Piper of the Swarm MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Warlock
Power 1
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Piper of the Swarm’s token generation leads to card advantage by increasing creature count without hand depletion.
  2. Its ability to seize opponent creatures at instant speed disrupts opponents’ plans and boosts your board state.
  3. Demands careful balance in use to avoid board depletion or strategic setbacks due to its discard requirement.

Text of card

Rats you control have menace. , : Create a 1/1 black Rat creature token. , , Sacrifice three Rats: Gain control of target creature.

"If it has ears, it will dance to my tune."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Piper of the Swarm’s ability to create Rat creature tokens can translate into significant card advantage over time. By steadily populating the board with more creatures, you effectively bolster your tactical position without depleting resources from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly functioning as a traditional mana accelerator, the Piper provides an indirect form of resource acceleration. As the controller of the Piper, you gain the unique leverage of having more creatures to use for various synergies or as fodder for ritualistic costs, enhancing your play options.

Instant Speed: The Piper’s second ability allows you to gain control of your opponent’s creatures at a speed that can disrupt their strategy. Utilizing this power during your opponent’s end step can be pivotal, as it leaves them with fewer resources to respond with on their own turn, while you expand your board presence for an imminent attack.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Piper of the Swarm’s abilities can put players at a disadvantage as it necessitates sacrificing one or more rats each time you want to gain control of an opponent’s creature. This could deplete your board presence and leave you vulnerable if not managed carefully.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires one black mana to cast. This specificity may not blend well in multicolored mana bases, potentially restricting it to mono-black or two-color decks where providing the necessary mana would be less challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a card that only offers a 1/3 body, the initial investment of two mana might seem steep, especially when other cards at a similar cost could provide more immediate impact on the game state. In addition, the activated ability cost is three mana, which could impede pacing and tempo for many aggressive strategies looking to maintain board dominance early on.


Reasons to Include Piper of the Swarm in Your Collection

Versatility: Piper of the Swarm offers a unique blend of roles within various deck types. Its ability to generate rat tokens makes it a solid contender in token strategies, while its control capabilities allow for stealing opponents’ creatures, making it adaptable to numerous playstyles.

Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly fit into combos that capitalize on creature count or sacrifice mechanics. It harmonizes particularly well with other cards that benefit from having many creatures on the battlefield or can utilize tokens as resources for greater effects.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Piper of the Swarm’s capacity to create and empower a relentless rodent army becomes increasingly significant. Moreover, the card’s creature control aspect can turn the tides in games by disrupting opponent’s board presence, making it a strategic choice for various meta situations.


How to Beat

Piper of the Swarm presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering with its rat-creating ability and the potential to steal your opponent’s creatures. Dealing with this card requires attention to its mechanics. First and foremost, board wipes like Wrath of God can clear out the rats before the Piper’s power becomes overwhelming. Efficient creature removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile are also excellent for promptly dealing with the Piper itself.

Another strategy is to deny the player the opportunity to amass the needed rat tokens. Graveyard hate cards like Relic of Progenitus make sure that the Piper doesn’t use recur strategies to keep coming back. Moreover, instant-speed interaction to remove the Piper or its tokens before the controller’s turn is crucial. In competitive play, this means holding back mana for a Spell Pierce or Dovin’s Veto. Control decks need to be proactive with countermeasures, whereas aggressive decks ought to focus on reducing the opponent’s life total swiftly, making the rat tokens less relevant as the game progresses.

Whatever your strategy against Piper of the Swarm may be, always keep an eye out for sudden infestations. With the right approach, though, you can ensure the Piper’s tune never reaches its crescendo.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG takes more than just playing powerful cards; it’s about recognizing how every card can impact the game. Piper of the Swarm embodies this with its ability to shape the battlefield your way. Whether looking to boost your deck’s versatility, capitalize on token generation, or simply enjoy the thrill of turning your opponent’s creatures against them, Piper is a noteworthy addition. Curious to push the envelope further with this intriguing card? Dive deeper into our comprehensive guides where you’ll discover advanced strategies, synergies, and ways to counteract opposing threats, ensuring your deck isn’t just a collection of cards, but a force to be reckoned with.


Cards like Piper of the Swarm

Piper of the Swarm is a unique character in the creature type spell roster, with fascinating abilities that resonate with players fond of controlling opponents’ boards. This card shares similarities with other noteworthy cards like Rankle, Master of Pranks, which also manipulates the game by forcing each player to discard a card. Piper’s ability to create a stream of rat tokens mirrors Rankle’s multifaceted approach but deviates with its power to gain control of enemy creatures.

Another comparison is with Ophiomancer, which furnishes a steady supply of deathtouch tokens. Both are excellent for defensive strategies, yet Piper of the Swarm stands out with its power to scale offensively over time. Staring down a swarm of rats can quickly overwhelm opponents, a scenario Ophiomancer cannot emulate. Lastly, we consider Dreadhorde Invasion, sharing that incremental creature generation theme yet diverging with its focus on amassing a single powerful force rather than multiple tokens.

In summary, while each of these cards presents its own strategic nuances, Piper of the Swarm carves a distinct niche, offering tactical flexibility and potential board dominance that makes it a valued choice among creature spells.

Rankle, Master of Pranks - MTG Card versions
Ophiomancer - MTG Card versions
Dreadhorde Invasion - MTG Card versions
Rankle, Master of Pranks - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Ophiomancer - Commander 2013 (C13)
Dreadhorde Invasion - War of the Spark (WAR)

Cards similar to Piper of the Swarm by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions
Stromgald Crusader - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Stromgald Crusader - Coldsnap (CSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Piper of the Swarm MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Throne of Eldraine, 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 Piper of the Swarm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Piper of the Swarm Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 788622015normalblackJesper Ejsing
22019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 3922015normalblackJesper Ejsing
32019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 3552015normalblackIrina Nordsol
42019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 1002015normalblackIrina Nordsol
52021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 1062015normalblackIrina Nordsol

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Piper of the Swarm has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-10-04 The control-change effect of Piper of the Swarm's last ability lasts indefinitely. It doesn't wear off during the cleanup step, and it doesn't expire if Piper of the Swarm leaves the battlefield. In a multiplayer game, it does expire if you leave the game.

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