Slaughter Specialist MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Vampire Warrior |
Power | 3 |
Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When Slaughter Specialist enters the battlefield, each opponent creates a 1/1 white Human creature token. Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Slaughter Specialist.
Cards like Slaughter Specialist
Slaughter Specialist has carved its niche in the pantheon of creature cards in Magic the Gathering. It can be paralleled with Vampire Nighthawk, another creature that provides significant value. Both have deathtouch, yet Slaughter Specialist’s unique strength lies in its growing potential, gaining +1/+1 counters as opponents’ creatures perish. Unlike the flying and lifelink abilities of Vampire Nighthawk, Slaughter Specialist is purely offensive, designed to intensify threats on the battlefield.
Considering other creature cards, Wight of Precinct Six is a creature that also thrives on the death of others, growing in power with each creature card in your opponents’ graveyards. It shares the incremental growth trait with the Slaughter Specialist but lacks the immediacy of the Specialist’s power boost, which occurs the moment an opponent’s creature dies. No waiting is needed to capitalize on a power increase.
Ultimately, Slaughter Specialist holds its own among MTG creatures that benefit from opposing losses, offering a proactive force that demands an answer. Balancing offense and counters is key, making the Slaughter Specialist a formidable presence the moment it hits the board.
Cards similar to Slaughter Specialist by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Slaughter Specialist. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rakdos Aggro | Standard | Rakdos Aggro | Jaffer's Mini Mosh - Standard | |
Dimir Midrange | Pioneer | Dimir Midrange | Pioneer League 2023-12-17 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Slaughter Specialist offers potential card advantage by growing stronger with each opponent’s creature that dies. This can pressure your opponent into not playing weaker creatures to avoid bolstering your board presence.
Resource Acceleration: While not providing direct resource acceleration, the growing threat of Slaughter Specialist can lead to a more efficient use of your removal spells. You can target high-value threats while Slaughter Specialist discourages opponents from deploying further creatures, effectively slowing them down.
Instant Speed: Though Slaughter Specialist itself is not an instant, it benefits from instant speed interaction at your disposal. You can remove an opponent’s creature during their turn to buff the Specialist, turning it into a formidable force by the time your turn comes back around.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In Magic the Gathering, managing resources is crucial, and the Slaughter Specialist carries the potential disbenefit of bolstering your opponent’s creature pool each time an opponent’s creature dies. This can result in a disadvantageous exchange if you’re not equipped with strategies to utilize or mitigate the additional creatures under your opponent’s control.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black mana in its casting cost, Slaughter Specialist’s utility is inherently limited to black-centered or compatible multicolor decks. This requirement can restrict deck-building options and may not fit seamlessly into a strategy not heavily utilizing black mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Slaughter Specialist offers an enticing 3/3 body that can grow over time, its initial investment of two mana might compete with other slots in your curve. In competitive play, where efficiency is prized, this may tip the balance unfavorably compared to other two-drop creatures that offer immediate value or possess lower mana costs with comparable impact.
Reasons to Include Slaughter Specialist in Your Collection
Versatility: Slaughter Specialist has a home in many deck archetypes due to its aggressive stats and the ability to grow larger each time an opponent’s creature dies. This black creature card thrives in decks that manipulate the board state to their advantage.
Combo Potential: When included in sacrifice-focused decks or those utilizing death-triggered abilities, Slaughter Specialist becomes a significant threat. Its synergy with cards that benefit from creature deaths can create powerful combos and escalate your board presence rapidly.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment rich with creature-based decks, Slaughter Specialist shines by not only being a formidable creature itself but also by offering a persistent threat that must be answered. Its relevance grows as it punishes opponents for every creature they lose, making it a solid choice in the current gameplay dynamics.
How to beat
Slaughter Specialist is a challenging creature that can quickly become a formidable threat in Magic: The Gathering. This daunting vampire grows stronger with every creature that dies, offering a unique challenge on the battlefield. Understanding the mechanics of Slaughter Specialist is critical, as it can snowball out of control if left unchecked. It’s essential to minimize the number of creatures that die, thereby stifling the card’s ability to power up.
To best navigate around this powerful foe, consider strategies that bypass the creature’s strength. Utilize spells that exile it from the battlefield or that change its base power and toughness. Board control is another effective approach, where you can use sweepers that don’t destroy creatures or manipulate combat to your advantage, avoiding needless deaths of your creatures. Spot removal, particularly instant spells allowing you to act on your opponent’s turn, can catch the opponent off-guard, neutralizing the threat before it grows too strong. Similarly, counterspells can prevent the Specialist from ever entering the battlefield.
Ultimately, facing Slaughter Specialist requires strategic plays and keeping a cool head. By employing thoughtful removal or control strategies, you can mitigate the risks this card presents and maintain dominance in your MTG matches.
BurnMana Recommendations
Dive deeper into your MTG card knowledge and strategy with our exploration of Slaughter Specialist. This unique vampire creature offers a dynamic playstyle that rewards careful board management. Enhance your black-centered or multicolor decks with its potential to become an ever-growing threat. Whether it’s through finding perfect deck synergies or understanding how to effectively counter it in battle, we’ve got insights that could turn the tides of your games. Ready to sharpen your skills and expand your MTG prowess? Join our community and uncover the full potential of Slaughter Specialist in your collection.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Slaughter Specialist MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, 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 Slaughter Specialist 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
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Printings
The Slaughter Specialist Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Kari Christensen.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 93972 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen | ||
2 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 349 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen | |
3 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 122 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen | |
4 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos | PMID | 122p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen | |
5 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos | PMID | 122s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen | |
6 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 122 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kari Christensen |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Slaughter Specialist has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Standard | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Future | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Brawl | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |