Stern Constable MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Released | 2016-04-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadows over Innistrad |
| Set code | SOI |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 39 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Svetlin Velinov |
Key Takeaways
- Enables using redundant cards to tap creatures, indirectly aiding board control.
- Instant speed activation offers flexibility and disrupts opponents’ strategies.
- Demands card discard, which may backfire in resource-tight situations.
Text of card
, Discard a card: Tap target creature.
"I'm sure you have a story. Everyone has a story. You can tell it to the bars."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Stern Constable does not directly allow for drawing cards, it enables card utilization that contributes to board control. The ability to discard a card translates to transforming any dead draws into a resource to tap an opposing creature, which may indirectly steer the game towards your advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although this card does not provide traditional mana acceleration, it’s a low-cost creature that can be played early in the game. By turning excess cards in your hand into a means of controlling the opponent’s creatures, Stern Constable helps maintain the pace and can effectively accelerate your board presence without requiring additional mana.
Instant Speed: Stern Constable’s ability to tap an opponent’s creature can be activated at instant speed, giving flexibility in response to your opponent’s actions. This level of responsiveness can be critically advantageous during your opponent’s combat phase or to preemptively disable creatures with tap abilities before they can be used.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One notable downside of Stern Constable is its ability’s requirement for you to discard a card. This can deplete your hand quickly, making it less ideal when you’re already behind and running out of resources. Therefore, playing Stern Constable can sometimes be a double-edged sword, especially in the late game where every card in hand counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Stern Constable demands a single white mana to play, which can restrict its inclusion exclusively to white-centered or white-inclusive decks. For players who favor multicolored or non-white strategies, this card might not fit well with their mana base, reducing its versatility across different builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although one white mana may seem affordable, when evaluating the cost against its tap ability, Stern Constable can appear underwhelming. There are cards with similar or even better effects without the requirement of discarding, offering more utility for the same, or sometimes even lower, mana investment. As such, Stern Constable might not always provide the best value for deck slots when considering the investment needed to make use of its ability.
Reasons to Include Stern Constable in Your Collection
Versatility: Stern Constable offers adaptability to be slotted into decks that need a repeatable means of tapping creatures, which can be crucial for maintaining board control or synergizing with mechanics that are triggered by tapping actions.
Combo Potential: This card has the potential to fit seamlessly into strategies that fuel graveyard mechanics, as it enables you to discard cards, setting up for powerful plays with cards that thrive on graveyard interactions.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where maintaining tempo is key, Stern Constable can play a pivotal role thanks to its low cost and ability to disrupt opponents by removing their attackers or blockers from combat.
How to beat
Stern Constable presents a tactical component in Magic: The Gathering matches as a modestly statted creature capable of tapping opposing threats. With just one white mana for a 1/1, players often underestimate its disruptive power on the battlefield. Understanding how to navigate against such a utility can be the difference between victory and defeat.
To counteract Stern Constable’s ability, consider employing removal spells to swiftly dispatch the creature before it can lock down your more significant threats. Strategies that focus on card advantage can also diminish its effectiveness. Cards that enable you to replenish your hand efficiently will ensure that the resource commitment of discarding to Stern Constable’s ability does not lead to card disadvantage. Moreover, creatures with vigilance or those that can naturally untap each turn can bypass the Constable’s ability, rendering it less impactful.
Identifying the right moment to eliminate or override Stern Constable is crucial. The key is to not let its presence dictate the tempo of your play. By keeping these strategies in mind, you can minimize the influence Stern Constable has on the game and maintain the upper hand.
Cards like Stern Constable
Stern Constable offers players a unique utility piece in Magic: The Gathering, acting as a one-mana creature capable of tapping other creatures. When paralleled with other cards, its closest analog might be the Gideon’s Lawkeeper, sporting a similar ability to tap opponents’ creatures. However, the Constable demands a card to be discarded in exchange for the activation, making it a potential tool for synergizing with graveyard strategies.
Delver of Secrets is another card with a similar low casting cost, though it transforms into a more powerful creature, shaping gameplay differently than Stern Constable which is focused on control. Mother of Runes, a slightly more mana-intensive card, gives controlled creature protection, standing out as a utility creature but not offering the same level of disruption as the Constable. Lastly, Law-Rune Enforcer from the recent sets garners attention for its ability to tap down more substantial creatures, albeit without the need to discard, giving it a more sustained presence.
Stern Constable thus finds a place among a roster of one-mana creatures in Magic: The Gathering, setting itself apart with its discard synergy and tapping potential, key for decks that leverage graveyard interactions and creature control tactics.
Cards similar to Stern Constable by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stern Constable MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Stern Constable and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Stern Constable has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |