Deadeye Navigator MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Spirit
Abilities Soulbond
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage through repeatable enter-the-battlefield effects when paired with another creature.
  2. Instant speed activation defends creatures and can shift board states unexpectedly.
  3. Requires careful deck construction due to specific mana requirements and six mana cost.

Text of card

Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters the battlefield. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.) As long as Deadeye Navigator is paired with another creature, each of those creatures has ": Exile this creature, then return it to the battlefield under your control."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Deadeye Navigator’s soulbond ability lets you repeatedly blink or ‘flicker’ another creature. This can be an effective way to generate card advantage by reusing enter-the-battlefield effects from other creatures, effectively getting more use from your cards.

Resource Acceleration: By continuously flickering creatures with land-unlocking abilities, the Deadeye Navigator allows for potential mana ramp—accelerating resources and possibly unlocking additional mana for use each turn.

Instant Speed: Once soulbonded, the Navigator’s flicker ability can be activated at instant speed, offering a powerful defensive maneuver that can protect important creatures from removal, or be utilized tactically during an opponent’s turn for surprising shifts in board state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Deadeye Navigator itself does not have a discard requirement, it’s pivotal to remember that maintaining card advantage is essential. If you’re utilizing its soulbond ability frequently to blink creatures with enter the battlefield effects, ensure that you’re not depleting your hand too swiftly without sufficient draw power to replenish it.

Specific Mana Cost: Deadeye Navigator’s casting cost demands two blue mana symbols, potentially limiting its inclusion to mainly blue or blue-focused multicolor decks. Decks without a strong blue mana base may struggle to cast this card consistently on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of six mana to get Deadeye Navigator on the battlefield, it’s imperative to evaluate if its soulbond and blink abilities are worth the investment, especially when compared to lower-cost alternatives that can also produce significant board impact early in the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Deadeye Navigator can effortlessly adapt to a multitude of deck themes due to its unique soulbond ability. Its power to pair with any suitable creature provides endless utility and strategic enhancements to your gameplay.

Combo Potential: Known for its infamous synergy with cards like “Peregrine Drake” for unlimited mana or “Acidic Slime” for continuous board control, Deadeye Navigator’s potential to create powerful combos in your deck is unparalleled.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where interactions and board presence are crucial, Deadeye Navigator excels. Its ability to protect key creatures from removal and repeatedly utilize enter-the-battlefield effects keeps it as a relevant player in various meta games.


How to beat

Deadeye Navigator stands out as a formidable card in Magic: The Gathering, especially within the realm of combos and synergies. It pairs particularly well with creatures that have powerful enter the battlefield (ETB) effects, allowing them to be reused with its soulbond ability. When paired, the Navigator gives the bonded creature and itself the ability to flicker in and out of play, avoiding harmful spells and triggering ETB abilities on demand.

To disrupt the synergy that Deadeye Navigator offers, targeted removal isn’t always effective due to its flicker ability, so players must turn to alternative strategies. One successful method is to apply counter spells to prevent it from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Additionally, exiling effects that don’t target, such as board wipes or cards like Merciless Eviction, can permanently remove the Navigator and its paired ally from the game. Lastly, utilizing cards that restrict the use of activated abilities, such as Cursed Totem or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can effectively neutralize Deadeye Navigator’s threat.

Successfully countering the advantages Deadeye Navigator offers demands understanding its mechanics and finding ways to circumvent its defenses. In strategic gameplay, knowing how to dismantle such combos is essential for maintaining control of the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the complexities of MTG proves invaluable for enthusiasts eager to optimize their gameplay. With a deeper understanding of the Deadeye Navigator and its powerful synergies, you elevate not just your deck’s capabilities but also your strategic approach. Versatility is vital, and incorporating such dynamic cards into your collection can have a transformative effect on your matches. We encourage you to further discover the intricacies of these interactions and other deck-building secrets that await. Take the next step in your MTG journey with us and unlock the full potential of your deck. Delve into our resources for a more comprehensive meta advantage.


Cards like Deadeye Navigator

Deadeye Navigator stands out in the world of Magic: The Gathering as a potent tool for players who adore manipulating creatures’ enter-the-battlefield effects. Its soulbond ability allows it to pair with another creature, which can then be blinked in and out of play for a mere two mana. In terms of utility and price point, Conjurer’s Closet echoes this functionality, albeit at a slower pace since it triggers only once each turn during the end step and without the flexibility of the soulbond mechanic.

Another card worth mentioning is Venser, the Sojourner. While Venser’s -1 ability provides a similar exile and return mechanic, it is attached to a planeswalker that can be attacked and removed, unlike the resilient Deadeye Navigator. Indeed, Ghostway and Eerie Interlude also showcase the mass blink ability but in a one-shot event, lacking the repeatable nature of Deadeye Navigator’s influence on the battlefield.

After careful analysis, it is evident that Deadeye Navigator sits comfortably at the top of the chain when evaluating creatures with blink abilities in MTG. Its balance between cost-effectiveness and continuous board state manipulation ensures its place as a formidable inclusion in decks centered around enter-the-battlefield triggers.

Conjurer's Closet - MTG Card versions
Venser, the Sojourner - MTG Card versions
Ghostway - MTG Card versions
Eerie Interlude - MTG Card versions
Conjurer's Closet - MTG Card versions
Venser, the Sojourner - MTG Card versions
Ghostway - MTG Card versions
Eerie Interlude - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deadeye Navigator MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Deadeye Navigator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deadeye Navigator Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2017-03-17. Illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 472003NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
22017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 362015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deadeye Navigator has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2017-03-14 If you activate the ability granted by Deadeye Navigator, the creature will be exiled, the pair will immediately be broken, and then the card will be returned to the battlefield. Deadeye Navigator’s soulbond ability triggers when that card enters the battlefield and the pair can then be reunited.
2017-03-14 Once Deadeye Navigator or the creature it’s paired with is exiled, the other creature will no longer have the activated ability. However, you can activate the ability of one creature in response to activating the ability of the other creature.

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