Hidden Guerrillas MTG Card

Provides surprise tactic and board control against opponents using artifacts. Transforms at instant speed for defensive or offensive game plays. Demands careful play to mitigate hand size reduction upon activation.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Number	261
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Text of card

When one of your opponents successfully casts an artifact spell, if Hidden Guerrillas is an enchantment, Hidden Guerrillas becomes a 5/3 creature with trample and that counts as a Soldier.

Cards like Hidden Guerrillas

The card Hidden Guerrillas has a unique role in Magic: The Gathering due to its transformation ability, similar to the way the card Hidden Herd works. Both activate under specific conditions, Hidden Guerrillas requiring the opponent to play an artifact to flip into a 5/3 creature. Hidden Herd, meanwhile, requires the casting of a non-creature spell to transform into a 3/3 Beast with trample.

Another card to consider in this family is Break Open, which can forcibly flip a morphed creature at instant speed. This can either disrupt an opponent’s strategy or potentially benefit your own gameplay. Despite not being a creature itself, Break Open is a nifty trick to consider alongside Hidden Guerrillas when it comes to managing the element of surprise on the battlefield.

Analyzing Hidden Guerrillas’ transformation trigger, we see that it might be more situation-dependent compared to the broader activation condition of Hidden Herd. However, the strength it gains as a 5/3 creature can provide a substantial advantage once transformed, making it a potent choice for deck builders interested in responsive plays against artifact-heavy decks.

Cards similar to Hidden Guerrillas by color, type and mana cost

Concordant Crossroads - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hidden Guerrillas can unexpectedly transform into a creature, providing you with an additional asset on the battlefield without the need to play another card from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Once flipped, Hidden Guerrillas has the potential to disrupt your opponent’s artifact strategies, effectively setting them back and potentially accelerating your own board state by comparison.

Instant Speed: The ability of Hidden Guerrillas to flip at instant speed when an opponent plays an artifact with a mana value of three or greater allows for surprise tactics and can be a powerful response during your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hidden Guerrillas demands that a card be discarded upon its activation. This can leave players at a disadvantage, especially when hand size is already depleted, forcing them to lose potentially vital resources.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost necessitates both green and colorless mana, tying it to green-centric or multicolor decks and potentially restricting its integration into a wider array of strategies that could benefit from its abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: As it stands, the card’s combined mana cost is on the steeper side for its effects. Players might find alternative cards with lower mana requirements to execute a similar function or cards at a similar cost but with a greater impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include Hidden Guerrillas in Your Collection

Versatility: Hidden Guerrillas is an excellent utility card that can seamlessly transition from a low cost creature to a powerful asset against artifact-heavy decks, adapting to the needs of the game.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that encourage opponents to play artifacts, Hidden Guerrillas can be a surprise threat that transforms and disrupts their strategy, enhancing your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts play a significant role, Hidden Guerrillas offers a strategic advantage, allowing for an unexpected swing in board control and providing a significant obstacle for opponents.

How to beat Hidden Guerrillas

Hidden Guerrillas may catch players by surprise in Magic: The Gathering, posing a challenge as it transforms when an opponent controls three or more artifacts. Suddenly, you’re faced with an unexpected 5/3 trampler which can significantly disrupt your strategy. To tackle this sneaky card, watch your artifact play. Limiting them could stave off the Guerrillas’ transformation.

Should the transformation occur, removal spells are key. Effective options include instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, which can eliminate the Guerrillas without triggering their characteristic damage. Another tactic is to maintain board control with sweepers such as Wrath of God, preventing the Guerrillas from ever becoming a hindrance.

Lastly, remember to consider alternative strategies such as enchantment-based removal. Enchantments like Pacifism can neutralize Hidden Guerrillas without necessitating their destruction. Carefully navigating around this card’s conditions and keeping removal at the ready are vital to ensuring Hidden Guerrillas doesn’t disrupt your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hidden Guerrillas MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Hidden Guerrillas and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hidden Guerrillas has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	It changes into a creature even if the spell is countered.
2004-10-04	When it turns into a creature, it is no longer an enchantment.
2008-08-01	A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature.