Gnat Alley Creeper MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Rogue |
| Released | 2006-05-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dissension |
| Set code | DIS |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 63 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Pete Venters |
Text of card
Gnat Alley Creeper can't be blocked by creatures with flying.
Despite its diminutive name, Gnat Alley is the longest street in Ravnica. Mile after twisting mile, it threads its way among the broader, safer thoroughfares like a parasite.
Cards like Gnat Alley Creeper
The Gnat Alley Creeper is a unique entry into the roster of unblockable creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some similarities with other cards such as Triton Shorestalker or Slither Blade, which are both also hard to block due to their low mana cost and inherent unblockable abilities. What sets Gnat Alley Creeper apart, however, is its additional strength, making it a more robust choice in certain situations.
Another card worth considering in the same category is Mist-Cloaked Herald. Much like the Gnat Alley Creeper, it cannot be blocked, but it comes at a cheaper cost of only one mana. The Herald is well-suited for quick, aggressive strategies, whereas the Creeper’s higher cost is justified with its increased power, offering a stronger late-game presence.
Reviewing these options, the Gnat Alley Creeper fits nicely into a variety of MTG decks that benefit from reliable, unblockable creatures. Its balanced cost-to-power ratio can play a critical role in edging past defensive strategies, making it a valued card for players seeking to sneak in consistent damage.
Cards similar to Gnat Alley Creeper by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gnat Alley Creeper could potentially offer card advantage in terms of deck filtering. While it might not draw you additional cards directly, it allows you to sift through your deck more effectively each turn, ensuring access to more valuable cards as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: Although Gnat Alley Creeper isn’t directly involved in resource acceleration like mana dorks or artifacts, it can put pressure on your opponent early in the game. This could force them to use their resources inefficiently, indirectly accelerating your advantage over them.
Instant Speed: This creature’s power to operate effectively at full capacity even when cast at sorcery speed means that your instant speed spells are left unhindered. The creeper’s vigilance trait allows it to remain an active blocker while still asserting pressure, thereby keeping mana open for instant speed interaction without compromising board presence.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Gnat Alley Creeper card may impose a discard condition on the player. This could disrupt your gameplay, especially when you’re holding onto key cards you’d need later in the game. Accidentally discarding a high-value card could be detrimental to your overall strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost requires a particular combination of mana, which might not be readily available in all types of decks. This limitation can affect the card’s versatility, making it less preferable in a deck that can’t consistently produce the necessary mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating whether the Gnat Alley Creeper is a good fit for your deck, consider its mana value in relation to the benefits it brings to the field. Depending on its abilities, the mana cost might be too steep, causing it to compete with other cards that have a lower cost yet provide similar or even greater advantages.
Reasons to Include Gnat Alley Creeper in Your Collection
Versatility: Gnat Alley Creeper shines with its ability to reliably evade defenders, making it a solid addition to aggressive and tempo-driven decks that require consistent pressure on opponents.
Combo Potential: This card has synergies with effects that care about unblockable creatures, as well as those that benefit from dealing combat damage to a player, paving the way for numerous tactical plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where control decks are prevalent, Gnat Alley Creeper can bypass common blockers, maintaining relevance by being a persistent threat that’s tough for traditional control strategies to neutralize.
How to beat
Gnat Alley Creeper is a unique creature in the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering. Standing out due to its evasion abilities, this card can prove challenging to block since it can’t be blocked by creatures with flying. Dealing with this evasive threat requires some strategic planning.
To effectively counter this card, consider using removal spells that don’t rely on flying creatures to intercept. Spells like Doom Blade or Murder can target and destroy Gnat Alley Creeper regardless of its evasive capabilities. If removal isn’t your strategy, controlling the playing field with enchantments like Pacifism or spells that reduce attack or defense stats, such as Humble or Chilling Grasp, could neutralize the creeper without requiring a direct block.
Moreover, having a robust board presence with creatures that have ‘reach’ or ‘any-target’ removal abilities can also deter Gnat Alley Creeper from attacking. Abundant board control can make it risky for your opponent to engage into your well-prepared defenses. Ultimately, disrupting your opponent’s strategy and maintaining control with timely responses is key to overcoming the challenge posed by Gnat Alley Creeper.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gnat Alley Creeper MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, 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 Gnat Alley Creeper 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gnat Alley Creeper has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gnat Alley Creeper card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-05-01 | Creatures with the Reach ability (such as Giant Spider) can block this because they don’t actually have Flying. |