Stalker Hag MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Creature — Hag |
Abilities | Forestwalk,Swampwalk |
Released | 2008-07-25 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Eventide |
Set code | EVE |
Power | 3 |
Toughness | 2 |
Number | 129 |
Frame | 2003 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Dave Kendall |
Text of card
Swampwalk, forestwalk
Her hunt is silent until a bone snaps or flesh tears. Her victims never know to scream.
Cards like Stalker Hag
Stalker Hag is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering with its own distinct place among multicolored creatures. Its closest relatives in function and form might be compared to cards like Hypnotic Specter and Ohran Viper. Hypnotic Specter, for instance, demands an immediate answer from the opponent, as it discards cards upon dealing damage. However, Stalker Hag stands out with its swampwalk and forestwalk abilities, allowing unblockable passage through commonly used basic land types.
Moving forward, Ohran Viper features a similar ‘damage to draw’ concept, accentuating the potency of combat damage by allowing its controller to draw cards. But where it deals with card advantage, Stalker Hag excels in maneuvering around enemy lines. It’s the combination of evasion and threat that sets Stalker Hag apart from its peers. The Hag may not impact the hand or draw you cards directly, but against certain decks, it can be an unstoppable force.
Evaluating these subtle nuances helps to appreciate Stalker Hag’s role. Neutralizing specific land-oriented strategies gives it a tactical edge, affirming its niche in MTG’s diverse ecosystem of creature cards.
Cards similar to Stalker Hag by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stalker Hag shines in its unique mechanic that can potentially deter opponents from blocking, threatening to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand when it deals combat damage. This creates a continuous potential for card advantage, putting pressure on your opponent’s decision-making.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly acting as a resource accelerator, Stalker Hag’s ability to recurring creature cards can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. Being able to reuse creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects, or those that generate tokens, can provide an advantage that compounds as the game progresses.
Instant Speed: Even though Stalker Hag itself isn’t an instant, the fear instilled by its combat damage effect can have a similar impact as playing at instant speed. By forcing your opponent to consider the consequences of not blocking, you may dictate their plays, holding them back from using resources or spells until it’s too late, much like the tactical use of instants can.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Stalker Hag’s ability to swap your graveyard’s creature cards with those of your opponent requires you to discard a card. This trade-off, while situationally beneficial, can backfire if you’re low on hand resources or need to maintain specific cards for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Stalker Hag demands one black and one green mana to cast. This specific requirement makes it less flexible for decks that operate outside the Golgari color combination, potentially limiting its playability across various deck architectures.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a relatively modest 3/2 creature, Stalker Hag can be overshadowed by other cards that may offer more significant board presence or immediate impact for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Stalker Hag in Your Collection
Versatility: Stalker Hag offers a flexible role within several deck archetypes, thanks to its ability to switch between being an evasive threat and a robust blocker. Its qualities make it a useful card in formats where changeable tactics are key.
Combo Potential: This creature card has intrinsic synergy with graveyard mechanics and can complement strategies focusing on discard or retrieval from the graveyard. Its dual nature expands potential interactions and combo setups in a variety of decks.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment shifts, a card like Stalker Hag, which can adapt to different in-game situations, remains relevant, especially in metas where versatility and adaptability are rewarded. It can hold its own against a range of opposing strategies, making it a smart addition to your collection for an ever-evolving game landscape.
How to beat
Stalker Hag presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, standing out as a deceptively potent threat in MTG. As a card with innate versatility, it shifts between the permeable veil of the unblockable and the robust offense of deathtouch. Confronting this shapeshifting menace requires a strategic approach. Control the board with spells that expel creatures, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, to assert dominance and eliminate the Hag before it morphs into an insurmountable obstacle.
Utilizing graveyard manipulation also stifles Stalker Hag’s strength, as disruptive cards like Bojuka Bog hinder its capacity to change forms. Additionally, creature abilities that remove the Hag upon being blocked, such as first strike or creatures with high toughness, can mitigate its deathtouch capability. Clever deployment of these tactics can ensure Stalker Hag’s eerie presence is nothing more than a fleeting shadow on your path to victory.
Through careful plays and countermeasures, the Stalker Hag can be transformed from a daunting adversary to a manageable element of the game. Mastery over such intricate details propels skilled players to the forefront, turning potential defeats into triumphant wins against the odds.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stalker Hag MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Stalker Hag 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stalker Hag has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |