Stab Wound MTG Card
2012-10-05 - Number 78
2014-03-14 - Number 72
2014-07-18 - Number 116
2019-02-15 - Number 35
2019-11-07 - Number 780
2020-07-17 - Number 281
2023-09-08 - Number 36
2024-01-12 - Number 93
2020-09-26 - Number M15-116
2023-09-08 - Number 69
| Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets -2/-2. At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted creature's controller, that player loses 2 life.
Insights into Stab Wound and its Counterparts
In the realm of creature debuffs, Stab Wound stands out with its capacity to diminish an opponent’s creature and deal persistent damage. This MTG card functions similarly to other cards like Dead Weight for its ability to weaken a creature’s power and toughness. However, Stab Wound deals an additional sting by inflicting two life points loss to the creature’s controller at the upkeep, making it a dual-threat on the battlefield.
Comparatively, cards like Pacifism also neutralizes threats by preventing the enchanted creature from attacking or blocking, yet it lacks the bite of incremental life loss provided by Stab Wound. Then there’s Claustrophobia that taps a creature down indefinitely. While a strong control card, it doesn’t contribute to life total reduction over time and thus, doesn’t pressure the opponent’s life count as Stab Wound does.
Cards like Stab Wound
Exploring effects akin to Stab Wound, we encounter Painful Quandary, which exerts a punishing toll on opponents when they play spells, although without the creature debilitation aspect. There’s also the enchantment Curse of the Pierced Heart, delivering regular damage to opponents, yet unlike Stab Wound, it doesn’t provide the strategic advantage of weakening a creature on the board.
In summary, MTG players view Stab Wound as a valuable tool, combining creature control with the consistent erosion of an opponent’s life total. Its unique blend of debilitating a creature and life drain sets it apart in the wide spectrum of black enchantments. Thus, when considering cards for their utility in weakening creatures and pressuring opponent life totals, Stab Wound is a considerable option for MTG decks focusing on attrition strategies.
Cards similar to Stab Wound by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stab Wound may not directly allow you to draw additional cards, but it functions as a form of ongoing damage, effectively softening up your opponent’s creatures over time and potentially leading to card advantage when the creature becomes an inefficient asset.
Resource Acceleration: While Stab Wound itself doesn’t provide traditional mana acceleration, it pressures opponents into possibly using their resources for creature management. By forcing opponents to dedicate spells or abilities to save their weakened creature, you can indirectly influence the pace and resource distribution of the game.
Instant Speed: Though Stab Wound is an enchantment card that needs to be played at sorcery speed, the intrinsic advantage lies in its ability to be a surprise factor during your main phases. Once it’s attached to an opposing creature, it continuously depletes your opponent’s life total at the beginning of their upkeep, working around the clock to edge you closer to victory.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Carrying a burden to your hand, Stab Wound, although not requiring a discard outright, may prompt you to relinquish other critical cards to maintain it in rounds where mana is scarce. This subtle trade-off can lead to a decline in your hand advantage over time.
Specific Mana Cost: Stab Wound demands a precise blend of mana – one black and two of any other color. This requirement can be restrictive if your lands aren’t aligned or if your deck operates on a tight color curve, potentially preventing a timely play.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana, including one from the swamp’s dark depths, Stab Wound might not always align with the nimbleness some decks strive for. Other removal or debuff options could provide a more cost-effective solution, causing Stab Wound to occasionally lag in terms of efficiency.
Reasons to Include Stab Wound in Your Collection
Versatility: Stab Wound is an enchantment that holds value across various formats. It can swing games in your favor by not only weakening an opponent’s creature but also by dealing consistent damage over time. This makes it a solid choice in decks that capitalize on life attrition strategies.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies that benefit from creatures dying, as it can push a creature to a critical point where it’s easily removed by damage or sacrifice triggers. It works synergistically with such mechanics, enabling higher impact plays on the board.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where sturdy creatures are common, Stab Wound can serve as an efficient tool to neutralize potential threats and apply pressure. Its ability to inflict passive damage can be particularly effective against slower, life-gain decks, providing a consistent clock that an opponent must answer.
How to beat
Stab Wound is a well-regarded aura in the world of Magic: The Gathering, often tipping the scales of creature-based combat to its caster’s favor. This black enchantment can turn an opponent’s creature into both a liability and a ticking time bomb, dealing damage each turn and weakening the creature substantially. But like all strategies in MTG, there are ways to counteract it.
Key to overcoming Stab Wound is to eliminate the affected creature from the game or remove the enchantment. Effects that grant hexproof or indestructible can protect your creatures preemptively. Consider cards like Blossoming Defense that can both counter an incoming Stab Wound or any removal, maintaining board presence. For ongoing effects, enchantment removal spells such as Naturalize or Disenchant can clear Stab Wound directly, freeing your creature from its grasp. Alternatively, sacrificing the affected creature for a greater advantage or utilizing it with cards like Bone Splinters can turn a potential disadvantage into a resourceful play.
Understanding how to leverage your deck’s capabilities to mitigate the effects of Stab Wound is crucial in maintaining your life total and staying ahead of your opponent. Wise sideboarding and keeping versatile solutions on hand will ensure you’re ready to face this predatory enchantment head-on.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stab Wound MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska, 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 Stab Wound 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 Stab Wound Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 78 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Scott Chou | |
| 2 | 2014-03-14 | Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska | DDM | 72 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Scott Chou | |
| 3 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 116 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Chou | |
| 4 | 2019-02-15 | RNA Guild Kit | GK2 | 35 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Chou | |
| 5 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 780 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Chou | |
| 6 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 281 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Chou | |
| 7 | The List | PLST | M15-116 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Chou | ||
| 8 | Wilds of Eldraine Art Series | AWOE | 69 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Shafer Brown | ||
| 9 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales | WOT | 36 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Shafer Brown | |
| 10 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 93 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Chou |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stab Wound has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |