Alley Strangler MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Aetherborn Rogue
Abilities Menace
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Alley Strangler disrupts opponents and synergizes with graveyard strategies for card advantage.
  2. Its specific mana needs and discard requirement can limit deck-building options.
  3. Effective in evasion-focused strategies, but outclassed by some other MTG creatures.

Text of card

Menace

"You never know what day might be your last."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Alley Strangler can be a component in strategies focused on graveyard or discard mechanics, offering a degree of card advantage by potentially disrupting your opponent’s hand or strategy.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially removing an opponent’s threat or blocker temporarily, Alley Strangler could indirectly accelerate your board presence, allowing you to swing in for damage or develop your board unimpeded.

Instant Speed: This creature may not have instant speed itself, but it can synergize well with other instant-speed interactions in a deck. For instance, using it alongside instant-speed removal or combat tricks could lead to favorable trades or surprise shifts in board state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Alley Strangler demands that you discard a card to activate its ability. This can be a drawback when you’re already behind and need every card in your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and colorless mana, Alley Strangler can’t fit into just any deck and requires a specific mana base, limiting its flexibility in deck building.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, there are other creatures in MTG that could provide you with a better board presence or lower-cost utility for the same or less investment.


Reasons to Include Alley Strangler in Your Collection

Versatility: Alley Strangler is a solid inclusion in decks that capitalize on creature control and advantage. Its ability to become unblockable under certain conditions means it can fit into aggressive strategies that require a reliable damage dealer.

Combo Potential: This card can be a cog in a machine of synergistic interactions, especially in decks that manipulate or benefit from the number of cards a player has in their hand. Alley Strangler can work well with discard mechanics, adding an element of control while chipping away at an opponent’s life total.

Meta-Relevance: Given that Alley Strangler operates effectively in environments where evasion is key, it holds its ground in metas crowded with midrange creatures. As a 3/2 creature for three mana with a relevant ability, it can challenge a variety of commonly played creatures and remain relevant throughout different phases of the game.


How to beat

Alley Strangler can be a stealthy menace on the battlefield due to its menace ability, making it unblockable except by two or more creatures. This can put opponents in a tight spot, trying to manage their resources to fend off its attacks. To effectively counter this creature, strategic play is paramount. Employing removal spells that bypass the need for blocking, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can readily dispatch the Alley Strangler without requiring a combat scenario.

Control decks often have an array of removal tools that can handle such threats with ease. It’s also worth considering the use of board wipes like Wrath of God to reset the playing field, especially if your opponent is committing multiple creatures to their board. Alternatively, simply having a sufficient number of creatures to ensure blocks can mitigate the Alley Strangler’s advantage, especially since its power and toughness aren’t particularly formidable. In sum, maintaining a versatile defense with a blend of instant-speed interaction and a ready team of blockers will neutralize the threat Alley Strangler poses.


Cards like Alley Strangler

Alley Strangler stands out in MTG as an ambush predator of the Aether Revolt set, bringing versatility to the table. Its ability to menace ensures that it can’t be blocked except by two or more creatures, reminiscent of Ghastbark Twins. However, the Twins are significantly larger, yet require a heftier mana investment. Alley Strangler, being a 3-mana creature, aligns more closely with the evasive tactics of Doomed Dissenter, which also poses a challenge for single blockers due to its afterlife ability.

Comparing further, Nightveil Sprite offers a similar evasion mechanism with flying, but adds a surveil ability, empowering deck manipulation, a dimension where Alley Strangler doesn’t tread. However, in decks centered around straightforward, unblockable damage that can be amplified with auras or equipment, the Strangler can be incredibly effective, especially in limited formats where it originally thrived.

Ultimately, matching Alley Strangler with its peers hinges on the deck strategy employed. It serves as a solid choice in aggressive strategies that prize evasion, while other cards might be favored for their additional abilities or effects, despite the extra mana cost they may carry.

Ghastbark Twins - MTG Card versions
Doomed Dissenter - MTG Card versions
Nightveil Sprite - MTG Card versions
Ghastbark Twins - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Doomed Dissenter - Amonkhet (AKH)
Nightveil Sprite - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Cards similar to Alley Strangler by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Wall of Bone - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Husk - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Bone - Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana (DDD)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Nantuko Husk - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Alley Strangler MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt and Aether Revolt, 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 Alley Strangler and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Alley Strangler Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2017-01-20 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Efflam Mercier.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-01-20Aether RevoltAER 522015normalblackEfflam Mercier
22017-01-20Aether RevoltAER 52†2015normalblackEfflam Mercier
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5622015normalblackEfflam Mercier
42020-09-26The ListPLST AER-522015normalblackEfflam Mercier
52020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 772015normalblackEfflam Mercier
62022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 3752015normalblackEfflam Mercier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Alley Strangler has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

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