Royal Assassin MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 30 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Human Assassin |
Power | 1 |
Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Tap to destroy any tapped creature.
Trained in the arts of stealth, the royal assassins choose their victims carefully, relying on timing and precision rather than brute force.
Cards like Royal Assassin
Undeniably, Royal Assassin in Magic: The Gathering has left its mark in the realm of creature destruction. It stands in comparison to other cards like Avatar of Woe. The latter shares the common ability of destroying target creatures, however, the Royal Assassin can do so for only three mana compared to the Avatar of Woe’s eight mana – even though it can potentially cost less under specific circumstances.
Another card worthy of comparison is Visara the Dreadful. Also capable of destroying opponent’s creatures unconditionally, it possesses a high power and toughness. Nonetheless, it needs an investment of six mana, double the cost of deploying the Royal Assassin. Furthermore, Visara does not have the defensive ability the assassin has- destruction of any attacking or blocking creature, making it an efficient deterrent for enemy offenses.
Summing up, Royal Assassin is a solid addition to any MTG deck that focuses on control or destruction, given its lower cost and strategic advantage over similar cards. Its unique capacity as a deterrent and destroyer makes it an asset in most game scenarios.
Cards similar to Royal Assassin by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Royal Assassin gives you a real edge by taking out an opponent’s tapped creature. The threat it poses forces opponents to think twice before attacking or tapping out their creatures, indirectly limiting their combat options and potentially starving them of valuable resources every turn.
Resource Acceleration: Royal Assassin may not offer direct mana acceleration, but it having this creature on your side can accelerate your game by taking out key creatures from the playing field, potentially upsetting your opponents’ plans and thus, clearing a path for your victorious onslaught.
Instant Speed: The Royal Assassin’s ability can be activated at instant speed, making it a flexible utility card. This feature allows you to eliminate threats during your opponent’s turn, or in response to them activating abilities of their tapped creatures, disrupting their strategy in a swift, surprising blow.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One major downside of Royal Assassin is that it requires a strategic approach to gameplay, potentially causing you to discard a crucial card. If you are low on cards, this can put you at a severe disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: The Royal Assassin card has a specific mana requirement, needing one black mana and two of any kind, which could restrict its applicability. If your deck does not frequently pull black mana or lacks versatility, you might end up rarely using this card.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Royal Assassin card has a comparatively high mana cost, requiring three in total. While this may seem beneficial due to its potential to destroy any tapped creature, there are others in the MTG universe that can accomplish this feat or offer more beneficial outcomes for the same or less mana.
Reasons to Include Royal Assassin in Your Collection
Versatility: The Royal Assassin card brings a unique flair to various types of decks. Predominantly, these are arrangements that take advantage of its instant creature killing ability which is advantageous in combat situations.
Combo Potential: This MTG card combines efficiently with cards that tap opponents’ creatures, enhancing its assassination ability. Royal Assassin can turn strategic moves into game-changing victories when paired right.
Meta-Relevance: In the current meta-game landscape where creature-based strategies are dominant, the value of Royal Assassin cannot be overstated. This card provides profound board control, disrupting opposing setups time and time again.
How to Beat
Royal Assassin is a compelling utility creature hailing from the early sets of Magic: The Gathering, revered for its ability to destroy tapped creatures. Think of it as an effective deterrent for aggressors as attacking leaves creatures tapped and susceptible to this assassins’ skill.
However, Royal Assassin is no invincible threat. Your primary defense lies in removal cards. Spells such as Murder, Doom Blade, and Terminate can efficiently dispose of the pesky assassin before it causes havoc. Remember, the assassin is a creature, making it vulnerable to many common removal spells across different formats.
On another note, employing creatures with vigilance can also be useful. Vigilant creatures do not tap to attack, thereby eluding the assassins’ reach. Lastly, consider cards with untap abilities. Cards like Twiddle or effects that grant instant untap can neutralize the assassin’s prowess by keeping your creatures untapped.
To sum up, Royal Assassin, while a formidable adversary, can be effectively countered. Leveraging removal spells, vigilant creatures, and untap cards empowers you with the strategy to tackle this classic MTG card effectively.
BurnMana Recommendations
Exploring MTG strategies with a card like Royal Assassin can significantly impact your playstyle and overall deck efficacy. The ability to remove key creatures at instant speed can be a game changer, discouraging opponents from aggressive plays and maintaining board control. When building a deck with the Royal Assassin, it’s essential to consider how it fits with your overall strategy and synergizes with other cards. Remember that while it’s a powerful tool, it’s also susceptible to removal, and a savvy opponent will be prepared for it. For further insights into maximizing the impact of Royal Assassin in your MTG endeavors, enhancing your deck-building skills, and countering opposing threats, we invite you to join our community and delve deeper into the world of Magic the Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Royal Assassin MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Royal Assassin and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Royal Assassin Magic the Gathering card was released in 23 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2024-07-05. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
Show/hide all sets# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 123 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 124 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 124 | 1993 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 124 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 124 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 125 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 125 | 1993 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 125 | 1993 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 157 | 1993 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 157 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
11 | 1999-12-01 | Junior Super Series | PSUS | 11 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
12 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35160 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | ||
13 | 2003-01-01 | Japan Junior Tournament | PJJT | 2N05 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
14 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 159★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
15 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 159 | 2003 | Normal | White | Mark Zug | |
16 | 2005-01-01 | Junior Series Europe | PJSE | 2E05 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
17 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 159 | 2003 | Normal | White | Mark Zug | |
18 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 159★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
19 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 174 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
20 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 110 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
21 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 116 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
22 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 105 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
23 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 417 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
24 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
25 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 101 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
26 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 310 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
27 | 2024-07-05 | Assassin's Creed | ACR | 306 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wei Guan | |
28 | 2024-07-05 | Assassin's Creed | ACR | 93 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vilhelmas Banys | |
29 | 2024-07-05 | Assassin's Creed | ACR | 213 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vilhelmas Banys | |
30 | 2024-07-05 | Assassin's Creed | ACR | 164 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vilhelmas Banys |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Royal Assassin has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Oldschool | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Royal Assassin card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2004-10-04 | Can't target itself because you choose the target before you tap him. At that time he is not yet a legal target. |
2004-10-04 | If the creature is no longer tapped when the Assassin's ability resolves, then the ability doesn't resolve. |