Hobbit's Sting MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 471
2023-06-23 - Number 20
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Hobbit's Sting deals X damage to target creature, where X is the number of creatures you control plus the number of Foods you control.
"One for the Shire!" cried Aragorn. "The Hobbit's bite is deep! You have a good blade, Frodo son of Drogo!"
Cards like Hobbit's Sting
Hobbit’s Sting finds its place in Magic: The Gathering as a unique piece of equipment that provides a blend of offensive and defensive capabilities. It shares similar traits with cards like Short Sword, which also gives a modest power boost to a creature. However, Hobbit’s Sting distinguishes itself with the added utility of hexproof, shielding your creature from opposing targeted spells or abilities, a feature Short Sword is missing.
When considering counterparts, we might look at the likes of Fireshrieker. This card doubles a creature’s combat damage, a different approach to enhancing a creature’s might in battle, whereas Hobbit’s Sting does not increase damage output but instead focuses on protection. Nevertheless, another comparison is Leonin Scimitar, which provides a smaller power increase without the crucial hexproof or defensive perks offered by Hobbit’s Sting.
Pondering on the balance between equipping cost, strength augmentation, and protective effects, Hobbit’s Sting exhibits a notable position within the array of equipment cards. Its dual benefit of boosting a creature’s potential while simultaneously shielding it grants MTG players a strategic advantage on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Hobbit's Sting by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The ability of Hobbit’s Sting to potentially neutralize an opponent’s creature while also drawing you a card creates a significant swing in card economy. It not only deals with an immediate threat but also keeps your hand well-stocked, setting you up for future turns.
Resource Acceleration: While Hobbit’s Sting does not produce tokens or additional mana directly, its low casting cost can free up resources, allowing you to deploy other spells more efficiently. This advantage helps keep the pressure on opponents as you maintain mana availability for further plays.
Instant Speed: The beauty of Hobbit’s Sting lies in its instant speed, providing flexibility in playstyle. It can be used reactively, allowing you to wait and see if your opponent commits to a more threatening play before deciding how to best utilize this removal tool. This keeps opponents guessing and can disrupt their combat strategies significantly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Hobbit’s Sting requires players to notoriously discard another card in order to utilize its full potential. This can occasionally present a setback, particularly in situations where card advantage is crucial or hand size is already diminished.
Specific Mana Cost: While Hobbit’s Sting boasts a vibrant blend of mana colors for its activation, this necessity can restrict its integration into a variety of decks, particularly those not supported by the same color mana bases or strategies focused on mono-color consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the competition for deck space, Hobbit’s Sting’s mana cost may seem elevated when compared to other cards with similar effects. The efficiency of your plays can be heavily impacted by this, as opportunities to develop your board presence or execute pivotal plays could be delayed or even lost.
Reasons to Include Hobbit’s Sting in Your Collection
Versatility: Hobbit’s Sting is a versatile card to have on hand. It seamlessly integrates into different deck builds, offering utility beyond its basic function. Whether you’re weaving together a themed deck or looking for that perfect utility card, its adaptability can be a game-changer.
Combo Potential: This card can act as a lynchpin in several intriguing combos. Its unique interactions can enable certain abilities or amplify strategies centered around creature enhancements and survival tactics. Skilled players can leverage its attributes to turn the tide of play.
Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting meta that adjusts to newly released cards and strategies, having Hobbit’s Sting in your arsenal means you’re prepared to face various competitor strategies. Its inclusion could provide an unexpected edge against prevailing trends, making it a clever addition for those looking to remain competitive.
How to beat
Hobbit’s Sting is a unique artifact card in Magic: The Gathering possessing abilities that can tilt the battlefield in favor of its controller. To effectively neutralize its impact, players must consider strategic plays that counter artifacts. Ways to dismantle this card’s influence include using artifact removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize which directly destroy target artifacts, eliminating Hobbit’s Sting from the game.
Additionally, one could employ counterplay strategies such as including cards like Karn, the Great Creator to restrict artifact abilities or employing Stony Silence to render artifacts ineffective. Engaging in mana curve optimization to deploy these answers efficiently ensures that Hobbit’s Sting’s advantages are mitigated swiftly. Controlling the pace of the game and maintaining pressure can also deter a player from fully utilizing the card’s potential.
Utilizing these methods can assist in overcoming the challenge posed by Hobbit’s Sting in MTG. By doing so, players can maintain an advantageous position in the game, regardless of the threats presented by such powerful artifact cards.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hobbit's Sting MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Hobbit's Sting 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Hobbit's Sting Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Viko Menezes.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 471 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viko Menezes | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viko Menezes |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hobbit's Sting has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hobbit's Sting card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | Do not eat the delicious cards. No, not even for second breakfast. |
| 2023-06-16 | Food is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some creatures in other sets, it's never a creature type. |
| 2023-06-16 | If a Food you control is also a creature, it will be counted twice. |
| 2023-06-16 | If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Lembas, an artifact card with the Food subtype, to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony. |
| 2023-06-16 | Some spells and abilities that create Food tokens may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't create any Food tokens. |
| 2023-06-16 | You can't sacrifice a Food token to pay multiple costs. For example, you can't sacrifice a Food token to activate its own ability and also to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony. |