Stenn, Paranoid Partisan MTG Card


Stenn offers consistent card advantage through Clue tokens, enhancing your resource pool each turn. Mana acceleration via Clues enables casting more or costlier spells, altering the game’s pace. Instant speed abilities with Stenn allow tactical responses, keeping your MTG gameplay dynamic.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

As Stenn, Paranoid Partisan enters the battlefield, choose a card type other than creature or land. Spells you cast of the chosen type cost less to cast. : Exile Stenn. Return it to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.


Cards like Stenn, Paranoid Partisan

Stenn, Paranoid Partisan, introduces a unique twist in player strategies within Magic the Gathering. This commander bears resemblance to other cards that reward aggressive play, such as Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, which also disrupts opponent strategies by making noncreature spells cost more to cast. Stenn, however, specifically fosters a lively combat phase, allowing additional attacks much like Edric, Spymaster of Trest does by encouraging a multitude of attacks through card draw rewards.

Examining the broader landscape, we can see parallels with Tymna the Weaver. Tymna rewards players for attacking with multiple creatures, providing critical card advantage. Unlike Tymna, Stenn doesn’t draw cards but instead ensures your creatures with power less than the number of lands you control can’t be blocked, promoting unadulterated aggression. Despite this, both excel in low-to-the-ground creature-heavy strategies that aim to outpace and overwhelm opponents through sheer force and advantageous creature combat.

In sum, when analyzing cards that synergize with an assertive battle strategy, Stenn, Paranoid Partisan stands out amongst its peers, enabling relentless attacks while disrupting opponent’s tempo, a potent combination for players looking to command the battlefield in MTG.

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Tymna the Weaver - MTG Card versions
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Tymna the Weaver - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Stenn, Paranoid Partisan by color, type and mana cost

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Crystalline Sliver - MTG Card versions
Galina's Knight - MTG Card versions
Niambi, Esteemed Speaker - MTG Card versions
Azorius Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Meddling Mage - MTG Card versions
Deft Duelist - MTG Card versions
Sighted-Caste Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
New Prahv Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Deputy of Acquittals - MTG Card versions
Battlewise Hoplite - MTG Card versions
Dauntless River Marshal - MTG Card versions
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun - MTG Card versions
Lavinia, Azorius Renegade - MTG Card versions
Pride of the Clouds - MTG Card versions
Unsettled Mariner - MTG Card versions
Skycat Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Watcher of the Spheres - MTG Card versions
Dennick, Pious Apprentice // Dennick, Pious Apparition - MTG Card versions
Mistmeadow Witch - MTG Card versions
Kwain, Itinerant Meddler - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Stenn, Paranoid Partisan. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WUBRGWUBRG ModernModern League 2024-02-14
Jeskai MidrangeJeskai Midrange GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stenn, Paranoid Partisan can provide an essential edge in card draw. Its ability to create Clue tokens whenever it attacks or blocks enables players to steadily accumulate resources, translating into a consistent stream of cards over multiple turns. This mechanic ensures that you stay ahead in the game by having more options at your disposal.

Resource Acceleration: Playing Stenn not only impacts your board presence but can also ramp up your resources. The Clue tokens generated can be converted into additional mana, giving you the means to cast more significant spells sooner than usual or multiple spells in a single turn. This can be a game-changer in tight matches where every mana point counts.

Instant Speed: With abilities that synergize at instant speed, Stenn, Paranoid Partisan provides the flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing game states. This enables smart play sequencing, allowing you to optimize your turns and react to your opponent’s moves more efficiently. The threat of instant speed interaction keeps opponents guessing and can result in advantageous board positions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Stenn, Paranoid Partisan challenges your hand resources as it requires players to discard a card. This can be a strategic setback, especially when your hand is already running low on cards, potentially leading to tough decisions on what to sacrifice for playing this card.

Specific Mana Cost: A dedicated mana requirement restricts Stenn to decks that can consistently produce the necessary colors. If your deck isn’t optimized for this color scheme, you might find it difficult to summon Stenn when you need him the most.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While offering unique abilities, Stenn’s casting cost can be a point of contention. In a game where tempo can determine the winner, there are other cards in the same mana range that may provide immediate board presence or impact without the additional discard cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Stenn, Paranoid Partisan offers flexibility to deck builders, slotting seamlessly into human and party synergistic decks. Its ability to impact the board immediately, by boosting the stats of other creatures, makes it a valued addition to aggressive and politically nuanced strategies.

Combo Potential: With its unique ability to untap another target creature or artifact, Stenn excels in facilitating combos. It can unleash potential infinite loops with cards that generate more than one mana, or repeatedly untap key pieces for continuous effects.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames shift towards creature-based strategies, Stenn gains traction as a crucial piece. This card thrives against opponents who rely on establishing a dominant board presence, allowing you to manage and outpace them through Stenn’s swift utility.


How to beat

Stenn, Paranoid Partisan is a challenging card to face in the MTG landscape. This commander’s prowess lies in its ability to hinder your spells unless you pay an additional two life for each one you cast. However, strategies exist to surpass this obstacle.

To counter this maverick, efficient artifact removal such as Abrade or Naturalize are key, stripping Stenn of their protective artifacts or enchantments. Furthermore, cards that neutralize abilities, like Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can suppress Stenn’s passive without triggering it. Creature removal spells that cost less, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can remove Stenn before his effect becomes a major threat, especially when casted during your opponent’s turn. Finally, focusing on creature combat and passive abilities that don’t involve casting spells can bypass Stenn’s taxing effect entirely, allowing you to maintain the tempo without paying the extra life costs.

Navigating around these reactive tactics will help you gain the upper hand against Stenn, Paranoid Partisan, ensuring this vigilant yet suspicious MTG character doesn’t disrupt the rhythm of your deck’s strategy.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stenn, Paranoid Partisan MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United and Dominaria United, 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 Stenn, Paranoid Partisan and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Stenn, Paranoid Partisan Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 2212015NormalBlackMila Pesic
22022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 3612015NormalBlackTyler Crook
32022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 3202015NormalBlackTyler Crook
42022-09-09Dominaria United PromosPDMU 221p2015NormalBlackMila Pesic
52022-09-09Dominaria United PromosPDMU 221s2015NormalBlackMila Pesic

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stenn, Paranoid Partisan has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-09-09 If Stenn’s controller activates its last ability during a player’s end step, the delayed triggered ability that returns it to the battlefield won’t trigger until the next time an end step begins, usually during the next player’s turn.
2022-09-09 The cost reduction applies only to generic mana in the cost of spells you cast of the chosen card type.
2022-09-09 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you’re paying (such as a flashback cost), add any cost increases (such as kicker costs), then apply any cost reductions (such as that of Stenn’s second ability). The mana value of the spell is determined by only its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast that spell was.