Taunting Sliver MTG Card

Taunting Sliver - Commander Masters (CMM)

Commander Masters (CMM)
2023-08-04 - Number 727

Commander Masters (CMM)
2023-08-04 - Number 759

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Sliver
Abilities	Goad
Power	3
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

Taunting Sliver’s forced combat can advantage Sliver players, leading to card gains and opponent resource strain.
The card’s mana cost can limit deck diversity and may misalign with its game impact timing.
Its abilities shape combat, increasing the potential for advantageous Sliver combos and battlefield control.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Taunting Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Commander Masters and Commander Masters, 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 Taunting Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Sliver creatures you control have "When this creature enters the battlefield, goad target creature an opponent controls." (Until your next turn, that creature attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.)

"The way it shakes its hood is astonishingly irritating." —Neena, outland scout

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Taunting Sliver’s presence on the battlefield amplifies the potential for card advantage in Sliver decks. As opponents are forced to engage in combat with the sliver-enabled creatures you control, your position strengthens, often leading to beneficial board states or indirectly generating card advantage through attrition.

Resource Acceleration: While Taunting Sliver itself doesn’t directly influence mana resources, it indirectly accelerates your resources by dictating combat dynamics. With opponents focused on the mandatory combat, your slivers can connect more easily, sometimes triggering effects that lead to resource gain, whether that’s mana, life, or card draws.

Instant Speed: Although Taunting Sliver doesn’t function at instant speed, its static ability has an overarching impact on the pace of the game. By continually forcing the action to be centered on combat, it pressures opponents to spend mana pre-emptively on their turn, thereby allowing you to make more informed decisions regarding resource allocation when it’s most beneficial for you.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Taunting Sliver mandates that all Slivers must attack each turn if able. While this ensures aggressive tactics, it could be a drawback during strategic defensive plays, forcing unfavorable confrontations and potentially jeopardizing valuable Slivers on the board.

Specific Mana Cost: Taunting Sliver comes with a mana cost that includes two red mana. This particular requirement may restrict the card’s integration to multicolored Sliver decks or demand a mana base heavily skewed towards red, thus limiting deck-building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value of four, Taunting Sliver’s impact on the game may not align with its cost, especially considering the pool of Slivers with lower mana values that offer equally compelling advantages during the game. This could potentially delay your game plan or detract from more immediate plays.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Taunting Sliver can fit seamlessly into any Sliver deck, offering a powerful and consistent way to control combat scenarios. Its ability to force opponents into unfavorable blocks can turn the tide of the game.

Combo Potential: When paired with slivers that have abilities such as first strike or deathtouch, Taunting Sliver becomes part of a dangerous combo that can decimate opponent’s creatures while preserving your own.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-based strategies are common in various formats, having Taunting Sliver in your collection ensures you have a tool to disrupt your opponent’s game plan and dominate the battlefield.

How to beat Taunting Sliver

Taunting Sliver is known for forcing unfavorable blocks in Magic: The Gathering, but its power isn’t absolute. One of the most straightforward methods to outmaneuver this card is to maintain a strategic creature count on the board. If you control a significant number of creatures, the Taunting Sliver’s ability to dictate blocks can be managed without devastating losses. Instant-speed removals, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, can be used to eliminate the Taunting Sliver before it exerts too much influence in combat.

Alternatively, effects that prevent your creatures from blocking this turn — essentially bypassing the Taunting Sliver’s effect — can be a smart defensive tactic to consider. Sweepers like Wrath of God can reset the board, erasing the disadvantage caused by the Sliver’s ability and offering a fresh start. It’s also beneficial to have a good understanding of how Slivers operate as a tribe, often heavily relying on synergy. Disrupting their synergies, either through targeted removal or “graveyard hate” cards that handle Sliver recursion strategies, can significantly weaken their board presence.

Ultimately, while Taunting Sliver presents challenges, an informed and well-prepared player can navigate its impact. Key is to know your deck, keep control of the board, and have a response ready for when the Slivers attempt to take command of combat.

Cards like Taunting Sliver

Taunting Sliver serves as a provoking force in the realm of creature control in Magic: The Gathering. This particular Sliver’s function parallels that of cards like Provocative Sliver or Basal Sliver, which both influence the course of combat in unique ways. With Taunting Sliver, the ability to dictate how opponents block during combat provides players with considerable strategic control, similar to how Provocative Sliver also forces creatures to attack if able, shaping the battlefield to the player’s advantage.

Analogous to Taunting Sliver in altering combat dynamics is Belligerent Sliver, which gives Slivers the chance to become unblockable except by two or more creatures. This creates a different tactical layer, giving players a more offensive benefit, contrasted with Taunting Sliver’s defensive angle. Moreover, Thorncaster Sliver presents a similar species synergy by enabling damage to be dealt to the opponent’s creatures or life total whenever a Sliver attacks, indirectly controlling the battle by whittling down the opponent’s forces or life.

In essence, Taunting Sliver occupies a valuable niche within the Magic: The Gathering ecosystem, particularly among Sliver aficionados seeking to sway combat to their favor, offering a potent if situational utility that meshes cohesively with Sliver-based strategies.