Stromkirk Noble MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Vampire Noble |
| Released | 2011-09-30 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Innistrad |
| Set code | ISD |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 164 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | James Ryman |
Text of card
Stromkirk Noble can't be blocked by Humans. Whenever Stromkirk Noble deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
"A responsible king walks among his subjects."
Cards like Stromkirk Noble
Stromkirk Noble stands out as a robust creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering due to its unique ability to grow stronger with each successful attack on a player. This vampire card bears similarities to other creatures like Rakish Heir, which also empowers your army of vampires whenever they deal damage to opponents. Unlike Rakish Heir, Stromkirk Noble has the innate ability to be unblockable by humans, adding a layer of evasion that augments its offensive capabilities.
Looking at Bloodcrazed Neonate, a fellow vampire, we notice that while it also benefits from dealing combat damage to a player by getting a +1/+1 counter, it lacks the inherent protection against human blockers that Stromkirk Noble offers. Alternatively, Vampire Lacerator is another aggressor in this comparison. While it costs less mana and has the potential for early damage, it doesn’t share the cumulative power-up mechanism that makes Stromkirk Noble a persistent threat throughout the game.
Factoring in these aspects and evaluating the strategic advantages, Stromkirk Noble arguably maintains a coveted position among vampire creatures in Magic: The Gathering, coupling relentless aggression with evasive traits that can swiftly tip the scales in your favor.
Cards similar to Stromkirk Noble by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stromkirk Noble’s ability to grow bigger whenever it deals combat damage to a player translates into a snowballing threat, effectively leveraging the existing board state. As it becomes increasingly difficult to block without specific creature types, it can lead to an ongoing advantage in board presence and pressure.
Resource Acceleration: While Stromkirk Noble does not directly accelerate resources in the traditional mana-ramp sense, its constantly increasing power makes it a force that requires an answer. This can pull removal spells away from your other important creatures or strategies, indirectly saving or accelerating your resources on the board.
Instant Speed: Although Stromkirk Noble itself is not an instant, it forces instant-speed responses from opponents. Opponents will often need to deal with it on their turn, using instant-speed removal before it gets out of hand, which can disrupt their plans and give you a timing advantage.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Stromkirk Noble requires red mana for casting, which could potentially limit its integration outside mono-red or certain multicolor decks aligned with red’s aggressive strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exorbitant, Stromkirk Noble’s mana cost may be considered somewhat steep for its initial impact on the game compared to other one-drop creatures that could offer immediate effects or have more utility.
Discard Requirement: Although Stromkirk Noble does not have a discard requirement itself, it does synergize with decks that benefit from discarded cards. The lack of such synergy in a player’s deck could undermine the card’s potential effectiveness.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Stromkirk Noble slips smoothly into Red deck strategies, primarily those built on aggression. Its ability to become unblockable against humans and grow with each successful hit makes it adaptive to various game scenarios.
Combo Potential: With each encounter leading to a +1/+1 counter, it has significant synergy with cards enhancing counters or rewarding creatures for strength, making it a potent cog in many combo machines.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where small, quick creatures can dominate the early game, Stromkirk Noble’s relevance rises. It’s sturdy in the face of common one-drop humans and outpaces many early-game defenders.
How to beat
Stromkirk Noble stands out in MTG as a solid red creature card with the potential to become an unstoppable force. Known for its unique ability to evade blockers of the human type, it dodges common early-game defenses. In addition, each time Stromkirk Noble deals combat damage to a player, it gains a +1/+1 counter, increasing its threat level with every successful attack.
To effectively counter Stromkirk Noble, players should consider removal spells that can target it despite its protection. Instant-speed spells that don’t specify targeting humans, such as Shock or Lightning Bolt, work well. Another strategy is to employ creatures with reach or flying, as Stromkirk Noble’s ability doesn’t protect against these types. Additionally, board wipes such as Day of Judgment can reset the playing field, removing the Noble regardless of its accumulated counters.
Ultimately, while Stromkirk Noble can be a challenging card to face, understanding its weaknesses and having the right counters in your deck provides a pathway to beat it. Maintaining board control and reacting swiftly to its presence can neutralize its growing menace, keeping your opponent’s battlefield manageable.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stromkirk Noble MTG card by a specific set like 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 Stromkirk Noble 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stromkirk Noble has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |