Ingenious Infiltrator MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Vedalken Ninja
Abilities Ninjutsu
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Ingenious Infiltrator provides card draw, rewarding aggressive ninja strategies and enhancing hand resources.
  2. Multicolored mana cost and successful combat are required, sometimes limiting its immediate playability.
  3. Despite its cost, it remains a ninja deck staple for its card advantage and evasive capabilities.

Text of card

Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever a Ninja you control deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ingenious Infiltrator rewards you with card draw each time a Ninja you control deals combat damage to a player, promoting an aggressive strategy while refueling your hand.

Resource Acceleration: By generating additional draw with each successful Ninja hit, you effectively accelerate your resources, granting you more options and responses for your future turns.

Instant Speed: The ability to slip Ninjas into play at instant speed through Ninjutsu, particularly Ingenious Infiltrator, maximizes tactical flexibility, allowing surprise interactions and maintaining the element of surprise against opponents.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ingenious Infiltrator can be a fantastic card for generating card advantage in MTG, but it necessitates successful combat for the triggered ability. Should your board be clear or if your unblockable ninjas are scarce, you own a card that sits idle, which is a real drawback in fast-paced matches.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both blue and black mana, which may restrict its play to only certain types of decks. If your mana base is not well-tuned for a multicolor deck, casting it on curve can prove to be challenging, hampering your game plan significantly.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires four mana, one must consider the opportunity cost. There are alternatives in the power curve that could potentially offer a more immediate impact on the game, especially considering that MTG offers a plethora of lower-cost creatures with evasion or impactful enters-the-battlefield abilities.


Reasons to Include Ingenious Infiltrator in Your Collection

Versatility: Ingenious Infiltrator slots seamlessly into decks centered around Ninjas or creatures with evasion tactics, offering steady card advantage each time you connect with an opponent.

Combo Potential: This card is a linchpin in Ninja-themed synergies, amplifying value with every successful Ninja hit by drawing you a card, thus fueling your hand and enabling further plays.

Meta-Relevance: With creatures constantly jostling for board position, Ingenious Infiltrator’s capacity to reward you for successful attacks keeps it relevant, especially in metas where unblocked creatures are commonplace.


How to beat Ingenious Infiltrator

Ingenious Infiltrator is a potent card you might face in the MTG battlefield. This card thrives in decks built around Ninjas or creatures that can become unblockable. To counteract this infiltrator’s card draw ability, you’ll want to keep its entry onto the battlefield at bay or ensure it can’t connect with your life points. One strategy is to use spot removal spells at opportune times to eliminate the Infiltrator before it can deal combat damage. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently remove it from play without too much investment.

Another approach is to prevent it from attacking altogether. Ensnaring spells or those that tap creatures can disrupt your opponent’s plans and leave the Infiltrator idle on the playing field. If the Infiltrator does manage to slip through your defenses, another line of defense could be employing cards that punish your opponent for drawing too many cards or having a full hand, effectively turning the Infiltrator’s strength into a weakness. Always seek to maintain board control and keep their creature count low; this reduces the chances of Ingenious Infiltrator’s triggered ability and limits the impact of any card advantage they might gain.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG’s complex strategies is an ongoing journey of discovery, filled with opportunities to refine your skills and expand your card collection. Ingenious Infiltrator is one such card that stands out for its ability to offer card advantage and fuel aggressive plays with its unique mechanic. We recommend considering the insights and strategies discussed to make the most of this versatile card, whether you’re looking to bolster your Ninja-themed deck or simply seeking the thrill of outwitting your opponent. For those aiming to elevate their game, delving into the depths of deck-building and card synergy is key. Join us to explore more about clever card interactions and unlock the full potential of your MTG gameplay.


Cards like Ingenious Infiltrator

Ingenious Infiltrator weaves its unique magic in the MTG realm, standing out in the rogues’ gallery. When drawing parallels, it nods at notables like Oona’s Blackguard, which also rewards players for dealing combat damage to a player with the allure of a discard effect, yet it lacks the card-drawing engine that Ingenious Infiltrator provides. More akin to our focus card is Fallen Shinobi, whose ninjutsu ability presents a similar sneakiness on the battlefield, along with a potentially more devastating effect by enabling the casting of the top two cards of an opponent’s library for free.

We see thematic synergy in Nighthawk Scavenger, a card that shares the rogue type yet diverges with a focus on a growing threat based on the opponent’s graveyard content, rather than providing the tactical draw benefits of Ingenious Infiltrator. Lastly, Throat Slitter brings direct creature removal to the table, a sharp turn from the subtle strategy of card draw, yet it operates within the same ninjutsu design space.

While each contender holds merit in a strategy woven with deceit and surprise, Ingenious Infiltrator earns its keep by harmoniously combining evasiveness with a continuous stream of card advantage, maintaining momentum with every whispered attack.

Oona's Blackguard - MTG Card versions
Fallen Shinobi - MTG Card versions
Nighthawk Scavenger - MTG Card versions
Throat Slitter - MTG Card versions
Oona's Blackguard - Gateway 2008 (PG08)
Fallen Shinobi - Modern Horizons (MH1)
Nighthawk Scavenger - Zendikar Rising Promos (PZNR)
Throat Slitter - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Cards similar to Ingenious Infiltrator by color, type and mana cost

Phantasmal Fiend - MTG Card versions
Benthic Djinn - MTG Card versions
Doomsday Specter - MTG Card versions
Marsh Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Possessed Aven - MTG Card versions
Balshan Collaborator - MTG Card versions
Elusive Tormentor // Insidious Mist - MTG Card versions
Moroii - MTG Card versions
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist - MTG Card versions
Blizzard Specter - MTG Card versions
Wydwen, the Biting Gale - MTG Card versions
Evil Twin - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Liege - MTG Card versions
Kathari Remnant - MTG Card versions
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - MTG Card versions
Duskmantle Seer - MTG Card versions
Notion Thief - MTG Card versions
Ulamog's Nullifier - MTG Card versions
Drunau Corpse Trawler - MTG Card versions
Gisa and Geralf - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Fiend - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Benthic Djinn - Mirage (MIR)
Doomsday Specter - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Marsh Crocodile - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Possessed Aven - Torment (TOR)
Balshan Collaborator - Torment (TOR)
Elusive Tormentor // Insidious Mist - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Moroii - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Blizzard Specter - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Wydwen, the Biting Gale - Commander 2020 (C20)
Evil Twin - Innistrad (ISD)
Glen Elendra Liege - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Kathari Remnant - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Duskmantle Seer - Commander 2018 (C18)
Notion Thief - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Ulamog's Nullifier - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Drunau Corpse Trawler - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Gisa and Geralf - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ingenious Infiltrator MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Modern Horizons Art Series, 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 Ingenious Infiltrator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ingenious Infiltrator Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Jason Rainville.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 913531997normalblackJason Rainville
22019-06-05Modern Horizons Art SeriesAMH1 212015art_seriesborderlessJason Rainville
32019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 2042015normalblackJason Rainville
42021-06-18Modern Horizons 1 TimeshiftsH1R 281997normalblackJason Rainville
52021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 6972015normalblackJason Rainville

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ingenious Infiltrator has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-06-14 Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
2019-06-14 As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature. The Ninja isn’t put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won’t enter the battlefield at all.
2019-06-14 If Ingenious Infiltrator is dealt lethal combat damage at the same time a Ninja you control deals combat damage to a player, its ability triggers.
2019-06-14 If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike.
2019-06-14 The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature’s controller chooses which player or planeswalker it’s attacking.
2019-06-14 The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. If you wait until after the declare blockers step, because all combat damage is dealt at once, the Ninja won’t normally deal combat damage.
2019-06-14 The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.

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