Thalakos Scout MTG Card
1998-06-15 - Number 48
2015-05-06 - Number 71
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Thalakos Soldier Scout |
| Abilities | Shadow |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.) Choose and discard a card: Return Thalakos Scout to owner's hand.
Discover Other Sneaky Creatures
Thalakos Scout holds its own unique place in the stealth-based gameplay of Magic: The Gathering. As a creature card with shadow, it slides right into the world of elusive attackers, much like cards such as Dauthi Slayer and Soltari Trooper. These creatures, too, are known for their capacity to be virtually unblockable, but Thalakos Scout has a slight twist – its “return to hand” ability that offers a strategic advantage for reactivity during the game.
Cards like Thalakos Scout
Thalakos Scout has companions in the realm of shadow creatures, sharing traits with the likes of Dauthi Marauder and Soltari Monk. Each of these cards also evades the traditional blockers, yet they lack the Scout’s tactical retreat. The subtlety of Thalakos Scout’s return ability allows players to dodge removal spells or recycle enter-the-battlefield triggers, something its counterparts cannot claim. Furthermore, Thalakos Scout’s blue mana color grants access to a range of synergies within that color’s characteristic strategies, such as card draw or countermagic.
In the larger landscape of Magic: The Gathering, Thalakos Scout might not be the most overpowering shadow creature, but it certainly adds a level of depth and flexibility to the gameplay that its straight-forward, aggressive siblings do not. It’s less about sheer power and more about the art of finesse and timing, making Thalakos Scout a subtly powerful card in the right deck.
Cards similar to Thalakos Scout by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thalakos Scout has the ability to return a blue creature you control to your hand. This can be particularly useful when you want to reuse enter-the-battlefield effects or save a valuable creature from removal. Many players find this aspect of the card gives them a strategic upper hand, effectively giving them another use of a creature they already played.
Resource Acceleration: Although Thalakos Scout doesn’t directly produce additional mana, by returning creatures with mana-producing abilities to your hand, it provides indirect resource acceleration. It can also synergize well with cards that benefit from casting multiple spells or bouncing creatures for value.
Instant Speed: Thalakos Scout can be utilized at instant speed, offering flexibility and the element of surprise. It can disrupt an opponent’s combat calculations or end-of-turn plans. The ability to react in real time adds a level of tactical depth to the game, ensuring you make the most informed decisions based on the evolving state of the board.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Thalakos Scout necessitates discarding another card to utilize its shadow ability. This cost can inhibit your hand advantage and might not always be a favorable trade, especially if your hand is already depleted.
Specific Mana Cost: With a requirement for both blue and generic mana, this card demands a degree of commitment to blue mana sources. This can be restrictive and prevent the card from seamlessly fitting into multi-color decks that are not heavily blue-centric.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Spending three mana—which includes two specific blue mana—for a 1/3 creature might not synergize well with the tempo of many decks. Considering its attributes, there could be more efficient creatures or spells available that provide better value or impact on the game for a similar mana investment.
Reasons to Include Thalakos Scout in Your Collection
Versatility: Thalakos Scout offers utility across various deck archetypes due to its ability to protect key creatures from removal or reuse enter-the-battlefield effects by returning them to the owner’s hand.
Combo Potential: Its Shadow ability ensures it can consistently attack and trigger abilities that require dealing combat damage to a player, while its return-a-creature function can be used to exploit powerful enter-the-battlefield triggers or combo pieces.
Meta-Relevance: Thalakos Scout can be particularly advantageous in formats where control decks are prevalent, as it allows you to safeguard your board presence against sweepers or targeted removal, ensuring you maintain a strategic foothold in the game.
How to beat Thalakos Scout
Thalakos Scout, a card from the Tempest set, brings an intriguing dynamic to the battlefield with its shadow ability, allowing it to be elusive in combat. It is similar to other shadow creatures that can dexterously avoid blockers. However, not all is lost when facing this slippery foe.
Countering Thalakos Scout is about utilizing removal spells that don’t depend on blocking. In this regard, cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile prove invaluable as they can target and eliminate Thalakos Scout despite its combat dodging capabilities. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God can also effectively clear the Scout along with other creatures on the board, bypassing the shadow ability entirely.
Ultimately, the key to overcoming the challenge posed by Thalakos Scout lies in direct removal or spells that affect multiple creatures. Relying on traditional combat blocking won’t suffice due to the shadow mechanic. By adapting your strategy to include versatile removal options, you can ensure that Thalakos Scout and cards with similar abilities won’t be a persistent threat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thalakos Scout MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Tempest Remastered, 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 Thalakos Scout 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Thalakos Scout Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by John Matson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-06-15 | Exodus | EXO | 48 | 1997 | Normal | Black | John Matson | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 71 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Matson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thalakos Scout has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |