Raiding Nightstalker MTG Card

Raiding Nightstalker - Portal Second Age

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Nightstalker
Abilities	Swampwalk
Released	1998-06-24
Set symbol
Set name	Portal Second Age
Set code	P02
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	84
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

Raiding Nightstalker brings card advantage and can trigger landfall or creature-cast synergies.
Its flash ability offers strategic play, making it a formidable addition to many decks.
Demands careful hand management due to its discard requirement and specific mana cost.

Text of card

Swampwalk (If defending player has any swamps in play, Raiding Nightstalker can't be blocked.)

"Our steeds need food, water, stabling. Theirs just need prey." —Restela, Alaborn marshal

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Raiding Nightstalker offers an edge in maintaining card flow by enabling you to potentially remove an opponent’s creature while also putting a body on the board. Having both a removal aspect and creature deployment in one card consolidates your deck’s efficiency and card count.

Resource Acceleration: When Raiding Nightstalker enters the battlefield, its ability might trigger landfall effects or synergize with other cards that benefit from creature casts, thus speeding up your overall game plan and enhancing your resource gain.

Instant Speed: The flash mechanic allows Raiding Nightstalker to be played at instant speed, providing the strategic advantage of deploying creatures during your opponent’s turn or responding swiftly to their actions, keeping them guessing while you retain full control of your mana and moves.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Raiding Nightstalker requires a player to discard a card, posing a potential setback when your hand is already depleted or when holding crucial cards for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature comes with a specific mana cost that might not seamlessly fit into all deck types. Decks not aligned with its mana requirements could face integration issues, limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher mana cost compared to other creatures of similar strength, players might find it challenging to justify the Raiding Nightstalker’s place over more cost-efficient alternatives within the same role.

Reasons to Include Raiding Nightstalker in Your Collection

Versatility: Raiding Nightstalker offers a unique skill set that opens up defensive and offensive strategies. Its ability to dodge removal spells and being difficult to block allows it to fit into various deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: Its synergy with cards that care about creatures entering the battlefield or leaving the battlefield can set up potent combos. Plus, its evasion makes it an excellent enabler for hitting your opponent and triggering abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Raiding Nightstalker holds its ground by potentially disrupting your opponent’s board presence. It can be an unexpected card to tip the scales in your favor in the current competitive scene.

How to Beat Raiding Nightstalker

Raiding Nightstalker is an elusive creature card that can pose quite a challenge during gameplay. When facing this card, players must consider its ability to potentially disrupt opponent strategies. The key to countering Raiding Nightstalker lies in understanding that it thrives on attacking strategies. Therefore, incorporating cards that restrict attacks, such as those with the ‘defender’ ability or enchantments that keep creatures tapped down, can mitigate the pressure it brings to the battle.

Furthermore, removal spells are especially effective against Raiding Nightstalker. Since it often comes at a higher mana cost, playing efficient single-target removals or mass removal spells like Wrath of God can help to clear this threat from the board before it becomes too overwhelming. Of course, cards with exile effects, rather than those that send creatures to the graveyard, are preferable to prevent any graveyard recursion tactics.

Savvy players should also consider adjusting their combat strategies. Employing creatures with deathtouch or those that can block multiple creatures can deter your opponent from attacking with the Raiding Nightstalker, minimizing its impact on the game. By preparing your deck with these considerations in mind, the Raiding Nightstalker’s advantage can be effectively neutralized.

Cards like Raiding Nightstalker

Raiding Nightstalker brings an interesting dynamic to creature cards within MTG. Similar to creatures like Hypnotic Specter, it shares the essence of having a flying ability, which allows it to evade common blockers. Yet, the Nightstalker carves its niche with a raid mechanic that can be quite disruptive after it attacks, forcing your opponent to edge into a defensive position.

Considering Dauthi Mindripper as an alternative that also emphasizes discard upon dealing damage, we see that unlike the raid ability of Raiding Nightstalker, which triggers only after declaration of an attack, the Mindripper ensures an effect upon combat damage. The Nightstalker’s ability can disrupt your opponent’s strategy early in the combat phase, providing a psychological advantage. Conversely, Liliana’s Specter arrives at a lower mana cost and imposes an immediate discard when it enters the battlefield, presenting a predictable yet instantaneous effect that differs from the strategic uncertainty of Raiding Nightstalker’s raid trigger.

Ultimately, Raiding Nightstalker delivers a unique blend of evasion and preemptive hand disruption that can be a powerful inclusion in decks designed to chip away at the opponents’ resources while maintaining an aerial presence on the board.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Raiding 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 Raiding Nightstalker and other MTG cards: