Silent Specter MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 169
2003-02-03 - Number 169
2002-06-24 - Number 36252
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Specter |
| Abilities | Flying,Morph |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Silent Specter’s discard effect after combat damage cripples the opponent’s resources and strategy.
- Morph cost permits surprise plays, transforming the game’s flow in an instant.
- Despite high mana costs, it offers diversity and potency in discard-focused strategies.
Text of card
Flying Whenever Silent Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player discards two cards from his or her hand. Morph o3o Bo B (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for o3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Silent Specter grants players the edge in the match by forcing opponents to discard cards upon dealing combat damage. This disrupts their plan and tips the scales in your favor by dwindling their resources.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly related to ramping up mana resources, assailing an opponent’s hand propels your positional advantage, which can indirectly lead to a resource acceleration by stifling their ability to respond to your plays.
Instant Speed: While the Silent Specter itself doesn’t have an instant-speed ability, its morph cost allows for a tactical play. You can flip it face-up after an unblocked attack for a surprise effect, forcing a discard and catching your opponent off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Silent Specter necessitates successful combat damage to an opponent for its discard trigger. This can be challenging, especially if opponents have a robust defense or numerous creature removals to prevent its attack.
Specific Mana Cost: Deck building becomes a careful balance due to its distinct mana cost of two black and four colorless, making it potentially cumbersome in multicolored decks that need consistent mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Silent Specter’s six-mana cost is substantial. Considering this investment, players may find other creatures or spells that provide immediate effects or better board presence for the same, if not lower, mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include Silent Specter in Your Collection
Versatility: Silent Specter is a formidable creature that can adapt to different game strategies. With its inherent flying ability, it can serve as both an offensive threat and a defensive measure. The card thrives in decks that focus on evasion and direct player interactions.
Combo Potential: This MTG card holds potential for synergistic plays, especially in decks that capitalize on creature and discard effects. When Silent Specter deals combat damage to a player, its ability to force that player to discard two cards can be leveraged to disrupt opponents and gain tactical advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where hand disruption is key to overcoming opponents, Silent Specter’s built-in discard mechanism can be highly disruptive. This can be particularly potent in formats where opponents rely on specific cards to execute their strategy, allowing Silent Specter to break crucial combos and diminish the opponents’ options.
How to beat Silent Specter
Silent Specter presents a unique challenge to overcome in a game of MTG. This flying specter is not only evasive but also brings a heavy hit with its discard ability upon dealing combat damage to a player. To effectively counter this shadowy threat, it’s imperative to focus on removal or defensive strategies that can deal with creatures that have flying. Board control cards, such as ‘Wrath of God’ or ‘Doom Blade’, can be particularly effective options for dispatching the Specter before it can become a recurring nightmare for your hand.
Protecting oneself from being the target of its attack is also a viable tactic. Cards that prevent or redirect damage, like ‘Ghostly Prison’ or ‘Deflecting Palm’, can create a barrier between you and the Specter. Alternatively, having creatures with reach or ones that can block flying creatures, will also help in keeping Silent Specter at bay. It’s essential to carefully plan and execute fending off this intimidating card as early as possible, as the card advantage it can generate for your opponent through its discard effect is substantial.
Lastly, maintaining a hand with multiple cards can minimize the impact of Silent Specter’s discard ability. Diversify your plays and keep the pressure on your opponent, making it harder for Silent Specter to haunt your game plan and lead you to victory.
Cards like Silent Specter
Silent Specter joins the ranks of the evasive creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This black-aligned card resonates with the haunt-like approach of the Specter creature subtype, often involving discard mechanics. A close relative is Hypnotic Specter, a classic card, that also imposes a discard penalty on the opponent upon dealing combat damage. Though Silent Specter requires morph to be unlocked, it has the added benefit of being a creature-based disruption tool upon dealing damage.
When considering other intimidating fliers, we can’t overlook Blazing Specter. While this card offers the same discard effect upon hitting an opponent, it trades the morph aspect for haste and a red splash, favoring a more aggressive strategy. Then comes Guul Draz Specter, which benefits from an opponent’s hand size to grow in power, emphasizing the psychic terror the Specter subtype is known for. Silent Specter requires a calculated setup but delivers a punishing effect for the unaware opponent.
Evaluating these options brings Silent Specter to light as a formidable card that marries evasion with strategic hand disruption, offering MTG players a nuanced choice for their decks that center around controlling the opponent’s resources.
Cards similar to Silent Specter by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Silent Specter MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Onslaught, 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 Silent Specter and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Silent Specter Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2003-02-03. Illustrated by Daren Bader.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36252 | 1997 | normal | black | Daren Bader | ||
| 2 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 169 | 1997 | normal | black | Daren Bader | |
| 3 | 2003-02-03 | Onslaught Promos | PONS | 169 | 1997 | normal | black | Daren Bader |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Silent Specter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
