Tin Street Dodger MTG Card
2019-01-25 - Number 120
2024-01-12 - Number 128
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Rogue |
| Abilities | Haste |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Haste : Tin Street Dodger can't be blocked this turn except by creatures with defender.
"That giant didn't even see me, let alone catch me! And I was close enough to smell him! Of course, that's not saying much."
Cards like Tin Street Dodger
Tin Street Dodger is a noteworthy creature card that finds its place in the red aggressive decks of Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to become unblockable for a mere single red mana, it’s reminiscent of cards like Goblin Guide that provide an immediate impact on the battlefield. Although Goblin Guide lacks the unblockability, it’s a force to be reckoned with by offering a swift 2 damage every turn.
Another card that draws comparison is the evasive Mist-Cloaked Herald. While it consistently avoids being blocked, thanks to its inherent unblockability, it doesn’t pack the same hit-and-run strategy that Tin Street Dodger brings to the table. Mist-Cloaked Herald’s advantage lies in its mana cost, always unblocked without additional payment.
When evaluating Tin Street Dodger against these similarly costed creatures, it shines with its versatile hit-and-run tactic and the potential for synergy in decks that benefit from creatures entering or leaving the battlefield. Although it may not be as consistently aggressive as Goblin Guide or as effortlessly evasive as Mist-Cloaked Herald, Tin Street Dodger holds its own with flexibility and strategic value.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Tin Street Dodger may not directly let you draw cards, its low cost and evasion ability make it a repeatable threat. This can indirectly lead to card advantage by requiring your opponent to dedicate multiple resources to block or remove it.
Resource Acceleration: The Dodger’s low mana cost allows you to deploy it early in the game, conserving your resources for other spells. By spending just one red mana, you’re speeding up your gameplay, putting pressure on your opponent while still having mana available for other strategic moves.
Instant Speed: Tin Street Dodger’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, allowing you to decide during the declare blockers step whether you want to make it unblockable. This flexibility ensures you can make the best decision based on the current state of the game, keeping your opponent guessing and your strategy dynamic.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Tin Street Dodger often requires careful hand management as there is no innate card advantage attached to this creature. If you’re facing resource depletion, the recurring cost to activate its ability may force unwanted discards or hamper your hand’s potential.
Specific Mana Cost: Tin Street Dodger necessitates red mana for both casting and leveraging its evasion ability. This specific mana requirement can restrict its inclusion to red-oriented or multicolored decks, potentially reducing its versatility in a broader range of deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the cost to activate Tin Street Dodger’s ability alongside its initial casting cost, the total mana investment might be seen as steep for a 1/1 creature. In a game where board presence and mana efficiency are pivotal, other cards in the same mana range could provide a more substantial impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include Tin Street Dodger in Your Collection
Versatility: Tin Street Dodger is a highly flexible card that can be slotted into numerous red aggro decks owing to its low mana cost and the haste ability. This enables quick attacks as soon as it’s played, posing an early threat to opponents.
Combo Potential: The Dodger’s unblockable feature when activated, allows it to synergize with cards that benefit from dealing direct player damage or cards that trigger upon combat damage to a player, such as those with the renowned mechanic or cards that require spectacle costs.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where non-creature heavy decks or decks with few creatures are prevalent, Tin Street Dodger can be exceptionally potent, almost assuring damage each turn due to its ability to become unblockable. It’s particularly useful against strategies that rely on fewer blockers to protect life totals.
How to beat
The Tin Street Dodger is a nifty creature card in Magic: The Gathering that can be a real thorn in your side due to its evasive abilities. Notably, this goblin rogue can become unblockable except by defenders with haste, making it an ideal pick for aggressive red decks that aim to chip away at your life total rapidly.
To effectively counter this nimble threat, one of the most straightforward strategies is to implement removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes or spells that deal damage to all creatures equally, like “Blasphemous Act” or “Sweltering Suns”. Another efficient approach is to use cards with reach or those that can deal damage to any target, such as “Shock” or “Lightning Strike”, which can be cast in response to the Dodger’s ability activation. Preventing the early game setup of red decks that feature the Tin Street Dodger is also key; this might involve efficient early creature blockers that undermine the Goblin’s relevance or even hand disruption that can remove the threat before it hits the board.
In the larger scheme, maintaining board control and being prepared for those quick and evasive creatures will keep the Tin Street Dodger in check and prevent it from darting around defenses.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tin Street Dodger MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Ravnica 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 Tin Street Dodger 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
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Printings
The Tin Street Dodger Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Yeong-Hao Han.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
| 2 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 128 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tin Street Dodger 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 |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tin Street Dodger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-01-25 | Activating Tin Street Dodger’s ability after it has become blocked by a creature without defender won’t cause it to become unblocked. |