Void Stalker MTG Card


Void Stalker - Magic 2013
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elemental
Released2012-07-13
Set symbol
Set nameMagic 2013
Set codeM13
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number77
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMarco Nelor

Key Takeaways

  1. Void Stalker can manipulate draws and disrupt opponents without loss of cards.
  2. Its activated ability at instant speed allows flexible, tactical plays in duels.
  3. Despite its strengths, its high mana cost and color specificity pose limitations.

Text of card

, : Put Void Stalker and target creature on top of their owners' libraries, then those players shuffle their libraries.

Now you see it, now you're gone.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Void Stalker presents a unique opportunity to manipulate the top of your library, enabling a strategic reshuffle of potential draws while simultaneously placing a threat into the aether. This not only filters your upcoming draws but also serves as an indirect form of card advantage as it disrupts your opponent’s board without losing card equity.

Resource Acceleration: As you dive deeper into the game, Void Stalker’s activated ability offers a form of resource acceleration by effectively clearing the way for your more powerful spells and creatures. By exchanging it with a potentially larger threat in the opponent’s deck, you’re tipping the scales in your favor without expending additional resources from your hand.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Void Stalker’s ability lies in its operation at instant speed, granting you the flexibility to alter the state of play during critical moments in your opponent’s turn. Its capacity to disrupt combat or eliminate a freshly cast threat just before it has the chance to impact the board is an invaluable tactical advantage in any duel.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Void Stalker may force you to discard another card, depleting your hand. This trade-off can be particularly painful when you’re already behind or in need of multiple options to respond to your opponent’s threats.

Specific Mana Cost: Void Stalker has a blue color mana requirement, narrowing its inclusion to decks that run islands or have mana fixing capabilities. For mono-color or certain multi-color decks, it might not seamlessly fit into the mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost to cast that’s not insignificant, Void Stalker competes with other creatures and spells in the same mana range that may offer immediate impact or greater value over time, making it a potentially less appealing choice during deck construction.


Reasons to Include Void Stalker in Your Collection

Versatility: Void Stalker is an adaptable card, making it a solid addition to any deck that values manipulation of both yours and your opponent’s creatures. Its ability to engage with creatures across the battlefield allows for strategic plays regardless of the opponents’ archetype.

Combo Potential: This card works well in pairs with other cards that trigger when creatures leave the battlefield or are shuffled into libraries. Its activated ability can pave the way for synergies with shuffle mechanics or graveyard strategies, anchoring complex and powerful combos.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy decks frequently dominating the playing field, having Void Stalker at your disposal can disrupt your opponents’ strategies. Its presence is significant in a meta that relies on creatures as primary win conditions, making it a worthy candidate for mainboard inclusion or a situational siding.


How to beat

Dealing with Void Stalker in your MTG matches requires strategic planning and the right tactics. This elusive creature card can be a thorn in the side with its potent combination of abilities. To effectively counteract Void Stalker, it’s essential to prioritize removal spells that can directly target and eliminate it before its controller can utilize its abilities to their advantage. Cards like Doom Blade or Murder are excellent choices for swiftly dispatching Void Stalker. Moreover, preventing it from entering the battlefield to begin with, using counter spells such as Counterspell or Essence Scatter, can stop this threat in its tracks and maintain control of the game.

Alternatively, it’s beneficial to limit the resources your opponent can dedicate to utilizing the Void Stalker’s abilities. Cards that tap your opponent’s lands or restrict their mana availability can stifle their plans. Playing around Void Stalker also means being cautious with your own creature deployment, especially if they can be potentially exiled due to Void Stalker’s ability. Consider these strategies next time you face this formidable card across the table.


Cards like Void Stalker

Within the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering, Void Stalker stands out as a unique creature card. It aligns with other blue creatures that manipulate the battlefield through forcing card exchanges. A notable comparison can be drawn to Aether Adept, a creature that bounces another creature back to its owner’s hand upon entering the battlefield. Yet, Void Stalker offers a strategic upper hand, allowing players to tuck an unwelcome creature into its owner’s library instead.

Similarly, Man-o’-War is a creature that provides an immediate board impact by returning creatures to their owner’s hand. Despite having a lower mana cost compared to Void Stalker, Man-o’-War doesn’t match the potential for permanent removal that Void Stalker has. Furthermore, in contrast to the traditional blue bounce spells, Void Stalker gives its controller a say in future draw steps, subtly disrupting an opponent’s game plan.

Altogether, Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts who value control and unpredictability in their gameplay will find the Void Stalker’s abilities highly beneficial. Its capacity to hinder your opponent’s battlefield while setting up future plays makes it a distinctive option among blue creatures.

Aether Adept - MTG Card versions
Man-o'-War - MTG Card versions
Aether Adept - Magic 2011 (M11)
Man-o'-War - Visions (VIS)

Cards similar to Void Stalker by color, type and mana cost

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Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Lord of Atlantis - Wizards Play Network 2024 (PW24)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Void Stalker MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013, 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 Void Stalker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Void Stalker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2012-07-01 If Void Stalker leaves the battlefield before its ability resolves, the target creature will be shuffled into its owner’s library but Void Stalker will remain wherever it is.
2012-07-01 If the target creature is an illegal target when the ability tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. No creature will leave the battlefield and no library will be shuffled.
2012-07-01 You can activate Void Stalker’s ability targeting a creature you control, including Void Stalker itself. In that case, only you will shuffle your library.

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