Geist Trappers MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Warrior |
| Abilities | Soulbond |
| Released | 2012-05-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Avacyn Restored |
| Set code | AVR |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 179 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Anthony Palumbo |
Text of card
Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters the battlefield. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.) As long as Geist Trappers is paired with another creature, both creatures have reach.
Understanding Geist Trappers
Geist Trappers serve as a functional component in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, providing strategic depth and synergy in deck building. As a creature card, it offers a unique blend of defensive abilities and synergistic potential. The card bears a notable resemblance to the likes of Guardian of Pilgrims, as both provide a boost to defense stats. Geist Trappers take it a step further by offering the ability to grant your creatures hexproof until the end of turn when you tap it.
Cards like Geist Trappers
Geist Trappers share the battlefield with other formidable cards such as Tangle Angler, which also grants the ability to control combat dynamics but does so through giving a single creature must-be-blocked-if-able. However, unlike Geist Trappers, Tangle Angler doesn’t protect from targeted spells or abilities. Sentry of the Underworld also falls within the same spectrum but leans on self-protection with vigilance and flying, not extending its defensive capabilities to other creatures.
One could also consider comparing it to Serrated Biskelion, which offers a different but still interactive approach, as this artifact creature utilizes -1/-1 counters to manage threats on the board. However, it lacks the ability to safeguard your wider army like Geist Trappers. When evaluating their place in a deck, Geist Trappers stand out in their role as guardians, turning a key creature or an entire squad elusive for a turn, a boon that many defense-oriented MTG players value. Their presence reassures that your essential creatures can dodge detrimental spells or abilities at critical moments.
Cards similar to Geist Trappers by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Geist Trappers can influence the flow of the game by allowing you to potentially draw a card each time it becomes tapped. This can happen when it attacks, adds in defense, or via various tapping abilities, maintaining a steady stream of options in your hand.
Resource Acceleration: As a creature card, Geist Trappers may not directly contribute to resource acceleration in the traditional sense. However, the tapping ability to draw cards indirectly accelerates your resources by providing more actions and possibilities each turn.
Instant Speed: This card doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, but it encourages a deck build that optimizes instant speed interactions. With Geist Trappers on the board, holding up mana for instant-speed spells becomes more advantageous as you can tap it during an opponent’s turn for its ability, keeping your game plan flexible.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One aspect of Geist Trappers that could be seen as a downside is the need to discard another card to activate its ability. This could set you back particularly when your hand is already running low on cards.
Specific Mana Cost: Geist Trappers has a specific mana cost that includes green. This can make it less flexible and harder to cast in multi-color decks that may not support green mana as readily.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s on the higher end for its effect, Geist Trappers may compete for a slot with other creatures or spells that provide similar or better value at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Geist Trappers can adapt to different deck strategies with ease. Their reach attribute makes them a solid defense against flying creatures, which are common in many match-ups. Their capability to grant another target creature hexproof until the end of the turn can also be crucial in protecting your key creatures at pivotal moments.
Combo Potential: The ability to grant hexproof plays well with combos that rely on keeping a certain creature on the board. This can be especially important for safeguarding combo pieces from targeted removal, potentially swinging the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where single-target removal spells are prevalent, the protective ability of Geist Trappers is exceptionally relevant. Ensuring your high-value creatures survive your opponent’s turn can be game-changing, especially in a meta that’s removal-heavy.
How to beat
Geist Trappers stand out in the green creature lineup, offering both size and the ability to give other creatures trample through its soulbond ability. It’s a card that can quickly tip the balance in a game of Magic: The Gathering when paired with another heavy hitter on the board. However, overcoming it isn’t as daunting as it might seem initially.
Key to disrupting the Trappers is breaking up the soulbond pairing. Removal spells are your most straightforward course of action, with options like Murder to dispatch the paired creature, thus neutralizing the trample bonus. Targeted bounce spells like Unsummon can temporarily remove Geist Trappers from the field, hindering your opponent’s momentum. Additionally, mass removal spells like Doomskar can sweep away multiple threats, including any soulbond pairs.
Prioritizing creatures that can block or interact with Geist Trappers is also a viable strategy. Creatures with deathtouch like Typhoid Rats can deter attacks, as the risk of losing the Trappers becomes too high. Lastly, efficient use of counter magic to prevent the Trappers from hitting the field in the first place can save you the trouble of dealing with the card’s effects altogether.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Geist Trappers MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Geist Trappers 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Geist Trappers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |