Hired Poisoner MTG Card

Hired Poisoner trades effectively with larger creatures, offering a gritty tactical advantage. For one black mana, it promotes efficiency, presenting a low-cost way to deter threats. Deathtouch poses a real-time combat challenge, akin to instant-speed spell dynamics.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Assassin
Abilities	Deathtouch
Released	2018-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Guilds of Ravnica
Set code	GRN
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	72
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Joe Slucher

Text of card

Deathtouch

"They don't even feel the cut. I'm ordering a drink in a nearby tavern before anyone notices something's wrong."

Cards like Hired Poisoner

Hired Poisoner serves as an unassuming but potent tool in Magic: The Gathering’s array of creature cards. While it mirrors the traits of fellow one-drop creatures, such as Typhoid Rats, it also brings its own sting to the table. Both creatures are equipped with deathtouch, giving them the ability to eliminate any opposing creature in combat, regardless of its size, simulating the dramatic impact of an assassin’s silent work. Typhoid Rats, however, lacks the human rogue aspect that Hired Poisoner provides, which is advantageous in decks that capitalize on tribal synergies.

Another card that echoes the qualities of Hired Poisoner is Foulmire Knight. Apart from also boasting the beneficial deathtouch trait, Foulmire Knight offers versatility with its adventure spell “Profane Insight,” which draws a card at the cost of three mana. This additional ability to promote card advantage can sometimes overshadow the sheer simplicity of Hired Poisoner’s singular purpose.

Assessing the stealthy nature and role that these cards play, it is clear they each have a purpose within different strategies of the game. Hired Poisoner stands as an inexpensive yet formidable asset for players seeking to control the board while building towards more comprehensive rogue or assassin-themed gameplay.

Cards similar to Hired Poisoner by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions

Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hired Poisoner can effectively thin out an opponent’s creature base. By successfully blocking or attacking with deathtouch, this card can trade up with some of the more formidable creatures in the game, effectively using a single card to deal with a superior threat and maintaining your card parity or potentially gaining an upper hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although Hired Poisoner does not directly accelerate resources in the typical sense of providing additional mana, it contributes to resource efficiency. For just one black mana to cast, this card serves as an inexpensive way to keep larger threats at bay, thereby preserving your mana for more strategic plays.

Instant Speed: The threat of deathtouch that Hired Poisoner presents can equate to an instant-speed effect in combat. Opponents must carefully consider whether to attack or block if they risk losing a valuable creature to its deathtouch ability, effectively altering their combat decisions in real time as if you had an instant spell at your disposal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hired Poisoner’s effectiveness can diminish in a prolonged game where hand size might be insufficient to benefit from its discard-triggered abilities.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Hired Poisoner is specifically black, which can potentially restrict deck building strategies and integration into multi-color decks lacking sufficient black mana support.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though Hired Poisoner may provide a solid defense with deathtouch for a one-drop, in a fast-paced match, the mana could potentially be allocated to more impactful creatures or spells that can influence the board state immediately.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hired Poisoner offers a low-cost solution to deal with high-threat creatures, regardless of their size, making it an efficient inclusion in decks that aim for board control in the early game.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to grant deathtouch opens up possibilities for various synergies, particularly in strategies that capitalize on creature removal or those that leverage deathtouch for beneficial exchanges on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: With the constant evolution of the MTG metagame, having accessible removal options is crucial. Hired Poisoner has the potential to disrupt opponent plays and maintain a presence in metas where creatures play a key role.

How to beat

Hired Poisoner presents a unique challenge in the MTG realm, known for its deathtouch ability which allows it to take down any creature it damages, regardless of size. To effectively counteract this one-drop rogue, consider using removal spells that don’t require you to engage in combat, such as Shock or Fatal Push, which can dispatch the Hired Poisoner without triggering its lethal effect.

Another strategy to overcome the Hired Poisoner is to employ fliers or creatures with reach that can bypass its ground-based threat, ensuring you maintain aerial control. Additionally, board sweeps like Wrath of God or Doomskar can clear the board of Hired Poisoner and other creatures simultaneously, mitigating its deathtouch advantage and resetting the playing field.

Lastly, remember that Hired Poisoner’s strength lies in its passive threat, so forcing it into combat with cards like Lure or forcing your opponent to act with enchantments that restrict blocking options can significantly reduce the Poisoner’s impact. In sum, while the Hired Poisoner is a formidable opponent in a one-on-one battle, various bypassing and non-combat strategies exist to effectively handle this sneaky assassin and keep you ahead in the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hired Poisoner MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Hired Poisoner and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hired Poisoner 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