Suq'Ata Lancer MTG Card

Suq’Ata Lancer’s haste grants immediate board presence, threatening opponents or defending as needed. Mana restrictions may limit deck inclusion, demanding meticulous mana-base planning for players. Offers tactical edge with flanking, outmaneuvering certain blockers and enhancing combat strategies.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Abilities Flanking,Haste
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Flanking (Whenever a creature without flanking is assigned to block this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.) Suq'Ata Lancer is unaffected by summoning sickness.

"Never stop 'til you see your lance come out the other side." —Telim'Tor

Cards like Suq'Ata Lancer

Suq’Ata Lancer is a notable creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, bringing a blend of agility and potential for immediate impact on the battlefield. A direct comparison can be drawn with other haste-oriented creatures such as Skyknight Legionnaire. While both share the haste attribute, allowing them to attack without the usual summoning sickness delay, Skyknight Legionnaire also adds flying to its arsenal, providing a tactical advantage in evading ground-based blockers.

Another relative in this lineage of swift attackers is the Goblin Guide, a creature that is renowned for its shape in the aggressive red decks archetype. Goblin Guide, although less mana-intensive than Suq’Ata Lancer, comes with a trade-off, revealing the top card of your opponent’s library and potentially granting them land if it’s one. Suq’Ata Lancer offers no such advantage to the opponent, but it compensates with flanking—a beneficial mechanic against creatures without that keyword.

In summary, Suq’Ata Lancer offers a unique combination of haste and flanking, balancing immediate action with a strategic edge over potential blockers. It finds a distinct position among haste-enabled creatures, standing out as an efficient choice for tempo-focused red strategies in the game.

Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Suq’Ata Lancer has the potential to create card advantage by clearing blockers or pressuring opponents, essentially turning itself into a recurring threat that must be answered by the opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly a resource accelerator, the haste feature allows Suq’Ata Lancer to immediately impact the board, potentially leading to faster victories and indirectly conserving resources that would be spent on creature summoning.

Instant Speed: While Suq’Ata Lancer isn’t an instant itself, its haste capability means it can be played as a surprise attacker, much like an instant would allow, immediately threatening your opponent’s life total or planeswalkers.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Suq’Ata Lancer does not have a discard requirement, it’s important for players to consider this aspect when evaluating any card’s synergy within their deck.

Specific Mana Cost: Suq’Ata Lancer demands a specific mana alignment, requiring both red and another color. This can restrict deck-building options, limiting its play to primarily red-based decks and those that can accommodate its mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a conversion mana cost that might be seen as steep for its effects, Suq’Ata Lancer faces competition from other cards that may offer more impact or versatility at a lower cost. Players often weigh the cost against the haste and flanking abilities of the Lancer to determine if it’s a fit for their strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Suq’Ata Lancer has the useful trait of haste, allowing it to have an immediate impact on the game. This makes it a flexible addition to any deck looking to push damage rapidly or needing a reliable blocker due to its haste ability.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its flanking ability, Suq’Ata Lancer can dismantle opponent’s creatures blocking it by weakening them. This can synergize well with effects that benefit from creatures dying or dealing combat damage.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with many 1-toughness creatures, Suq’Ata Lancer thrives. Its ability to potentially take down bigger blockers or survive combat against smaller creatures can give players a tactical advantage on the battlefield.

How to beat

Suq’Ata Lancer from Magic: The Gathering enlists as a nimble threat, boasting haste to strike quickly. Where it shines is in its capability to always be considered as attacking; a subtlety that can impact the flow of a game significantly. Ensnaring this swift creature requires strategic planning and a good understanding of your deck’s mechanics.

To subdue a Suq’Ata Lancer, instant-speed removal spells are a formidable ally. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Lightning Bolt can efficiently remove the Lancer before it deals damage. Playing defensively also plays a key role; having creatures with reach or those that can block multiple attackers ensures that the Lancer’s assaults won’t go unchecked. Moreover, considering the Lancer’s reliance on speed, slowing the game with control elements like counterspells or enchantments that restrict attacking can diminish its effectiveness significantly. Board wipes remain a solid equalizer too, erasing the Lancer’s advantage regardless of its haste.

By analyzing these potential countermoves, players can equip their MTG decks with the right arsenal to thwart the swift Suq’Ata Lancer, harnessing control over the battlefield and mitigating the early pressure it introduces.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Suq'Ata Lancer MTG card by a specific set like Visions and World Championship Decks 1997, 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 Suq'Ata Lancer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Suq'Ata Lancer Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-02-03 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by Jeff Miracola.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-02-03VisionsVIS 961997NormalBlackJeff Miracola
21997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 pm961997NormalGoldJeff Miracola
32006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 691997NormalBlackJeff Miracola
42023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1452015NormalBlackJeff Miracola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Suq'Ata Lancer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal