Heartstabber Mosquito MTG Card
2009-10-02 - Number 97
2015-08-28 - Number 52
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Insect |
| Abilities | Flying,Kicker |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) Flying When Heartstabber Mosquito enters the battlefield, if it was kicked, destroy target creature.
Cards like Heartstabber Mosquito
Heartstabber Mosquito presents itself as a versatile choice in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal of creature cards. With a knack for siphoning life straight from the opponent, it parallels the function of other flying creatures like Vampire Nighthawk. However, while Vampire Nighthawk comes with inherent lifelink and deathtouch, Heartstabber Mosquito requires an additional kicker cost to unlock its lethal bite, setting the stage for strategic mana spending.
Another creature to mention is Falkenrath Noble, who also shares the bloodthirsty trait of draining life upon death of creatures, but does so passively and without the need for an additional investment. What makes Heartstabber Mosquito stand out is its direct and immediate impact on lifepoints, provided you meet its kicker condition. On the other end, Skymarch Bloodletter offers a simpler entry with a guaranteed slight life shift upon entering the battlefield, albeit without the kicker’s scalability.
Ultimately, Heartstabber Mosquito can boast its potential for a more pronounced effect on the game’s tide, particularly if you are willing to invest in its kicker. It holds a unique position where its versatility can be a tactical boon in the right circumstances among flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Heartstabber Mosquito by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Heartstabber Mosquito offers the potential for card advantage through its kicker ability. When equipped with additional mana, it not only represents a creature on the board but also a removal effect that can take out an opponent’s creature, effectively handling two threats with one card.
Resource Acceleration: While Heartstabber Mosquito itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its inherent flexibility can contribute to strategic mana allocation. By offering the choice between a regular cast and a kicker option, it allows players to manage resources efficiently and adapt to the current game state, possibly saving mana for more critical plays.
Instant Speed: The kicker ability of Heartstabber Mosquito, although not at instant speed, provides an instant-like advantage. Since you can opt to play the Mosquito without its kicker and reserve mana, the threat of activation at any time forces opponents to consider the risk of losing a creature, thus granting a tactical edge similar to instants by influencing opponents’ decisions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Heartstabber Mosquito necessitates an additional cost to unleash its full potential, requiring not just mana but also another card from your hand. This can be particularly taxing when your hand size is dwindling, placing you at a strategic disadvantage by further depleting your options.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands both black and generic mana, Heartstabber Mosquito’s inclusion in a deck can be restrictive. It is ideally suited to black-centric or two-color decks where mana fixing is less of a hurdle, making it less appealing for more color-diverse decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana for a 2/2 creature, its initial stats don’t exactly impress, especially in environments where the board can quickly be overrun with more cost-effective creatures. To activate its kicker ability for direct damage, an additional investment is required, heightening the mana cost to a level where other cards might offer more impact or versatility for a similar investment.
Reasons to Include Heartstabber Mosquito in Your Collection
Versatility: Heartstabber Mosquito provides dual utility as both a creature on the board and as direct damage through its kicker ability. This duality ensures it can adapt to various situations, whether you need a flying blocker or a way to remove a pesky opponent’s creature.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with decks that capitalize on kicker costs, enabling you to harness the synergy with other cards that interact with kicked spells. Plus, the direct life loss can be amplified by cards that increase damage or offer similar effects.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta with creature-heavy decks, Heartstabber Mosquito can serve as a valuable tool, dealing with threats while developing your board presence. Its flying ability also gives it an edge in bypassing common ground-based defenses.
How to beat
Heartstabber Mosquito presents a unique challenge within the MTG card universe. As a creature that offers both a body on the board and potential direct damage, it requires specific strategies to counter effectively. The key to overcoming this card lies in preemptive removal. Employing instant-speed removal spells such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade can prevent the Mosquito’s kick from ever occurring. Utilizing these spells before your opponent declares the kicker cost can save you from the substantial life loss.
Another effective tactic is through creature counters. When the Heartstabber Mosquito is cast, having counter magic ready, like Counterspell or Mana Leak, ensures that it doesn’t land on the battlefield to begin with. For those without access to instant removal or counters, cards that can exile creatures from the graveyard, such as Relic of Progenitus or Scavenging Ooze, are vital to prevent recurring threats in formats where the Mosquito may return from the graveyard. Staying proactive and aware of your opponent’s mana pool is essential as it telegraphs their ability to pay for the kicker cost, presenting a window to act before the Mosquito becomes a greater threat.
In essence, managing your resources effectively and maintaining control over the state of the board are your stepping stones to nullify the impact of Heartstabber Mosquito in your matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Heartstabber Mosquito MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi, 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 Heartstabber Mosquito 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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Printings
The Heartstabber Mosquito Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2015-08-28. Illustrated by Jason Felix.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 97 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix | |
| 2 | 2015-08-28 | Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi | DDP | 52 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Heartstabber Mosquito has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |