Nezumi Cutthroat MTG Card
2004-10-01 - Number 128
2005-08-22 - Number A29
2005-08-22 - Number A17
2006-01-01 - Number 17
2006-01-01 - Number 29
2018-03-16 - Number 99
2021-08-26 - Number 367
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Rat Warrior |
| Abilities | Fear |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Fear Nezumi Cutthroat can't block.
"These nezumi, they disgust me. The things they will do for money no other thinking creature would consider. This, of course, makes them useful beyond words." —Meloku the Clouded Mirror
Cards like Nezumi Cutthroat
Nezumi Cutthroat is a solid player in the rogues’ gallery of aggressive creatures found in Magic: The Gathering. Its fear ability, allowing it to be blocked only by black creatures and artifact creatures, provides a certain level of unblockability akin to Skulking Ghost. While Skulking Ghost offers similar evasion, the Cutthroat has the advantage of being able to block – something the Ghost cannot boast.
Another creature worth comparing is Prickly Boggart. It, too, has the evasion mechanic of fear but at a lower cost with its one mana for a 1/1. Nezumi Cutthroat edges out in power and toughness but comes at double the mana cost. There’s a balance between efficiency and strength here. Meanwhile, Ghostly Changeling can become unblockable against most decks by gaining all creature types, including the ability to dodge creatures without the fear mechanic. It comes with a mana-flexible morph ability but again at a higher cost than the Cutthroat.
The Nezumi Cutthroat finds its niche by blending aggressiveness with resilient board presence, making it a notable card among its counterparts for players seeking to tip the scales in their favor during the early to mid-game.
Cards similar to Nezumi Cutthroat by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Nezumi Cutthroat, you maintain a balance in your hand by sustaining a threat on the board without needing to overcommit additional cards. This leaves your hand ready to react to the evolving game state, preserving your in-game resources.
Resource Acceleration: While this agile creature doesn’t directly provide mana, it does offer a form of resource acceleration by allowing you to pressure your opponent efficiently. Its low casting cost coupled with Fear makes it difficult to block, delivering consistent damage and forcing your opponent to allocate resources elsewhere.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Nezumi Cutthroat’s Fear ability can complement your instant-speed spells. By presenting an evasive and relentless threat, you encourage your opponent to hold back their creatures for defense, which in turn could enable you to capitalize on instant-speed interactions unimpeded during their end phase.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Nezumi Cutthroat’s gameplay doesn’t inherently involve discarding; however, its synergy with discard strategies means it’s often in decks where you might be forced to part with valuable cards to feed graveyard-based mechanics or to activate other cards’ abilities.
Specific Mana Cost: Nezumi Cutthroat demands a specific mana composition, with both colorless and black mana necessary for casting. This requirement can be a stumbling block in multicolored decks that may struggle with mana consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exorbitant, the mana cost to get this creature on the battlefield could be considered high for aggressive strategies that aim to deploy numerous threats quickly. There are alternative two-mana creatures with comparable or better stats and abilities that might fit more smoothly into a deck’s curve.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Nezumi Cutthroat has a solid place in aggressive black decks, thanks to its ability to be unblockable by creatures with defender. This allows it to sneak in damage regardless of the opponent’s board state, making it a flexible inclusion for various strategic approaches.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks that capitalize on creature synergy and attack bonuses. Its Fear ability can be a linchpin in strategies that aim to minimize blockers and maximize damage, fitting nicely with other creatures and spells that benefit from steady combat damage to the opponent.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its capability to bypass many common defensive setups, Nezumi Cutthroat fares well in metas that favor control decks with creatures meant to stall the board. Its consistent attack pressure keeps opponents on a tight clock, which is pivotal in tipping the scales in your favor during tight matches.
How to beat
Nezumi Cutthroat makes its mark as a relentless attacker in Magic: The Gathering, creating an interesting challenge for players facing this agile creature. Renowned for its fear ability, the card can only be blocked by black creatures or artifact creatures, narrowing down the defensive options significantly. Despite its evasive edge, strategic counters exist to tip the scales in your favor.
Efficient removal spells are a reliable approach, as they sidestep the creature’s blocking restrictions. Direct spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can exile the Nezumi Cutthroat swiftly, negating its potential damage entirely. Board wipes, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, also clear the path by removing all creatures, regardless of their abilities.
Another tactic involves nullifying the fear ability with cards that change the color of creatures or include all colors, like Painter’s Servant. With its stealth compromised, defensive creatures can block it with ease. In this way, by being aware of the Cutthroat’s strengths and employing strategic counters, players can manage this feared creature and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Nezumi Cutthroat MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Salvat 2005, 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 Nezumi Cutthroat and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 MTG Products
Printings
The Nezumi Cutthroat Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Carl Critchlow.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-10-01 | Champions of Kamigawa | CHK | 128 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 2 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | A29 | 2003 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
| 3 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | A17 | 2003 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
| 4 | 2006-01-01 | Hachette UK | PHUK | 17 | 2003 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
| 5 | 2006-01-01 | Hachette UK | PHUK | 29 | 2003 | Normal | White | Carl Critchlow | |
| 6 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 99 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 7 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 367 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Carl Critchlow |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Nezumi Cutthroat has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |