Novice Dissector MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 79
2021-04-23 - Number 9s
2021-04-23 - Number 9
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Troll Warlock |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
, Sacrifice another creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. Activate only as a sorcery.
"The professor said to first extract the venom glands, then the acid sac. Next up, the . . . meeping organ?"
Cards like Novice Dissector
Novice Dissector is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, weaving into the vast tapestry of sacrifice-for-benefit cards. It bears resemblance to the classic Carrion Feeder, yet Novice Dissector requires mana investment for its sacrificing ability, where Carrion Feeder does not. Both allow a creature to grow in power, but the dissection comes at a calculated cost.
Another comparable card is Nantuko Husk, which serves a similar role by enabling creatures to be sacrificed for an instant increase in power. Unlike Novice Dissector, Nantuko Husk’s ability doesn’t require any mana, offering a more flexible pathway to power up. However, it lacks the strategic component of scrying, which can set up future plays—an edge Novice Dissector provides.
Diving deeper into such synergies, Bloodthrone Vampire stands out with its free sacrificing process, but its absence of scrying makes strategic deck manipulation less accessible compared with Novice Dissector. This subtle blend of cost and added scrying power renders the Novice Dissector a niche card that might fit perfectly in decks that value strategic depth alongside creature sacrifice.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Novice Dissector offers versatility in board setup by potentially giving you access to additional creatures through its sacrifice ability. This action can trigger a variety of effects from other cards, effectively giving you more utility out of every card played.
Resource Acceleration: As a facilitator for graveyard strategies, Novice Dissector can help speed up the game by moving creatures into the graveyard, setting up for powerful reanimation spells or abilities that capitalize on a stocked graveyard, giving you a quicker route to overwhelming your opponents.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Novice Dissector can be used at instant speed, providing flexibility in response to your opponent’s plays. This ability to react instantly means that you can make strategic decisions on the fly, potentially disrupting your opponent’s game plan or enhancing your own board state during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Novice Dissector demands that you part ways with another creature from your hand or battlefield. This can be particularly taxing when you’re trying to maintain board presence or when your hand is already depleted, making it tasking to leverage its ability consistently.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and green mana, Novice Dissector can sometimes hamper your early gameplay if your mana base isn’t perfectly tuned. This specialized mana cost means it might not slip effortlessly into just any deck, especially ones that run on a tight mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though the abilities it offers may appear enticing, the combined cost of four mana—particularly split between two colors—for its full activation can be steep. There are alternative cards within the same mana range that could potentially offer you more immediate board impact or longevity in the game without the additional sacrifice.
Reasons to Include Novice Dissector in Your Collection
Versatility: Novice Dissector offers a consistent way to utilize creature sacrifice in various deck builds, particularly those that are centered around +1/+1 counter synergies or graveyard strategies.
Combo Potential: With its ability to sacrifice creatures as a mana-free activation, this card interacts well with persist or undying mechanics, setting up the stage for infinite combos or recursive plays.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment that favors creature-based tactics, Novice Dissector steps up as a valuable tool for disrupting opponent creatures while advancing your own board state.
How to beat Novice Dissector
Novice Dissector presents a unique challenge as a creature with an ability rooted in sacrificing other creatures for a specific benefit. Unlike traditional creature cards, which tend to focus on battling and power enhancements, Novice Dissector requires a strategic approach to maximize its potential. It’s a clever inclusion in decks that exploit creature death for value, making it a formidable opponent in the right circumstances.
To counter Novice Dissector effectively, it’s critical to disrupt the synergy it creates with other creatures. Removing key pieces that it relies on to trigger its ability can render it far less impactful. This could entail exiling creatures before they can be sacrificed, or using removal spells to take Novice Dissector off the board before it can be utilized. Graveyard management also plays a pivotal role, as it can prevent the recurrence of creatures that feed into Novice Dissector’s engine. Consider including cards that limit the ability to sacrifice creatures or that can swiftly deal with the Dissector directly after it hits the battlefield.
Overall, by focusing on interference and disruption, you can neutralize the card’s advantage and maintain control over the battlefield. Keeping a watchful eye on the board state and timing your responses appropriately are key tactics in overcoming the challenges posed by Novice Dissector.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Novice Dissector // Novice Dissector MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven Art Series and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Novice Dissector // Novice Dissector 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
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Printings
The Novice Dissector // Novice Dissector Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Mads Ahm.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strixhaven Art Series | ASTX | 9s | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Mads Ahm | ||
| 2 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 79 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mads Ahm | |
| 3 | Strixhaven Art Series | ASTX | 9 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Mads Ahm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Novice Dissector has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |