Wei Assassins MTG Card


Wei Assassins - Portal Three Kingdoms
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier Assassin
Released1999-05-01
Set symbol
Set namePortal Three Kingdoms
Set codePTK
Power 3
Toughness 2
Number86
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderwhite
Illustred byXu Tan

Key Takeaways

  1. Wei Assassins combines creature removal with potential card draw, enhancing strategic play options.
  2. The card’s instant speed allows for flexible, surprise tactics during various game phases.
  3. Despite its strategic advantage, Wei Assassins’ discard requirement and mana cost are considerable drawbacks.

Text of card

When Wei Assassins comes into play, your opponent chooses one of his or her creatures. Destroy that creature. (Ignore this effect if your opponent has no creatures in play.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Wei Assassins card brings a strategic edge by enabling the player to eliminate an opponent’s creature while potentially drawing a card if a certain condition is met. This dual utility not only disrupts the opponent’s board presence but can also replenish the player’s hand, maintaining a healthy flow of options.

Resource Acceleration: By removing key threats on the battlefield, Wei Assassins can indirectly accelerate a player’s resources. This is because fewer opposing creatures mean the player’s own creatures are more likely to stay on the board, preserving mana and other resources that might otherwise be spent on casting additional defensive spells or creatures.

Instant Speed: Wei Assassins’ ability to be cast at instant speed provides tactical flexibility. Players can navigate through their phases with mana open, only opting to use Wei Assassins when the most advantageous moment arises, such as in response to an opponent’s attack or at the end of their turn for maximum surprise and efficiency.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Wei Assassins card necessitates the discarding of another card, which could be problematic during gameplay when your hand is already dwindling in options. This potential loss of card advantage can set you back, especially against opponents who are efficiently maintaining their resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Featuring a mana cost that requires both black and non-black mana, integrating Wei Assassins into your deck demands a particular color combination. This can restrict its deployability, making it less versatile for decks that don’t operate within the necessary color parameters or when mana fixing is an issue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment required to summon Wei Assassins is considerably high when compared to other creatures with similar abilities or stats. This might make it a less appealing option when constructing a deck, as MTG players often look for more cost-effective creatures that provide a better ratio of cost to performance.


Reasons to Include Wei Assassins in Your Collection

Versatility: Wei Assassins offer a unique function as they provide targeted creature removal upon entering the battlefield. This makes them a flexible choice for decks that aim to maintain board control while developing their own game plan.

Combo Potential: These assassins synergize with strategies that revolve around creature sacrifice, recur from the graveyard, or exploit enter-the-battlefield triggers. Your deck can harness these interactions to orchestrate powerful plays and outmaneuver opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment dominated by creature-based strategies, the ability to selectively remove key pieces upon casting Wei Assassins could be crucial. Their inherent utility can disrupt your adversary’s tempo and give you an edge during gameplay.


How to beat

Confronting Wei Assassins on the battlefield requires a considered approach to maintain control in a game of Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to eliminate a creature upon entering the battlefield can be quite disruptive to your game plan. One direct method to neutralize Wei Assassins is to have protection for your key creatures, ensuring they aren’t valid targets for its ability. Mechanics such as hexproof or shroud can prevent your creatures from being targeted, while having an indestructible creature protects them from being destroyed even if they are targeted.

Another strategy involves countering the spell altogether. Using counter spells like Counterspell or Negate as preventative measures will stop Wei Assassins before it can pose a threat. Lastly, playing a deck with numerous low-value creatures can diminish the impact of Wei Assassins’ ability, as losing a less crucial creature won’t significantly alter your route to victory. By employing these tactics, you can reduce the impact of Wei Assassins on your gameplay and maintain a stronger position on the battlefield.


Cards like Wei Assassins

Within the diverse world of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, Wei Assassins stands out with its unique blend of abilities, eager to eliminate opposing generals from the battlefield. It shares common ground with Nekrataal, a card with a similar entrance effect, permanently removing another creature upon entering the game. However, Nekrataal is limited to destroying nonartifact, nonblack creatures, while Wei Assassins grants the opportunity for any player to choose which commander to dispatch – a subtle yet strategic difference.

Another card that echoes the assassin’s theme is Royal Assassin, offering a relentless creature removal ability, albeit with different conditions. Royal Assassin requires tapped creatures to exercise its lethal talent, contrasting with the preemptive strike provided by Wei Assassins during the deployment phase. This tactful consideration can significantly influence control strategies on the battlefield.

Examining the spectrum of creature control, Wei Assassins presents an intriguing option for players who enjoy dictating the pace of combat and disrupting their opponent’s command structure. Each of these cards offers distinct advantages, but Wei Assassins’ niche in singling out commanders makes it an exceptional tool in any player’s arsenal seeking to undermine their opponent’s strategic pillars.

Nekrataal - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Nekrataal - Visions (VIS)
Royal Assassin - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Wei Assassins by color, type and mana cost

Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Sheoldred - MTG Card versions
Dementia Bat - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Plaguelord - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - Tempest (TMP)
Predatory Nightstalker - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Fallen Angel - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Stone Catapult - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Grotesque Hybrid - Torment (TOR)
Earwig Squad - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Indulgent Tormentor - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sootfeather Flock - Legions (LGN)
Zombie Cutthroat - Scourge (SCG)
Vermiculos - Mirrodin (MRD)
Gluttonous Zombie - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Woebearer - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Wei Elite Companions - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Halo Hunter - Zendikar (ZEN)
Malakir Bloodwitch - Zendikar (ZEN)
Caustic Crawler - Worldwake (WWK)
Shriekmaw - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Reaper of Sheoldred - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Dementia Bat - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Phyrexian Plaguelord - Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia (TD2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wei Assassins MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms, 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 Wei Assassins and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wei Assassins has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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