Hooded Assassin MTG Card

Offers creature elimination or self-boosting, increasing board presence and strategic depth. Demands specific mana, potentially restricting play options and timing. Valuable for decks utilizing death triggers and maintaining creature dominance.

Fate Reforged (FRF)
2015-01-23 - Number 73

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 426

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Assassin
Power	1
Toughness	2

Text of card

When Hooded Assassin enters the battlefield, choose one — • Put a +1/+1 counter on Hooded Assassin. • Destroy target creature that was dealt damage this turn.

Cards like Hooded Assassin

Hooded Assassin provides a unique twist to creature control dynamics in MTG. This card’s ability to take down opponents’ creatures through its enter-the-battlefield effects shares similarities with cards like Murderous Redcap. Both are creatures that can eliminate other creatures upon entering the battlefield, but the Redcap offers the added perk of persist, returning it to the field for another potential removal.

Another card of note is Skinrender, which, like Hooded Assassin, is a creature adept in weakening or outright destroying enemy forces. While Skinrender reduces a creature’s strength and toughness upon arrival, the Assassin gives players the choice either to weaken an opponent’s creature or to outright eliminate one that’s already been damaged, offering valuable flexibility depending on the state of the board.

In essence, while Hooded Assassin may not pack the recurring potential of Murderous Redcap or the immediate impactful reduction of Skinrender, it stands out due to the strategic options it provides. The choice between weakening or eliminating offers layered tactics that can align with multiple game scenarios, making Hooded Assassin a card that can shift the tides when played astutely.

Cards similar to Hooded Assassin by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Hooded Assassin might not let you draw cards, it provides advantage by potentially removing an opposing creature when it enters the battlefield, effectively dealing with threats and maintaining your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly affecting your mana pool, the ability to choose between weakening an opponent’s creature or bolstering your own lineup can accelerate your game plan, tipping the scales in your favor without expending additional resources.

Instant Speed Interaction: Hooded Assassin gains value in its reactive capabilities. Since it can exploit the death of another creature, your strategic plans can benefit from its surprise factor, manipulating the game state at crucial moments. This can interact favorably with other creatures or spells you have that trigger upon a creature’s death.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although not applicable to Hooded Assassin, generally, cards that require you to discard can significantly set you back when your hand is nearly empty.

Specific Mana Cost: Hooded Assassin requires a precise mana allocation to cast, one Black mana and two of any color. This necessity could limit flexibility and delay the deployment when not aligned with your mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three-mana for a 1/2 creature, Hooded Assassin’s value is considered low when evaluated against other creatures at a similar mana cost, reducing its competitive edge in deck building.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hooded Assassin offers flexible responses for decks that can capitalize on both its creature elimination and sturdy defense options. Its ability to adapt to board states makes it a handy addition for players looking to have an ace up their sleeve.

Combo Potential: This card can play a key role in combo strategies, pairing well with mechanics that thrive on death triggers or when you’re strategizing to maintain creature superiority on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Given the focus on creature-centric strategies in current play, Hooded Assassin can become a tactical tool to disrupt opponent’s plays or to protect against aggressive creatures, which can be essential in prevailing over popular deck themes.

How to beat

Hooded Assassin offers a unique tactical edge in MTG when it comes to board control, especially in games that favor creature-based strategies. Its ability to either bolster itself or eliminate an opponent’s creature after a trade can shift the tides of the game. To outmaneuver an opposing Hooded Assassin, the best approach involves limiting creature combat where this card thrives.

Kill spells that can target the assassin before it triggers its ability are valuable here. Cards like Doom Blade or Go for the Throat can swiftly take it out of the equation. Alternately, board wipes sidestep Hooded Assassin’s conditional trigger by sweeping multiple creatures off the board simultaneously—think Wrath of God or Damnation. Another strategy revolves around avoiding damage to your creatures in the first place, by utilizing effects that grant indestructibility or protection, such as Boros Charm or Heroic Intervention.

By keeping Hooded Assassin’s ability in check or preemptively removing this threat, you can effectively negate its impact and continue to press your advantage. Always consider the match-up and whether your opponent’s strategy makes the Assassin a key card to their success.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hooded Assassin MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Hooded Assassin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hooded Assassin Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Matt Stewart.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-01-23	Fate Reforged	FRF		73	2015	Normal	Black	Matt Stewart
2	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22		426	2015	Normal	Black	Matt Stewart

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hooded Assassin has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2014-11-24	If a creature was dealt damage but regenerated (which removes all damage from it), it will still be a legal target for the second mode of the triggered ability.
2014-11-24	If a mode requires a target and there are no legal targets available, you must choose the mode that adds a +1/+1 counter.
2014-11-24	You choose which mode you’re using as you put the ability on the stack, after the creature has entered the battlefield. Once you’ve chosen a mode, you can’t change that mode even if the creature leaves the battlefield in response to that ability.