Glacial Stalker MTG Card

Provides card advantage by drawing out enemy removals, protecting key assets. Morph ability offers strategic flexibility and a tactical surprise element. Demands specific mana types which could limit its deck compatibility.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Morph
Released	2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set name	Khans of Tarkir
Set code	KTK
Power	4
Toughness	5
Number	41
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daarken

Text of card

Morph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

"Have you spent a winter high in the mountains, where the ice walks and speaks to the wind? It is not a place for those who have not learned respect." —Ulnok, Temur shaman

Cards like Glacial Stalker

Glacial Stalker is a solid creature card in Magic: The Gathering that thrives in the realm of mid-to-late game strategies. With morph ability, it is similar in concept to cards like Woolly Loxodon, which also offers an impressive body that can flip for a surprise advantage. The key difference lies in the environment these creatures excel in; Glacial Stalker demands a more specific mana arrangement due to its blue color requirement, contrasting with the green-dependent Woolly Loxodon.

Another notable comparison is Icefeather Aven, which, like Glacial Stalker, benefits from the morph mechanic, allowing for flexible play options. However, Icefeather Aven is built for early game board presence with its lower cost and the added benefit of a bounce effect when morphed. This positions Icefeather Aven as a more utility-driven counterpart to the combat-oriented Glacial Stalker.

Summing up, Glacial Stalker finds its niche among creature cards with flexible play abilities through morph. Its capability to adapt to the board state makes it valuable in decks designed to outpace opponents with unexpected threats. As a contender in this category, it stands out by offering a balance of surprise and power, cementing its place in the tactical toolkit of MTG players.

Cards similar to Glacial Stalker by color, type and mana cost

Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions

Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Glacial Stalker provides a consistent threat on the battlefield, potentially drawing out removal spells from opponents and indirectly preserving your more valuable cards.

Resource Acceleration: Morph ability lets you play Glacial Stalker face down as a 2/2 creature for three mana, allowing you to keep mana untapped for other uses until you decide to turn it face up.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Glacial Stalker’s morph ability can create a tactical advantage, since you can turn it face up at instant speed, allowing you to surprise an opponent during combat or at the end of their turn, adjusting your game plan based on the evolving state of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With strategies that revolve around maintaining a substantial hand size, the discard requirement of Glacial Stalker can sometimes be a deterrent for players who prefer not to deplete their resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating both generic and blue mana, Glacial Stalker may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks, potentially restricting its play to mono-blue or two-color decks that can reliably meet its mana demands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighed against other creatures in its class, Glacial Stalker’s mana cost is on the higher end. This can influence deck tempo negatively, especially in formats where speed and efficiency are key to outpacing opponents.

Reasons to Include Glacial Stalker in Your Collection

Versatility: Glacial Stalker, due to its morph ability, offers flexibility in gameplay by allowing you to keep up mana for other spells while having a potential threat on the board. It fits well in decks that utilize the element of surprise or those looking to have creatures with varying casting options.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with decks that exploit the morph mechanic. It can be turned face up for a power surge at just the right moment, making it a tactical choice for surprise blocks or unforeseen damage on your opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where slower, more reactive play is beneficial, Glacial Stalker can hold its own. Its ability to function as both a 6-manacost powerhouse and a versatile morph card means it can adapt to a variety of situations that the meta might present.

How to Beat

Glacial Stalker is a creature that can swing the momentum of a game in its owner’s favor. Often found in limited formats, its power lies in morph capability, allowing it to be played face-down and then turned face-up when the time is right. This surprise element can catch opponents off guard, but seasoned players know how to navigate this icy threat.

One strategy to overcome the Glacial Stalker is through effective creature removal. Since it’s a 4/5 creature when face-up, it stays within range of most burn spells or targeted removal like Doom Blade or Murder. Keeping mana open for these spells lets you respond to the morph reveal directly, mitigating the surprise advantage. Additionally, counterplay includes utilizing spells that can exile creatures or force your opponent to sacrifice it, circumventing its morph capabilities entirely.

Control is also key. By playing cards that limit your opponent’s ability to morph, like imposing a “tax” on the morph cost through cards such as Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, you can prevent the Stalker from ever hitting its true potential. In summary, staying prepared with removal spells in your deck and managing your resources wisely will help ensure that the Glacial Stalker’s chill doesn’t freeze your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Glacial Stalker MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Glacial Stalker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Glacial Stalker 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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2014-09-20	A permanent that turns face up or face down changes characteristics but is otherwise the same permanent. Spells and abilities that were targeting that permanent, as well as Auras and Equipment that were attached to the permanent, aren’t affected.
2014-09-20	Any time you have priority, you may turn the face-down creature face up by revealing what its morph cost is and paying that cost. This is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to. Only a face-down permanent can be turned face up this way; a face-down spell cannot.
2014-09-20	At any time, you can look at a face-down spell or permanent you control. You can’t look at face-down spells or permanents you don’t control unless an effect instructs you to do so.
2014-09-20	Because the permanent is on the battlefield both before and after it’s turned face up, turning a permanent face up doesn’t cause any enters-the-battlefield abilities to trigger.
2014-09-20	If a face-down permanent leaves the battlefield, you must reveal it. You must also reveal all face-down spells and permanents you control if you leave the game or if the game ends.
2014-09-20	Morph lets you cast a card face down by paying , and lets you turn the face-down permanent face up any time you have priority by paying its morph cost.
2014-09-20	The face-down spell has no mana cost and has a converted mana cost of 0. When you cast a face-down spell, put it on the stack face down so no other player knows what it is, and pay . This is an alternative cost.
2014-09-20	When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. It’s colorless and has a converted mana cost of 0. Other effects that apply to the creature can still grant it any of these characteristics.
2014-09-20	You must ensure that your face-down spells and permanents can easily be differentiated from each other. You’re not allowed to mix up the cards that represent them on the battlefield in order to confuse other players. The order they entered the battlefield should remain clear. Common methods for doing this include using markers or dice, or simply placing them in order on the battlefield.