Adder-Staff Boggart MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Warrior
Abilities	Clash
Released	2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Lorwyn
Set code	LRW
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	148
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeff Miracola

Key Takeaways

Adder-Staff Boggart allows strategic foresight, optimizing your plays by revealing top library cards.
The card’s specifics can limit its deck inclusion, creating potential mana base conflicts.
It proves beneficial in tribal synergies acting as a versatile changeling in MTG.

Text of card

When Adder-Staff Boggart comes into play, clash with an opponent. If you win, put a +1/+1 counter on Adder-Staff Boggart. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library, then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Adder-Staff Boggart doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it can lead to indirect card advantage. This is because it provides valuable information about what’s on top of your library, letting you better plan your moves and thereby potentially outmaneuver your opponent with strategic plays.

Resource Acceleration: The Adder-Staff Boggart itself does not accelerate your resources in terms of mana, but knowing the top card of your library can assist in optimizing your resource allocation each turn. This can be an indirect way to ensure efficient use of your mana and resources over the course of a match.

Instant Speed: Although Adder-Staff Boggart doesn’t have an instant speed ability, the insight it gives you into the upcoming draws can prepare you to take full advantage of instant speed spells in your hand. By anticipating what’s to come, you can make more informed and tactical instant speed reactions to your opponent’s plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of its ability triggers, Adder-Staff Boggart requires you to discard a card, potentially depleting your hand when you might need options to respond to an opponent’s moves.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a specific mana cost combination that includes red, which not only can restrict its use to only those decks incorporating red mana but also may be cumbersome for multicolor decks with strained mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost to cast that’s on the higher end for its stats and abilities, there are alternative creature cards in the same cost range that could offer you a stronger board presence or more influential abilities.

Reasons to Include Adder-Staff Boggart in Your Collection

Versatility: Adder-Staff Boggart brings a unique flexibility to your game as it can serve different roles depending on your deck build. With its simple red mana cost, it’s a well-suited choice for mono-red decks or any build looking to incorporate red creatures without complicating the mana base.

Combo Potential: This creature not only adds to your board presence but also can synergize with other cards. When used in conjunction with cards that benefit from creatures entering or leaving the battlefield, Adder-Staff Boggart enhances those interactions, thus unlocking new combo possibilities.

Meta-Relevance: Given its nature as a changeling, this card holds relevance in meta where tribal synergies are exploited. It’s a perfect addition to boost your tribal-themed decks, as its inherent changeling trait allows it to adopt any and all creature types, thus maximizing tribal buffs or triggers.

How to beat

Adder-Staff Boggart is a playful yet tricky card to face in the plane of Lorwyn. This goblin warrior might seem unassuming at first glance with its minor self-mill ability, which exposes the top card of your library upon entering the battlefield or when it deals damage to an opponent. But be wary, as this small creature can be part of a larger strategy utilized in red and black deck synergies, especially those revolving around graveyard manipulation and creature recursion.

To counter this card effectively, consider using removal spells that can manage early threats without much cost. A simple Lightning Bolt can take it down before it starts serving its purpose. Moreover, graveyard hate cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Relic of Progenitus will negate the benefit your opponent is seeking by disrupting the games’ typical flow. Another strategy is to control the board with a more robust creature presence, which would make it less likely for the Boggart to deal combat damage. Lastly, always keep an eye on your opponent’s graveyard—understanding their plan can give you the upper hand and prevent the Adder-Staff’s milling from turning the tables in your opponent’s favor.

When confronted with Adder-Staff Boggart in a match, remember that thorough knowledge and appropriate countermeasures can effectively neutralize its potential and keep your opponent’s schemes at bay.

Cards like Adder-Staff Boggart

Adder-Staff Boggart presents a unique angle on creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It bears some similarities with other creatures in the game, like Goblin Arsonist, as they both have the power to peek at the top card of your library. Yet, Adder-Staff Boggart offers a slightly different spin with its interplay between the red and blue colors, giving players a glimpse of the next draw and a possible tactical advantage.

Comparing it to other creature cards, Firebrand Archer comes to mind, which deals damage each time you cast a noncreature spell – a trait that, like Adder-Staff Boggart, supports a player’s strategy during their turn. However, the Archer doesn’t offer insight into upcoming draws. Additionally, Goblin Spy has a consistent effect allowing its controller to look at the top card of an opponent’s library. While similar in its informational advantage, it shifts the tactical value from the player’s own draw to that of monitoring an opponent’s deck.

Evaluating creature cards like Adder-Staff Boggart within Magic: The Gathering, it stands out for its subtle blend of foresight and creature utility, a combination that can inform and possibly shape the sequence of a player’s game strategy.

Cards similar to Adder-Staff Boggart by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Adder-Staff Boggart MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Adder-Staff Boggart and other MTG cards: