Pirate Ship MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 14 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Pirate
Power 4
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Pirate Ship cards provide thematic flavor and unique abilities reflective of high seas adventuring in gameplay.
  2. They synergize well with blue and black decks, capitalizing on themes of control, treasure, and plundering.
  3. Pirate-themed decks enhance the casual play experience, inviting players to craft narratives alongside strategic deck building.

Text of card

Tap to do 1 damage to any target. Cannot attack unless opponent has islands in play, though controller may still tap. Pirate Ship is destroyed immediately if at any time controller has no islands in play.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Pirate Ship card offers great advantage by dealing damage to any target, ensuring your hand always has that extra offensive boost.

Resource Acceleration: Pirate Ship enhances your playing field quickly as it only requires four mana to summon. Its Islandhome ability also grants a significant advantage when playing in decks full of Islands.

Instant Speed: Although Pirate Ship isn’t an instant, its power to continually deal damage each turn makes it a consistent threat on the board, holding opponents at bay. Remember, the best offense can sometimes be a good defense.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its notorious firepower, Pirate Ship has a tendency to demand your precious resources. To unleash its full portent, you need to sacrifice an additional card from your hand, causing you a potential setback, especially when your deck is dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both general and blue mana, Pirate Ship narrows down its compatibility to decks that can adequately cater to its aqua affinity. Its strict mana dependency could impose a limitation in diverse deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating a hefty sum of four mana for Pirate Ship might pose an impediment. There are alternative MTG cards in the market offering more lucrative advantages at a relatively lower or equivalent cost, thus demanding a thorough consideration of the strategic value of Pirate Ship in your MTG deck.


Reasons to Include Pirate Ship in Your Collection

Versatility: Pirate Ship offers a great utility for any deck, particularly those with an emphasis on control and direct damage. Being able to deal consistent damage while avoiding blockers, this card can adapt and thrive in a multitude of situations.

Combo Potential: Pirate Ship can be exploited for various combos, as its ability to deal damage can be intensified by effects that increase damage dealt or abilities that untap creatures, multiplying the threat it poses to your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control and slow-grind strategies are prevalent, Pirate Ship’s constant threat of direct damage, in addition to its ability to block incoming flyers, makes it a potent addition to any strategic arsenal.


How to Beat

Your strategy in defeating someone wielding a Pirate Ship MTG card deeply depends on your deck configuration. This enchanting card allows its controller to deal 1 damage to any target – a feature that can be amplified with powerful combinations. Therefore, understanding the card mechanics and configuring your array to withstand its assault is essential.

Utilize creatures with a higher toughness. Since Pirate Ship can only deal 1 damage at a time, creatures with a toughness above 1 can vastly reduce its impact. Additionally, use cards that can effectively remove or neutralize it. Spells like Murder, Doom Blade, or Pacifism can effectively deal with the Pirate Ship. To do this, save up your mana and try to strategize when to best interrupt your opponent’s play.

Additionally, counter spells could be another great tactic to nullify your opponent’s plans. Cards like Negate, Cancel, and Scatter to the Winds can thrwart the summoning of this destructive ship.

In the end, dealing with the Pirate Ship MTG requires effective planning and clever deck construction, considering its ability to chip away at your defenses bit by bit. Be proactive and aggressive to stop it from ruling the seas of your game.


Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the seas of Magic the Gathering is a quest for both strategy aficionados and lore enthusiasts alike. Pirate ships serve as a formidable archetype brimming with swashbuckling tactics that can steer any player toward victory. Remember, success in MTG isn’t just about the cards you draw, but how you play your crew. We encourage you to keep sailing through this vast ocean of knowledge, enhancing your strategies, and amassing a treasure trove of powerful cards. Set sail towards your next challenge with confidence. Dive deeper into the MTG realm with us, and let’s chart a course for triumph together.


Cards like Pirate Ship

Comparing Pirate Ship with similar cards in the MTG realm, we come across Ghost Ship and Sea Serpent. Unique aspects in its game mechanics, such as continuous damage dealing to any target, make Pirate Ship an interesting choice.

Ghost Ship mirrors Pirate Ship, both incredibly versatile cards, allowing players to control the game. However, Ghost Ship has a notable advantage – the regeneration mechanic, granting it a higher level of survivability on the battlefield.

Sea Serpent, while not as versatile, still shares the water-themed categorization with Pirate Ship, providing enthusiasts with themed deckbuilding options. Though, unlike our focus card, it lacks the ability to deal direct damage but boasts a higher power level.

All considered, Pirate Ship in Magic: The Gathering holds its own among similar cards. Its direct, versatile damage dealing ability, combined with its sailing theme, makes it an intriguing choice for MTG deck builders targeting a maritime strategy.

Ghost Ship - MTG Card versions
Sea Serpent - MTG Card versions
Ghost Ship - The Dark (DRK)
Sea Serpent - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Pirate Ship by color, type and mana cost

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Psionic Entity - MTG Card versions
Taniwha - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Wu Admiral - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Dreamtail Heron - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Richard Garfield, Ph.D. - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Tidewater Minion - MTG Card versions
Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Water Elemental - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Air Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Sandbar Crocodile - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Segovian Leviathan - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Psionic Entity - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Taniwha - Mirage (MIR)
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Wu Admiral - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Mawcor - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Timin, Youthful Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Geology Enthusiast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Dreamtail Heron - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Coastal Hornclaw - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - Commander Masters (CMM)
Richard Garfield, Ph.D. - Unhinged (UNH)
Cloudhoof Kirin - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Tidewater Minion - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Drelnoch - Coldsnap (CSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pirate Ship MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Pirate Ship and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pirate Ship Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Tom Wänerstrand.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 701993normalblackTom Wänerstrand
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 711993normalblackTom Wänerstrand
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 711993normalwhiteTom Wänerstrand
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 711993normalblackTom Wänerstrand
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 711993normalblackTom Wänerstrand
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 721993normalwhiteTom Wänerstrand
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 721993normalblackTom Wänerstrand
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 721993normalwhiteTom Wänerstrand
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 911993normalwhiteTom Wänerstrand
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 911993normalblackTom Wänerstrand
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1091997normalwhiteTom Wänerstrand
122006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 281997normalblackTom Wänerstrand
132022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 702015normalblackTom Wänerstrand
142022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3671997normalblackTom Wänerstrand

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pirate Ship has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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