Trophy Hunter MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Archer
Released	2005-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica: City of Guilds
Set code	RAV
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	187
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	rk post

Key Takeaways

Capable of removing opponents’ creatures, it provides both card and psychological advantage.
Instant speed grants flexibility, allowing for adaptive and tactical responses in real time.
While powerful, its drawbacks include a discard requirement and specific mana needs.

Text of card

: Trophy Hunter deals 1 damage to target creature with flying. Whenever a creature with flying dealt damage by Trophy Hunter this turn is put into a graveyard, put a +1/+1 counter on Trophy Hunter.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Trophy Hunter provides the ability to eliminate key creatures on the board, manifesting as virtual card advantage. Removing crucial threats can often translate into a significant lead in the flow of the game.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s potential in a late-game scenario can translate into resource acceleration. Every creature taken down may allow for more onward momentum, providing a form of psychological acceleration as your opponent’s resources dwindle.

Instant Speed: Trophy Hunter’s capabilities are notably enhanced by its instant speed utility, facilitating strategic plays during an opponent’s turn. This flexibility offers dynamic interaction with the board state, allowing a player to adapt to threats in real-time.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Trophy Hunter card necessitates that you discard another card to fully utilize its potential. In tight games where each card in hand can be pivotal, losing a resource to enable Trophy Hunter’s abilities can be a tough pill to swallow, potentially setting you back when you can least afford it.

Specific Mana Cost: With its requirement for not just any mana, but specifically a mix that includes green, Trophy Hunter may not be the best fit for all types of decks. This can limit its flexibility and playability, particularly in decks that don’t heavily feature green mana or multicolored mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Boasting a mana cost that is on the higher side, Trophy Hunter’s demands may overshadow its benefits in situations where players need to maintain tempo against fast-paced opponents. While its effects could be impactful, the mana investment may hinder the overall efficiency of your deck, as there could be alternatives that provide similar benefits without the steep cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Trophy Hunter offers a dynamic role within green-centric creature builds, able to escalate threats and respond to various board states.

Combo Potential: Its ability to grant +1/+1 counters can synergize with mechanics that value counter proliferation, opening up numerous strategy enhancements.

Meta-Relevance: Often the meta sees creatures as prime assets, making Trophy Hunter’s creature-focused benefits especially pertinent in current deck-building tactics.

How to Beat Trophy Hunter

Trophy Hunter can be a tricky card to tackle in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to pick off smaller creatures and gradually strengthen makes it a looming threat on the board. When facing an opponent with a Trophy Hunter, a solid strategy is to remove it before it becomes too strong. Spell-based removals like Murder or Path to Exile work well, especially if used before the Hunter claims any trophies.

Alternatively, taking advantage of its reach ability, flyers typically won’t trigger the Hunter unless they’re on the offense. Prioritize maintaining a strong defensive position while setting up your own board. Additionally, consider using instant-speed tricks to neutralize the Trophy Hunter during combat or in response to its triggered abilities. Creature buffs or damage-dealing instants can turn the tables quickly.

Lastly, don’t overlook the importance of controlling the flow of creatures. If you limit the creatures Trophy Hunter can target, you reduce its impact. Leveraging counter spells or protective auras can also ensure your vital creatures survive any potential encounters. With careful planning and a proper response, Trophy Hunter can be managed effectively within your game plan.

Cards like Trophy Hunter

Trophy Hunter brings a unique twist to creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to other creatures that benefit from dealing damage to others, such as Viridian Longbow, yet stands out with its distinct ability to put +1/+1 counters on itself for every creature dealt damage. This mechanism provides a sustainable increase in power and toughness, distinguishing it from the fixed stats of Viridian Longbow.

Another comparable card is Thornweald Archer, which also possesses deathtouch and reach, allowing it to neutralize flying threats efficiently. Trophy Hunter, while similarly outfitted with reach, foregoes deathtouch for its own progressive strength-building feature. Then we have Bow of Nylea, offering multiple utilities including dealing damage to flying creatures, but lacking the ability to grow in power like Trophy Hunter does.

Ultimately, while comparing the abilities and adaptability in various game scenarios, Trophy Hunter showcases a compelling combination of board impact and scalability that can prove essential in MTG matchups. It carves a niche among cards with synergy between reach and damage-based growth potential.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Trophy Hunter MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Trophy Hunter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Trophy Hunter has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Trophy Hunter card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2005-10-01	The second ability checks whether a creature being put into a graveyard (a) currently has flying and (b) was dealt damage earlier this turn by Trophy Hunter. It doesn’t matter whether Trophy Hunter dealt the damage that caused the creature to be destroyed, whether the damage from Trophy Hunter was dealt in combat or via its activated ability, or who controlled the creature.