Tunnel Tipster MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Mole Scout |
| Released | 2024-02-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Set code | MKM |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 180 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Leesha Hannigan |
Key Takeaways
- Tunnel Tipster fosters card advantage by allowing players to anticipate game conditions and prepare counter strategies.
- Instant speed play of Tunnel Tipster offers a significant tactical advantage during complex and evolving game states.
- The versatility of Tunnel Tipster in various deck strategies makes it a strong contender for inclusion in MTG collections.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tunnel Tipster MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Tunnel Tipster and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Text of card
At the beginning of your end step, if a face-down creature entered the battlefield under your control this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Tunnel Tipster. : Add .
"When your perp goes underground, I know where to find 'em."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tunnel Tipster offers a unique mechanic that lets players delve deeper into their libraries, potentially revealing key strategies or threats ahead of time.
Resource Acceleration: With this card, you can subtly shift the pacing of the game, getting ahead by setting up valuable plays earlier than expected, which can be critical in high-stakes matches.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Tunnel Tipster at instant speed provides a tactical edge, allowing players to adapt to the evolving board-state and surprise opponents with unforeseen moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Tunnel Tipster’s activation necessitates discarding a card, which can deplete your hand and reduce your options, potentially placing you at a tactical disadvantage, especially in the late game when resources are critical.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both blue and red mana for activation, making it less versatile and harder to incorporate into decks that aren’t tailored to support a multicolor mana base, potentially restricting its play across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its activation cost being rather steep, players may find the card’s ability cost-inefficient when matched against alternatives that provide similar or greater value for the same or a lower mana investment, making it a less favored choice for strategic deck building.
Reasons to Include Tunnel Tipster in Your Collection
Versatility: Tunnel Tipster offers a flexible role in various deck builds, thriving particularly in strategies that revolve around unblockable creatures or those that capitalize on dealing damage without being blocked.
Combo Potential: Its ability to grant another creature unblockable for a turn pairs well with cards that trigger upon dealing combat damage to a player, opening a realm of combo interactions and synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where evasion is key, Tunnel Tipster becomes a valuable asset, providing a consistent method to circumvent blockers and maintain pressure on your opponent’s life total.
How to Beat Tunnel Tipster
Overcoming the tricky abilities of Tunnel Tipster in Magic: The Gathering can be a nuanced affair. This creature’s capacity to make itself or another card unblockable can certainly disrupt the best-laid defensive plans. However, there are strategies to counter this evasive skill. One effective way is by using removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes, which circumvent Tunnel Tipster’s unblockable nature and eliminate it without needing to declare blockers.
Additionally, you can employ counter spells when Tunnel Tipster is initially cast, nipping the problem in the bud before it hits the board. Cards with the reach or flash abilities can also be indispensable, allowing you to surprise your opponent with unexpected blockers or removing creatures during their turn. Moreover, cards that strip abilities from opponents’ creatures or grant your creatures vigilance so they can block even after attacking, help level the playing field against unblockable cards like Tunnel Tipster.
Remember, understanding your opponent’s strategies and preparing versatile responses in your sideboard is key to masterfully piloting any deck in Magic: The Gathering. Preemptive measures and adaptable tactics will give you an edge over Tunnel Tipster’s singular ability and help secure your victory on the battlefield.
Cards like Tunnel Tipster
Tunnel Tipster offers players a unique blend of strategic options in Magic: The Gathering, drawing a parallel to other creature cards with elusive or evasive abilities. Comparatively, Mist-Cloaked Herald stands as a common example, boasting an unblockable feature that allows it to slip past enemy defenses. While Mist-Cloaked Herald serves its purpose as a guaranteed source of chip damage, Tunnel Tipster’s potential to enable powerful artifact strategies sets it apart, particularly in decks that synergize with artifact interaction.
Looking at another related creature, Faerie Seer offers its own suite of advantages, including the ability to scry and fine-tune upcoming draws. However, compared to Tunnel Tipster, Faerie Seer lacks the static boost to artifact spells, which can be pivotal in certain MTG archetypes. On the other hand, Furtive Homunculus provides a more direct comparison with its skulk ability, allowing it to be blocked only by creatures with lesser power, mimicking an aspect of Tunnel Tipster’s evasive nature, albeit less reliably.
Ultimately, Tunnel Tipster’s fusion of evasiveness with artifact-enhancing abilities carves a unique niche for itself in the Magic: The Gathering arena, marking its identity among creatures of a similar vein but with distinct tactical roles.
Cards similar to Tunnel Tipster by color, type and mana cost
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tunnel Tipster has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |