Throatseeker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Vampire Ninja
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Ninjutsu synergy brings card advantage through unblockable creature interactions, increasing combat damage potential.
  2. Efficient mana usage aligns with Throatseeker’s ability, enabling strategic plays and conserving resources.
  3. Instant-speed tricks are amplified, capitalizing on the unexpected nature of Ninjutsu to outplay opponents.

Text of card

Unblocked attacking Ninjas you control have lifelink.

"I just felt a drip. It must be about to rain." —Stoneway Market vendor, last words


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Throatseeker’s ability to confer unblockability to Ninjutsu-enabled creatures can potentially create card-advantage situations. As Ninjutsu allows for the sneaky deployment of creatures, you can draw cards based on other Ninjutsu effects or triggered abilities upon dealing combat damage to a player.

Resource Acceleration: Through enabling consistent Ninjutsu activations, Throatseeker can help you utilize your mana efficiently. While it doesn’t directly produce mana or reduce costs, ensuring your Ninjutsu creatures connect with an opponent lends to more strategic plays and resourceful use of your board state.

Instant Speed: Although Throatseeker itself isn’t an instant, its synergy with Ninjutsu plays well with the instant-speed nature of the mechanic. This could allow you to wait until the last possible moment to make calculated plays, keeping your opponents guessing and making the most of your instant-speed tricks in the deck.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Throatseeker imposes a necessary discard as part of its unleashing potential. This can become a significant setback when your hand is already running thin, and you’re forced to let go of crucial cards to activate its benefits.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a strict combination of mana types. Its required cost of black and colorless mana could restrict its inclusion in multicolored decks that might struggle with such specificity, limiting its flexibility across different deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the fast-paced world of competitive play, Throatseeker’s mana cost can seem steep. Players may find that by the time they gather the resources to cast it, they could be behind their opponents who are utilizing lower-cost creatures and spells to control the game or deal damage more efficiently.


Reasons to Include Throatseeker in Your Collection

Versatility: Throatseeker can adapt to various gameplay strategies, complementing decks that leverage the power of unblockable or high-powered creatures, especially in the Ninjutsu mechanic.

Combo Potential: Throatseeker thrives in synergies with units that deal combat damage, enhancing the overall damage output with its unique ability to increase unblocked creature damage, positioning itself as a finisher within aggressive strategies.

Meta-Relevance: With a focus on direct damage and efficient creature strategies in current competitive play, Throatseeker proves its relevance by elevating these tactics, potentially shifting the dynamics of your matches in your favor.


How to beat

Throatseeker presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, providing substantial offensive support within Magic: The Gathering’s Ninjutsu archetype. By giving unblocked Ninjas you control a boost in power, it can turn the tide of combat in your favor. But fear not, for every card has its counterplay. You can outmaneuver Throatseeker by ensuring it never leverages its ability. This means prioritizing the removal of Ninjas or using cards that prevent creatures from becoming unblocked. Consider adding removal spells to your deck that can deal with creatures irrespective of their power, or use cards that can block creatures without flying or reach, thereby nullifying Throatseeker’s advantage.

Another effective strategy is to disrupt your opponent’s combat phase. Cards that tap or bounce opposing creatures can work wonders, denying the enemy’s Ninjas the chance to strike at your life points unhindered. Additionally, you might want to include spells or abilities that grant your creatures reach or the ability to block multiple attackers, creating an impenetrable defense against a potential onslaught hastened by Throatseeker. With careful planning and strategic deck-building, Throatseeker’s advantage can be mitigated, keeping you in control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG’s strategic depths are boundless, and Throatseeker underscores this, especially within the shadows of the Ninjutsu archetype. The card’s capacity to unlock unblockability for sneaky ninjas elevates it as a pivotal inclusion for decks seeking that crucial combat edge. Recognizing the give-and-take of its benefits and drawbacks, adept players can either harness its power or cleverly dismantle its strategic value. If you’re intrigued by the cunning world of ninjas or looking to outwit opponents with unorthodox strategies, then refining your approach can lead to a strategically emboldened deck. Join us to dive deeper and refine your MTG prowess, optimizing your encounters through calculated deck enhancement.


Cards like Throatseeker

Throatseeker is a distinctive creature in the MTG universe, known for its unique effect that amplifies the offensive abilities of your unblockable creatures. At first glance, its ability to grant incremental damage to unblockable creatures may remind MTG players of the prowess of Invisible Stalker. Both cards transform seemingly innocuous threats into significant sources of damage.

However, while Invisible Stalker boasts personal evasion and hexproof, securing its place on the battlefield, Throatseeker’s strength lies in its supportive role within a Ninja deck. It shines in tandem with evasive creatures, providing a crucial damage boost. This synergistic approach is somewhat akin to Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive, which ensures creatures with power or toughness of one or less are unblockable. Yet, Throatseeker offers the additional perk of increased damage rather than the facilitation of evasion. This ability to escalate damage can swiftly change the tides of a game, much like how Lord of Atlantis empowers Merfolk with its lord effect by enhancing the entire tribe’s abilities.

Ultimately, evaluating Throatseeker among its peers reveals its potential impact on gameplay, particularly within specific deck archetypes that favor unblockable creatures. Its synergistic force enables an aggressive playstyle, affirmed by its niche but powerful enhancement of unblockable creatures in MTG.

Invisible Stalker - MTG Card versions
Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive - MTG Card versions
Lord of Atlantis - MTG Card versions
Invisible Stalker - Innistrad (ISD)
Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)
Lord of Atlantis - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

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Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
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Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Nantuko Husk - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Throatseeker // Throatseeker MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons Art Series and Modern Horizons, 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 Throatseeker // Throatseeker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Throatseeker // Throatseeker Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Dmitry Burmak.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-06-05Modern Horizons Art SeriesAMH1 202015art_seriesborderlessDmitry Burmak
22019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 1102015normalblackDmitry Burmak
32021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 3912015normalblackDmitry Burmak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Throatseeker has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Throatseeker 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 If an unblocked attacking Ninja you control leaves combat (most likely because the combat phase has ended), it no longer has lifelink.
2019-06-14 Throatseeker’s effect applies only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.

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