Midnight Assassin MTG Card

The card’s instant speed allows for strategic surprise and the potential to shift the tide of the game. Discarding a card for its effect may cost you valuable game momentum, so timing is crucial. Inclusion in a deck can be justified by its versatility and current meta relevance for creature control.
Midnight Assassin - Streets of New Capenna
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Vampire Assassin
Abilities Deathtouch,Flying
Released2022-04-29
Set symbol
Set nameStreets of New Capenna
Set codeSNC
Power 1
Toughness 2
Number87
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byChristina Davis

Text of card

Flying, deathtouch

The broad avenues and graceful spires of Park Heights are the playground of the affluent. After nightfall, they also make a fine hunting ground.

Cards like Midnight Assassin

The Midnight Assassin enters the fold of creature cards in MTG with a unique set of abilities that allow for strategic plays. It bears a resemblance to cards such as Murderous Redcap, which also carries out a mission to destroy another creature upon entering the battlefield. The Midnight Assassin, differentiating itself with the potential to be more cost-efficient in decks that manipulate the top card of the library.

Shadow Guildmage is another card that shares the assassination theme, though it does this through an activated ability rather than an enter-the-battlefield effect. The Mage, however, requires mana investment to perform its ability, whereas the Midnight Assassin might be a one-time upfront cost with the added benefit of board presence. Moreover, Nekrataal is a classic that also destroys a nonartifact, nonblack creature when it hits the board. The key distinction is that the Midnight Assassin could target a wider range of creatures, depending on its design.

When evaluating the efficiency and versatility of the Midnight Assassin against its counterparts, it stands out for potential value in gameplay, offering a delicate balance of board control and strategic creature removal within the game of MTG.

Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions
Shadow Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Nekrataal - MTG Card versions
Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions
Shadow Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Nekrataal - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Playing Midnight Assassin can potentially eliminate a creature you don’t control while keeping your own forces intact. This selective removal often leads to card advantage, as you dispatch an opponent’s threat without sacrificing your own resources.

Resource Acceleration: Midnight Assassin doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration in the form of additional mana or tokens. Instead, it allows for more efficient resource use by taking out key threats and preserving your mana for other spells or abilities that advance your board state.

Instant Speed: The power of Midnight Assassin is significantly magnified by its instant speed, giving you the flexibility to react swiftly to the evolving battlefield. It can be played during your opponent’s turn, making it a surprise element that can disrupt their strategy. This versatility ensures that you’re always one step ahead, ready to eliminate threats as they arise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Midnight Assassin comes with the stipulation of discarding a card, which could be a hindrance when your hand is already depleted or if the cards held are of crucial strategic importance. This can sometimes result in unwanted sacrifices that may affect the momentum of your gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: While powerful, Midnight Assassin necessitates a particular mana arrangement to cast. Because it requires not just any mana but specifically black mana, players with multicolor decks may struggle to consistently meet this cost without the right mana base or without compromising their deck’s color diversity and stability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The demand for a hefty amount of mana investment can make the card a tough play, particularly in fast-paced games. For its mana cost, there might be alternatives that provide similar or more impactful effects with greater cost efficiency, thereby questioning its value in a tightly curated deck where every mana point counts.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Midnight Assassin is a dynamic addition to decks that require a robust removal option. Its ability to take out creatures boosts its value, making it a flexible pick for a variety of deck builds.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that benefit from creature deaths or graveyard synergies, Midnight Assassin can be a key component in powerful combo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creatures play a pivotal role, having a reliable creature removal card like Midnight Assassin ensures you stay one step ahead in the current meta.

How to beat

Midnight Assassin is a card that demands attention when it hits the board in Magic: The Gathering. With its potential to remove creatures, it adds a layer of strategic depth to the game. A crucial strategy to counteract Midnight Assassin’s abilities involves denying it targets through creature protection or by keeping creature count low. Deploying cards that grant indestructible or hexproof status can effectively nullify the Assassin’s impact.

Increasing the toughness of your creatures beyond Midnight Assassin’s power also serves as a reliable method to withstand its ability. Another effective tactic is to apply removal spells or abilities to exile or destroy the Assassin before it can become a persistent threat. Instant-speed spells can catch an opponent off guard, disrupting their plans and preserving your board state. Playing around Midnight Assassin requires a blend of predictive play and well-timed reactions that, when executed correctly, will ensure that the threat it poses is neutralized swiftly.

Understanding card interactions and staying ahead of your opponent’s strategies are key to mitigating the effects of potent creatures like Midnight Assassin. Ensuring that you maintain control of the game’s flow and your creatures’ safety is an art that, once mastered, can lead to impressive victories in Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Midnight Assassin MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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 Midnight Assassin and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Midnight Assassin has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal