Hostage Taker MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 4 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Human Pirate |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When Hostage Taker enters the battlefield, exile another target creature or artifact until Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast it.
Cards like Hostage Taker
In the diverse collection of Magic: The Gathering cards, Hostage Taker shares similarities with cards like Confiscate, Take Possession, and Ray of Command. An evaluation of their similarities and differences helps throw light on the utility of Hostage Taker.
Confiscate, to start with, shares a common thread with Hostage Taker in controlling opponent’s permanents. However, Hostage Taker trumps this card by allowing exile of opponent’s artifact or creature, a feature unseen in Confiscate. On the other hand, Take Possession, bearing the same mana cost as Hostage Taker, confers permanent control, a benefit not seen in Hostage Taker’s temporary control capacity. Nevertheless, Hostage Taker’s ability to cast the exiled card with any type of mana is an edge over Take Possession’s mana restrictions.
Ray of Command, another contestant, shares the context of control with Hostage Taker but leans closer to instant-speed mechanics and single-turn control. However, lacking in removal elements, Ray of Command might fall short in face of Hostage Taker’s ability to exile and then cast the controlled card.
To deal the last word, while weighing Hostage Taker against its lookalikes, its exclusiveness lies in its ability to exile and cast opponent’s cards, making it stand out in the MTG universe.
Cards similar to Hostage Taker by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Hostage Taker. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Niv to Light | Pioneer | Niv to Light | Pioneer League 2024-03-09 | |
Four-color Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024 | ||
Four-color Combo | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Hostage Taker card holds a special place among MTG themes because it allows you to exile an opponent’s creature or artifact, thereby bolstering your own number of cards and diminishing theirs.
Resource Acceleration: Once you exile an opponent’s card, you can cast it using any type of mana. This unique ability provides resource acceleration and gives you the possibility to use an extra creature or artifact earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: With the Hostage Taker card, you also have the flexibility to cast it at the most ideal gameplay moment, thanks to its instant speed. This means you can play it during either your turn or your opponent’s, once you’ve correctly gauged the battlefield scenario and identified the most beneficial time to utilize it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Hostage Taker Mtg card calls for players to discard a game piece before playing it. This can put you at a decided disadvantage if your pool of resources is dwindling or if power cards form part of your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Hooked into specific mana coloration, the card demands both blue and black mana to be brought into the game. The definitive cost may inhibit its usability, primarily confining it to decks majoring in these respective colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Ordinarily costing four mana to deploy, the Hostage Taker card is observed to be a high-cost option within the game. When measured against other cards that can generate sizeable effects or resources at a markedly lower cost, it can seem dauntingly expensive to integrate into your strategy.
Reasons to Include Hostage Taker in Your Collection
Versatility: Hostage Taker’s ability to exile target artifact or creature until it leaves the battlefield makes it a versatile inclusion in various deck types. It disrupts your opponent’s game plan, providing you with an advantage.
Combo Potential: This card shines in decks focused on manipulating the board state. The creature or artifact you exile can be cast, opening opportunities for unique strategic plays, turning the tide in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: Hostage Taker has a significant impact in a meta-game dominated by strategies reliant on particular artifacts or creatures. Its ability to disrupt and take over those strategies makes it a valuable addition to your collection.
How to beat
Hostage Taker is a unique mtg card known for its exceptional ability to exile a target artifact or creature until it leaves the battlefield. What makes it notably menacing is its cast feature, wherein you get to cast that card for as long as it remains in exile. Nevertheless, defeating it isn’t an impossible feat.
Effective tactics to overpower this card revolve around quick reactivities. Cards with flash are a viable route as they offer swift responses like “Cast Down” or “Assassin’s Trophy.” These instant removal cards can be used just after Hostage Taker hits the field and before its controller gets a chance to cast the card it exiles, ensuring its effect stays neutralized.
Another strategy involves employing hexproof or protection abilities. Cards like “Dive Down” or “Veil of Summer” can provide protection to your creatures, preventing Hostage Taker from gaining targets. These cards essentially shield your board, leaving the opponent’s Hostage Taker pointless.
Hence, by combining rapid counteractions and defensive abilities, one can efficaciously disarm the threat posed by Hostage Taker, turning the battle tide to your favor. Understanding the MTG game’s intricacies only further enhances the strategic play and dealing with imposing cards like the Hostage Taker.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering the MTG landscape is a thrilling journey of constant evolution and strategic finesse. Hostage Taker is a card that exemplifies such sophistication, altering the flow of the game in your favor by exiling crucial components of your adversary’s arsenal. Its unique abilities empower you to harness the strengths of your opponent’s resources, pivoting the game towards victory. With insights garnered from examining the Hostage Taker’s capabilities, your deck can become a formidable force within the MTG realm. Dive deeper with us, enriching your knowledge and strategic acumen, as we guide you toward claiming the upper hand in the ever-exciting MTG challenges.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hostage Taker MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ixalan Promos, 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 Hostage Taker 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 Hostage Taker Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 69987 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | ||
2 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan Promos | PXLN | 223s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
3 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 223 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
4 | 2021-07-23 | Forgotten Realms Commander | AFC | 186 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
5 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 505 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
6 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 227 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
7 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 268 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Torgeir Fjereide | |
8 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander | LCC | 271 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
9 | 2024-04-19 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander | OTC | 231 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hostage Taker has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hostage Taker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2017-09-29 | Auras attached to the exiled permanent will be put into their owners' graveyards. Any Equipment will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled permanent will cease to exist. |
2017-09-29 | Hostage Taker has received errata to prevent it from targeting itself. The correct Oracle wording appears above. |
2017-09-29 | If Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves, the target permanent won't be exiled. |
2017-09-29 | If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won't return to the battlefield. You can't cast it. |
2017-09-29 | If it's still in exile, the exiled card returns to the battlefield immediately after Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions. |
2017-09-29 | In a multiplayer game, if Hostage Taker's owner leaves the game while the card is still exiled and another player owns that card, the exiled card will return to the battlefield under its owner's control. Because the one-shot effect that returns the card isn't an ability that goes on the stack, it won't cease to exist along with the leaving player's spells and abilities on the stack. |
2017-09-29 | In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any spell or permanent cards you control from Hostage Taker's ability are exiled. |
2017-09-29 | Once you begin to cast the exiled card, it's considered a new object. You'll control that spell and the permanent that spell becomes even if Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield. |