Temple Thief MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Rogue
Released	2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set name	Theros Beyond Death
Set code	THB
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	116
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Evyn Fong

Key Takeaways

Unblockable by enchantment defenders, Temple Thief excels in bypassing specific defensive strategies.
The card is versatile within rogue archetypes, enhancing its combo potential and tactical use.
Counter it with non-targeted removal or board-clearing spells to negate its strategic advantage.

Text of card

Temple Thief can't be blocked by enchanted creatures or enchantment creatures.

"I don't know if the gods watch over their temples, but I figure it's best to be stealthy just in case."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Temple Thief doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it can create favorable situations on the battlefield that can lead to indirect card advantage. By posing a consistent threat to the opponent’s planeswalkers due to its unblockable nature when directed at them, it may force the opponent to overcommit or use valuable resources to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: Temple Thief itself doesn’t lead to resource acceleration in the typical sense of providing additional mana or ramp. However, its efficient cost-to-power ratio can significantly accelerate your board presence, allowing you to maintain pressure while still developing your resources.

Instant Speed: While Temple Thief is a creature and not an instant, its effect of being unblockable when attacking a planeswalker can play a crucial role during the combat phase, similar to how instant speed spells can shift the tide unexpectedly. This allows you to maximize damage and apply strategic pressure without needing to wait for sorcery speed timing to present threats.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Temple Thief doesn’t require discarding as an inherent mechanic, but using it in strategies that hinge on discard to activate abilities or themes can be difficult. Those paths generally require careful resource management, and without built-in card advantage, you may find yourself at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Temple Thief requires both black and generic mana to cast. This specific mana requirement can sometimes be restrictive, especially in multicolored decks where mana flexibility is crucial for consistent performance.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana for a 2/2 creature, Temple Thief may not seem expensive at first glance. However, in the vast landscape of available two-drops, there are numerous options that provide additional value or have synergistic abilities that can overshadow the benefits of having protection from enchantments that Temple Thief provides.

Reasons to Include Temple Thief in Your Collection

Versatility: Temple Thief is not confined to a single deck archetype. Its ability to avoid being blocked by enchantment creatures makes it a subtle but effective choice in aggressive strategies, fitting smoothly into the curve and evading some common defensive setups.

Combo Potential: This card’s unique skill set aligns well with rogue or thief-themed decks. It can be combined with cards that benefit from successful attacks, like those that draw cards or cause discards, capitalizing on its evasion ability.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that sees a prevalence of enchantment creatures or enchantment-based control decks, Temple Thief could potentially provide an unanticipated edge, slipping past defenses that are set up to stop more conventional attackers.

How to beat

Temple Thief is a unique creature card that finds its stealthy niche in Magic: The Gathering. Its distinctive ability to be unblockable by defenders with enchantments makes it an asset in matches against decks heavily reliant on enchantment-based control. When considering strategies to overcome this elusive creature, prioritize removal spells that don’t require targeting the Thief directly, such as board wipes, which circumvent its protection mechanism.

For instance, consider employing board-clearing spells like Shatter the Sky or Ritual of Soot, which deal with all creatures on the board indiscriminately and ensure that Temple Thief can be swept away without needing to target it. Moreover, engaging in combat tricks that streamline the strengths of your creatures or reduce the Thief’s power to zero can effectively negate its combat presence, thus neutralizing the threat.

Ultimately, direct removal spells won’t always be the solution against Temple Thief, so adapting your strategy to include non-targeted removal or using your game’s board state to your advantage is key to claiming victory against this cunning adversary.

Cards like Temple Thief

Temple Thief continues to carve out its niche in the rogue-themed decks of Magic: The Gathering. This card serves as an intriguing choice compared to other two-mana creatures such as Thieves’ Guild Enforcer or Mire Triton. Temple Thief is distinct with its ability to bypass defenders with enchantments, offering a unique tactical edge in games heavily reliant on enchantment-based defense strategies.

Exploring the depths further, Omen Thief shares a similar two-mana slot but instead comes with flash and disrupts opponents by forcing them to mill cards. While it lacks the direct ability to evade enchanted defenders, it provides a different type of strategic value. Another notable comparison is with Heir of the Ancient Fang. Like Temple Thief, it’s crafted for rogue synergy but swaps evasion for the potential to draw cards upon dealing combat damage to players.

In summary, although Temple Thief might not be the standout in terms of raw power or versatility, its specific enchantment evasion ability can be invaluable in the right deck, especially one tailored towards exploiting the weaknesses of enchantment-heavy opponents within Magic: The Gathering’s diverse play styles.

Thieves' Guild Enforcer - MTG Card versions

Heir of the Ancient Fang - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Temple Thief MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Temple Thief and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Temple Thief has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Temple Thief card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2020-01-24	Once a creature has blocked Temple Thief, causing that creature to become enchanted (or, in some rare cases, causing it to become an enchantment creature) won’t cause Temple Thief to become unblocked.