minimal at best in the grander scheme of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Eyeblight Assassin MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Battlebond, 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 Eyeblight Assassin and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Eyeblight Assassin Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Dan Scott.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 95 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 2 | 2018-06-08 | Battlebond | BBD | 143 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 3 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 123 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 4 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 325 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Eyeblight Assassin 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 |