Treasure Nabber MTG Card


Treasure Nabber converts opponents’ artifact taps into your own mana resources, enhancing gameplay. While helpful, adding Treasure Nabber to decks may require sacrificing other valuable cards. Its distinct ability to disrupt and leverage artifacts makes it a strategic asset in various formats.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Goblin Rogue
Power 3
Toughness 2

Text of card

Whenever an opponent taps an artifact for mana, gain control of that artifact until the end of your next turn.

The Law of Givesies Backsies is respected by every noble pursuer of shiny things.


Cards like Treasure Nabber

Treasure Nabber brings a unique angle to the table in the realm of resource acquisition cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives in function include cards like Smothering Tithe, which has a way of generating treasure tokens, though with a different method. Smothering Tithe extracts value from opponents’ draws, unlike Treasure Nabber’s approach of benefiting from opponents’ artifacts.

Another card to consider in parallel with Treasure Nabber is Dockside Extortionist. This goblin creates treasure tokens based on the number of artifacts and enchantments the opponent controls. While the Extortionist gives an immediate surge of resources based on the current board state, the Nabber provides a consistent threat that deters opponents from using their mana artifacts or punishes them if they do.

In the final analysis, Treasure Nabber offers a sustained advantage in games, creating a dynamic where every artifact tap could enhance your mana pool. It can shift game strategies effectively, making it a valuable addition for players looking to exploit every resource advantage possible.

Smothering Tithe - MTG Card versions
Dockside Extortionist - MTG Card versions
Smothering Tithe - MTG Card versions
Dockside Extortionist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Treasure Nabber gives players a potential stream of extra resources, which can turn each artifact tap by your opponents into an opportunity for you to gain a temporary boost in assets. It’s like having an extra card up your sleeve whenever an opponent uses an artifact for mana.

Resource Acceleration: By temporarily acquiring your opponent’s mana artifacts when they tap them, Treasure Nabber can significantly increase your mana pool on subsequent turns. This extra mana can be vital for casting higher cost cards earlier than you normally could, giving you a critical edge.

Instant Speed: While Treasure Nabber does not operate at instant speed itself, the interaction it enables can disrupt your opponent’s plans at instant speed. Every time they tap an artifact for mana during their turn, you’ll be ready to pounce and take control of their resources, which can swing the tide of the game in your favor almost immediately.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While not a direct downside of Treasure Nabber itself, players often have to discard valuable cards to make room for situational cards like this in their deck, potentially reducing overall hand quality.

Specific Mana Cost: Treasure Nabber requires three specific mana (one red and two generic), making it somewhat restrictive. This can be challenging to accommodate in multicolor decks that may not prioritize red mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The three-mana investment for Treasure Nabber may be steep when considering its potential impact. Some decks may prefer lower-cost creatures or artifact strategies that yield quicker benefits.


Reasons to Include Treasure Nabber in Your Collection

Versatility: The Treasure Nabber is a flexible card that can be slotted into various Commander and Cube decks with ease. This card’s ability to turn your opponents’ artifacts into potential mana sources for yourself enables dynamic play styles and can adapt to numerous board states.

Combo Potential: This goblin rogue opens up a treasure trove of combo opportunities. It pairs well with effects that capitalize on artifact control, such as sacrificing for value or benefiting from opponents activating their mana rocks, thus integrating seamlessly into artifact-centered strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In game formats where artifact play is prevalent, the Treasure Nabber becomes a pivotal piece. It can hinder your opponents’ plans while accelerating your own, offering a tactical edge against decks that heavily rely on artifacts for mana acceleration or combo setups.


How to Beat Treasure Nabber

Treasure Nabber, a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, can be disruptive by commandeering opponents’ mana artifacts during their turns. To navigate around its ability, consider minimizing the number of non-creature artifacts in your deck, mainly those used for ramping purposes. Integrating artifact removal spells, like Abrade or Nature’s Claim, enables you to efficiently remove Treasure Nabber from the battlefield or eliminate the artifacts it aims to target.

Strategies that don’t rely heavily on artifacts for mana acceleration are less vulnerable; thus, decks emphasizing land ramp or utilizing creatures for mana can circumvent Treasure Nabber’s effect. Additionally, leveraging instant-speed interactions allows you to wait until the end of an opponent’s turn to use your artifacts, reducing the window in which the Nabber can affect your game plan. By adjusting your playstyle to focus more on resiliency and alternative mana sources beyond artifacts, you can effectively diminish the impact of Treasure Nabber on your strategy.

In essence, while Treasure Nabber presents a unique challenge, with the right strategy and deck adjustments, its power can be effectively mitigated, allowing you to maintain control of the game and your mana resources.


BurnMana Recommendations

Strategizing the perfect MTG deck is like threading a needle, with each card choice crucial to the overall fabric of your game. Whether it’s for the competitive thrill or the pure joy of deck-building innovation, Treasure Nabber is a name that often bubbles up in discussions among seasoned players. Its knack for transforming your opponents’ artifact maneuvers into personal gain can pivot the pace of play to your favor. The insights gleaned from today’s exploration paint a clear picture of the card’s abilities, both the prospective gains and possible pains. Staying ahead in the MTG realm is about adaptation and insight. With Treasure Nabber, every artifact tap by an adversary could be a stepping stone to your victory. Eager to refine your strategy and broaden your arsenal? Discover more ways to enhance your MTG experience and claim triumph in your next duel.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Treasure Nabber MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Commander 2018, 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 Treasure Nabber and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Treasure Nabber Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 706532015NormalBlackAlex Konstad
22018-08-09Commander 2018C18 272015NormalBlackAlex Konstad
32023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 2302015NormalBlackVeli Nyström
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 2652015NormalBlackAlex Konstad
52023-08-04Commander Masters Art SeriesACMM 402015Art seriesBorderless
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6452015NormalBorderlessPete Venters
72023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5522015NormalBlackAlex Konstad

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Treasure Nabber has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-07-13 An artifact is "tapped for mana" when a player activates a mana ability of an artifact that includes (the tap symbol). Notably, tapping an artifact to pay for a spell with the improvise keyword is not tapping that artifact for mana.
2018-07-13 If an opponent taps an artifact for mana during your turn, you'll gain control of it and keep control of it until the end of your next turn.
2018-07-13 If multiple players each control Treasure Nabbers, an artifact tapped for mana will make quite a journey. For example, if player A taps an artifact for mana during their turn, and players B and C are the next players in turn order who control Treasure Nabbers, C's ability resolves before B and C gains control of the artifact. Then B gains control of the artifact. B keeps it during their turn, and then C regains control of the artifact once B's effect expires, then A will have it back after C's expires. However, if B or C taps the artifact for mana, one of them will take it from the other. You may need to pay very careful attention to which effects are still in effect, which have expired, and who owns what.
2018-07-13 If the artifact leaves the battlefield, Treasure Nabber doesn't nab it from the zone it moved to.
2018-07-13 If you control multiple Treasure Nabbers, their effects all expire at the same time. You won't keep an artifact for any longer.
2018-07-13 In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If that player controls any nabbed treasures, the effect giving that player control of those artifacts ends.
2018-07-13 The artifact remains tapped when you gain control of it.