Identity Thief MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Identity Thief’s ability to exile and copy another creature not only disrupts your opponent’s strategy, but can also be leveraged to reuse your own creatures’ enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects, essentially offering a repeatable advantage turn after turn.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly enhancing your mana pool, liberating Identity Thief’s transformative potential can accelerate your resource impact by copying high-cost creatures earlier than you might be able to cast them, effectively matching the tempo of faster opponents or larger threats.

Instant Speed: This creature’s activated ability is not at instant speed, but it interacts favorably with instant speed tricks and removals. By replacing a blocked or blocking creature, it can effectively negate combat damage and capitalizes on end-of-turn plays, setting you up for surprise tactics during the combat phase.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Identity Thief necessitates discarding another creature card, which can put a strain on your hand especially when you’re already struggling to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: With its exacting color combination of blue mana in the casting cost, Identity Thief may not seamlessly fit into every deck, particularly those that are color-intensive or multi-colored.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana, Identity Thief may come into play later than some would prefer. In competitive play where tempo is crucial, this can sometimes be a drawback as lower-cost creatures or spells could provide more immediate impact.

Reasons to Include Identity Thief in Your Collection

Versatility: Identity Thief’s ability to temporarily become a copy of another attacking creature offers a high degree of adaptability. It can adjust its role on the battlefield with each attack, perfect for decks that prize flexibility.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with enter-the-battlefield effects or creatures with on-death triggers. Since Identity Thief returns the copied creature to its owner’s control at the end of turn, you can potentially reuse those valuable abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creatures with powerful abilities dominate, Identity Thief can be a tactical inclusion. It doesn’t just create a copy; it also removes the target creature from combat, which can disrupt your opponent’s strategy and turn the tide in your favor.

How to Beat Identity Thief

Identity Thief presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature stands out with its ability to temporarily duplicate other creatures, disrupting your game plan by exiling one of your creatures upon attacking. Defeating this shapeshifter, however, can be straightforward with the right strategy.

Removal spells are your first line of defense. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can cleanly take Identity Thief out before it gets a chance to mimic your creatures. Counterspells also work wonders, as they prevent Identity Thief from ever entering the battlefield. Essence Scatter is a highly efficient option for countering creature spells.

If Identity Thief is already active, focus on controlling the board. Utilize cards like Pacifism to neutralize it without triggering its exile ability. Alternatively, cards that grant hexproof to your creatures, such as Blossoming Defense, can protect them from being targeted and exiled. By prioritizing removal or protection, you can easily navigate around the threats posed by Identity Thief and maintain control of the game.

BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the game dynamics with Identity Thief is a gratifying challenge for MTG players. Understanding when and how to leverage this card’s transformative power can make all the difference in your matches. Whether you’re accelerating your resource impact or reusing powerful enter-the-battlefield effects, this card adds strategic depth to your gameplay. However, balancing its pros against potential drawbacks is key. Discover how to optimize Identity Thief’s use in your decks and weigh the unique advantages it brings to the table. Eager to outsmart your opponents with clever card interactions? Dive in with us and refine your MTG strategies.