Lurking Nightstalker MTG Card

Lurking Nightstalker - Portal Second Age

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Nightstalker
Released	1998-06-24
Set symbol
Set name	Portal Second Age
Set code	P02
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	77
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kev Walker

Key Takeaways

Disrupt opponents and gain card advantage with the Lurking Nightstalker’s targeted discard ability.
Instant speed allows for versatile and reactive gameplay with the Nightstalker.
Despite its high mana cost, this card’s adaptability makes it a valuable addition to many decks.

Text of card

If Lurking Nightstalker attacks, it gets +2/+0 until the end of the turn.

The shadows know.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Lurking Nightstalker brings strategic depth with its ability to disrupt opponent plays while offering card advantage through targeted discard. This can be a pivotal play for taking control of the game as it whittles down the opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of resource acceleration, the Lurking Nightstalker can indirectly affect mana availability. By forcing discards, it can prevent opponents from effectively curating their mana base or casting spells that would give them a resource edge.

Instant Speed: The versatility of instant speed enhances the Lurking Nightstalker, enabling reactive play and adding a layer of surprise against an opponent. This adaptability allows players to respond to threats immediately or adjust their strategy on the fly to maintain dominance on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lurking Nightstalker tests your hand management skills by asking for a card to be discarded whenever it’s employed. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially when you’re trying to keep a strong hand through the late game.

Specific Mana Cost: With a demand for both black and generic mana, this card fits primarily in mono-black or limited multicolor builds, reducing its versatility across a broad range of decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to bring Lurking Nightstalker onto the battlefield might not align with the tempo of your strategy, particularly when options exist for creatures with a similar power level at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Lurking Nightstalker offers adaptability across various deck builds due to its efficient cost-to-effect ratio, enhancing gameplay in aggressive strategies while remaining a solid defensive option.

Combo Potential: Its innate abilities sync well with decks focusing on creature-based synergies and can be a keystone for intricate combos that capitalize on creature type or entering and leaving the battlefield triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature interaction is paramount, Lurking Nightstalker serves as a tactical tool, either by disrupting opponents’ strategies or by providing consistent board presence to outmaneuver your opponents.

How to beat

The Lurking Nightstalker is a creature in MTG known for its elusive and menacing nature. To effectively counter this card, players should pay close attention to its abilities and have strategies in place to neutralize it. The Nightstalker thrives in the shadows, often leveraging its stealth to bypass your defenses.

As with any formidable adversary, knowing your enemy and your deck’s tools is pivotal. Cards that can remove creatures without needing to target them, such as board wipes or unconditional removal spells, are highly valuable. Also, utilizing creatures with the reach or ones that can block multiple creatures can dull the Nightstalker’s impact on the game.

Having a strategy to manage graveyard interactions can also help mitigate the risks associated with the Nightstalker’s return from the graveyard. Graveyard hate cards or exile effects ensure that once it’s dealt with, it stays out of play. By being prepared for what Lurking Nightstalker brings to the game, you can keep this shadowy creature in check and maintain control of the battlefield.

Cards like Lurking Nightstalker

Delving into the shadows of the creature arsenal within Magic: The Gathering, Lurking Nightstalker shares common ground with stealth-based cards. Much like its kin, such as Vampire Nighthawk or Chittering Rats, Lurking Nightstalker offers unique tactical advantages on the battlefield. Vampire Nighthawk stands out with its deathtouch and lifelink abilities, making it a formidable aerial threat. Chittering Rats, on the other hand, disrupts opponents by forcing them to put a card from their hand back on top of their library.

Additionally, there’s the often overlooked Dire Fleet Poisoner, a pirate with flash that sports deathtouch and can buff another pirate temporarily upon entry. While Lurking Nightstalker doesn’t share the immediate board impact of Dire Fleet Poisoner or Chittering Rats, its strength lies in the surprise of unveiling it at just the right moment, akin to a hidden trap. It is beguiling by nature, rewarding players who bide their time and play the long game.

In summary, Lurking Nightstalker may not hold the immediate board presence of some alternatives but certainly warrants consideration for those who enjoy a more subtle and calculated approach to control the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lurking Nightstalker MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age, 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 Lurking Nightstalker and other MTG cards: