Hollow Specter MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Specter
Abilities	Flying
Released	2003-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Legions
Set code	LGN
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	75
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	rk post

Key Takeaways

Hollow Specter grants card advantage by peeking and discarding opponent’s threats at instant speed.
Moderate cost and targeted discard make it versatile in discard-focused MTG decks.
Effective counterplay includes removal spells or creatures with deathtouch to neutralize its impact.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Hollow Specter deals combat damage to a player, you may pay . If you do, that player reveals X cards from his or her hand and you choose one of them. That player discards that card.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hollow Specter presents a unique avenue to card advantage by granting you the potential to peek into your opponent’s hand and precisely eliminate threats before they hit the battlefield, thus indirectly increasing the quality of your hand by diminishing theirs.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting resource acceleration in the typical sense of providing additional mana or ramp, the Specter’s discard ability can indirectly hasten your game plan by disrupting opponents’ curves and removing key pieces that could be used for their own acceleration.

Instant Speed: The activation of Hollow Specter’s discard ability occurs at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn to impact their hand and decisions. This strategic potential can shift the pace of the game to your advantage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hollow Specter demands that an opponent discards a card every time it deals combat damage. This condition is reliant not only on the card successfully dealing combat damage but also on your opponent having cards in hand to discard, which may not always be the case.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires one black and two generic mana and an activation cost that needs one black for each card the opponent discards, Hollow Specter’s abilities are somewhat mana-intense and color specific, which may not seamlessly fit into every deck’s mana base or strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial three mana investment for a 2/2 creature may feel steep, especially when other creatures at a similar cost might provide immediate value upon entering the battlefield or have higher power and toughness.

Reasons to Include Hollow Specter in Your Collection

Versatility: Hollow Specter has a home in decks that leverage discard strategies. Its ability to exile cards from an opponent’s hand makes it a nuisance against a vast array of decks, ensuring it is rarely without a target.

Combo Potential: With the potential to scale its discard ability, Hollow Specter can synergize with decks focused around hand disruption or punishing players for losing cards. It becomes a significant threat when pumped with additional mana.

Meta-Relevance: As players navigate a meta dominated by combo and control decks, Hollow Specter poses as a resilient threat. Its ability to dismantle hand-based strategies makes it a worthy contender, disrupting opponents’ plans and gaining you the upper hand.

How to beat

Hollow Specter is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that can pose a real threat with its ability to exile cards from an opponent’s hand. This black card truly shines when it deals combat damage, giving its controller a chance to disrupt their opponent’s strategy. However, there are ways to overcome this spectral adversary.

One effective tactic is to prevent the Specter from dealing combat damage in the first place. Utilizing removal spells like Path to Exile or Murder can dispatch the creature before it has a chance to trigger its intimidating ability. Cards that can block and kill the Specter without suffering damage themselves, such as creatures with deathtouch, are also valuable. Additionally, effects that grant your creatures hexproof ensure that Hollow Specter’s targeted ability becomes moot.

Facing Hollow Specter, it’s essential to remember that being proactive is often better than reactive. Playing creatures with higher power and toughness, applying pressure, and keeping up instant-speed removal can all help maintain control over the game. In the dance of strategy that is Magic: The Gathering, understanding how to counter problematic cards effectively is key. With these strategies, Hollow Specter’s haunting presence on the board can be swiftly dealt with.

Cards like Hollow Specter

Hollow Specter holds a unique spot in any MTG player’s collection with its blend of creature damage and hand disruption. This card bears a resemblance to the likes of Hypnotic Specter, with the ability to cause discomfort to the opponent by attacking their hand. Yet, unlike Hypnotic Specter, which discards at random, Hollow Specter gives players control over discards when damage is dealt, albeit at an additional mana cost.

Another parallel can be drawn to Shimian Specter, which offers a similar disrupt-and-discard mechanic, this time with an effect that can clear the same card from the opponent’s hand and library, making it a sweeping answer to threats. However, Shimian Specter requires more mana investment and doesn’t provide the same instant impact on landing as Hollow Specter does with its ability to target specific cards. Both cards demonstrate a strategic component in gameplay, allowing players to whittle down their opponent’s resources directly.

Hollow Specter’s capability to surgically remove key cards from an opponent’s grip secures its slot as a preferential choice for many decks focused on control and hand disruption. The balance of cost, effect, and the tactical advantage makes it an asset in matches where knowledge and disruption of the opponent’s hand can turn the tide.

Cards similar to Hollow Specter by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hollow Specter MTG card by a specific set like Legions, 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 Hollow Specter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hollow Specter has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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