Trench Stalker MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beast Horror |
| Released | 2022-11-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Brothers' War |
| Set code | BRO |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 116 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Nino Vecia |
Text of card
As long as you've drawn two or more cards this turn, Trench Stalker has deathtouch and lifelink.
It can hear a panicked heartbeat from a thousand paces away.
Cards like Trench Stalker
Trench Stalker has slotted a notable role in the pantheon of creature cards with evasive abilities in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often paralleled to Spectral Sailor, which also shares the flash ability, allowing you to cast it any time you could cast an instant. However, Trench Stalker trades off the Sailor’s card draw potential for a more defensive stature with deathtouch.
Comparatively speaking, Vampire of the Dire Moon is another creature that boasts deathtouch, a trait synonymous with Trench Stalker. The Vampire is less mana-intensive, calling for only one black mana. Despite this, the Trench Stalker excels in its flash capability, giving it a more unpredictable and strategic edge in gameplay. Dungeon Geist, another similar card, offers control by tapping a target creature upon entry. While it doesn’t have deathtouch, it controls the board in a different manner, holding back potential threats potentially longer than deathtouch might.
In essence, MTG’s ever-evolving strategy landscape means Trench Stalker finds its footing among these comparatives, especially for those who value the element of surprise and tactical creature removal, marking it as a unique option for control and tempo-focused decks in the game.
Cards similar to Trench Stalker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Trench Stalker’s ability to manipulate top deck cards ensures a better quality of draws, potentially leading to significant card advantage over the course of a match. A well-timed draw can easily swing the momentum in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While Trench Stalker itself may not directly accelerate resources, its synergies with graveyard strategies can effectively reduce the cost of powerful delve spells, indirectly contributing to a form of resource acceleration within the right deck build.
Instant Speed: Trench Stalker may not have an ability that operates at instant speed, but its menace ensures that it remains a constant threat. Its evasive characteristic can force opponents to leave mana and resources untapped, thereby granting you a tactical advantage as you navigate through each phase of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Trench Stalker requires players to part with another card from their hand, potentially creating a situation where resource management becomes even more critical. This can lead to a significant disadvantage, particularly in late-game scenarios where each card in hand counts.
Specific Mana Cost: One of the hurdles when incorporating Trench Stalker into a deck is the limitation posed by its specific mana cost. It demands both black mana and an additional color, which may not always align with the player’s overall mana base or strategy, potentially causing inconsistency in gameplay.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Trench Stalker offers certain abilities that can be impactful, its mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other creatures with similar effects. This can affect its viability in competitive play, where efficiency and speed are often the keys to victory.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Trench Stalker offers flexibility across various decks with its stealthy mechanics, suitable for strategies that thrive on evading blockers or benefiting from unblockable creatures.
Combo Potential: The card’s ability to stay unblocked can be pivotal in combinations that capitalize on direct damage or utilizing effects that trigger when your creatures deal combat damage to a player.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay where evasive creatures are key, Trench Stalker stands out as a resilient option against opponents set up with numerous ground blockers, maintaining relevance in evolving metas.
How to beat
Trench Stalker has been making waves among MTG enthusiasts with its relative stealth capabilities. This creature’s dynamics lean on skulking under your opponent’s radar, thanks to its unblockable nature when attacking alone. The key to overcoming this elusive creature lies in preventing it from dealing damage through indirect methods. Removal spells that don’t rely on blocking, such as “Murder” or “Path to Exile,” are effective since they disrupt its ability to be unblockable by removing it from the field entirely.
Board wipes also serve as a sturdy anchor, clearing Trench Stalker alongside any other creatures on the battlefield. Another strategy is utilizing cards that can force Trench Stalker to tap, as a tapped creature is unable to attack. Artifacts or enchantments that restrict the number of creatures that can attack each turn can also be potent here. Puzzling out a solution around Trench Stalker’s veil of stealth requires a focus on control elements rather than traditional combat tactics.
Ultimately, dealing with Trench Stalker involves a proactive approach, keeping pressure with removals, or setting up defenses that lock down the gameplay, thus nullifying its inherent advantages and maintaining the upper hand in your MTG matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Trench Stalker MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Trench Stalker and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Trench Stalker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Trench Stalker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-14 | Trench Stalker doesn't need to have been on the battlefield when you drew the cards. If you draw two cards, then play Trench Stalker, it has deathtouch and lifelink this turn. |