Assassin's Blade MTG Card

Portal (POR)
1997-05-01 - Number 80

Portal (POR)
1997-05-01 - Number 80s

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number POR-80

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage and removal, bolstering hand and board presence during gameplay.
Instant speed play allows for tactical surprise and advantageous timing during matches.
Demands careful mana and hand management, presenting both opportunity and risk.

Text of card

Play Assassin's Blade only after you're attacked, before you declare interceptors. Destroy any one attacking creature that isn't black.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Assassin’s Blade, you not only remove a threat from your opponent’s board but also potentially draw into more answers or threats yourself, keeping your hand stocked and ready for future turns.

Resource Acceleration: By eliminating a creature, you pave the way for your own creatures to attack, potentially accelerating your resource gain through direct damage or effects tied to combat.

Instant Speed: The versatility of using Assassin’s Blade at instant speed cannot be overstated. It allows you to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their own turn, maintaining the element of surprise and tactical advantage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Assassin’s Blade requires a card to be discarded to activate its ability. This potentially hinders your hand advantage and might be detrimental during crucial game moments where maintaining card options is key.

Specific Mana Cost: This card presents a color-specific mana cost, necessitating black mana which can sometimes be challenging to generate in multicolored or color-restricted decks, thereby limiting its versatility in various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost for Assassin’s Blade might be perceived as steep, given the scope of its effects. There are alternatives available that offer similar utility or control aspects at a lower investment, making it a less optimal choice in some scenarios.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Assassin’s Blade complements a diverse array of deck builds, fitting seamlessly into strategies that aim to control the board and eliminate key threats.

Combo Potential: The card can synergize with strategies that take advantage of equipment or benefit from having a commander that needs to deal combat damage to players.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based decks are commonly found in the meta, having Assassin’s Blade in your arsenal equips you with a useful tool for dealing with those strategies effectively.

How to beat

The Assassin’s Blade is a subtle yet powerful card in Magic: The Gathering that can change the dynamics of a duel with its capacity to empower creatures and potentially create a troublesome board presence for opponents. Successfully countering this artifact involves a strategic approach, keenly focused on limiting its activation and utilization.

One effective tactic to dismantle the impact of Assassin’s Blade is by targeting artifact removal spells in your deck, prioritizing cards like Abrade or Disenchant that can swiftly dispatch the blade before its abilities come into play. Additionally, employing creatures with Hexproof or Shroud can safeguard your forces from the blade’s intended targets, nullifying its edge in combat.

Control decks can be an ally in this endeavor, providing a suite of countermeasures against artifacts and creatures alike. Employing instant-speed interaction to respond to the equipping action can turn the tide, preventing a potential loss of tempo and board control. In essence, being proactive and adaptive in your game strategy, with a keen eye for removal opportunities, will help in mitigating the threat of Assassin’s Blade in your MTG matches.

Cards like Assassin's Blade

Assassin’s Blade finds itself within the realm of equipment cards in Magic: The Gathering, echoing the functionalities of cards like Short Sword and Bonesplitter. Both are known for their ability to provide a quick and cost-effective power boost. Where Assassin’s Blade gains distinction is through its unique combination of abilities that could offer a tactical advantage on the battlefield. Short Sword, in contrast, offers a static boost with no additional effects, making Assassin’s Blade a more dynamic option for those seeking versatility.

Another analogue is Mask of Avacyn. Although Mask of Avacyn grants a higher toughness increase and the crucial benefit of hexproof, it demands a higher equip cost, which can be a significant factor in deck building strategy. The balance between cost, power enhancement, and added abilities makes Assassin’s Blade a noteworthy consideration, especially for decks that aim to synergize with assassins or rogue type creatures.

Assessing the landscape of MTG equipment cards, Assassin’s Blade positions itself as a potentially impactful card. Its balance of cost and benefit might tailor to strategies that capitalize on subtle power increments paired with additional perks, indicative of an assassin’s characteristic precision and lethality.

Cards similar to Assassin's Blade by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Assassin's Blade MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Portal, 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 Assassin's Blade and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Assassin's Blade Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 1997-05-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-05-01	Portal	POR	80	1997	Normal	Black	John Matson
2	1997-05-01	Portal	POR	80s	1997	Normal	Black	徐晓鸣
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	POR-80	1997	Normal	Black	John Matson