Sneak Attack MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Sneak Attack enables explosive plays by letting you cheat high-cost creatures onto the battlefield at a low mana cost.
  2. This card is a quintessential piece in combo decks, creating game-ending scenarios when paired with the right creatures.
  3. Its presence in Eternal formats like Commander ensures it remains a staple in strategists’ arsenals for powerful synergies.

Text of card

oo R Choose a creature card from your hand and put that creature into play. The creature is unaffected by summoning sickness. At end of turn, sacrifice the creature.

"Nothin' beat surprise—'cept rock."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sneak Attack offers the ability to put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield for one red mana. This strategy can potentially bring a high power creature onto the battlefield way ahead of the mana curve, thus granting a significant advantage.

Resource Acceleration: The card accelerates your game by enabling you to play creature cards at a decreased cost. This explosive mana acceleration presents a multitude of options and fundamentally alters the pace of the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: While Sneak Attack isn’t an instant itself, the card’s ability can be activated at instant speed. This quality allows the players to hold onto their high-cost creatures and spring them into action at the most opportune moment, such as during an opponent’s turn or in response to an opponent’s action.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Sneak Attack card requires a card to be discarded after use, draining resources. Particularly, if you’re running a bit low on your stack, this can turn into a notable disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: The playability of Sneak Attack comes with its drawbacks. This card requires a specific red mana, making it a strategic choice applicable primarily to red decks or multi-colored ones with a strong red component.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of 4 for activation, Sneak Attack holds a higher expense compared to other cards. Players aiming for efficient resource generation or card draw might consider other cards that come with lesser mana implications.


Reasons to Include Card Sneak Attack in Your Collection

Versatility: Sneak Attack is a flexible card, fitting well within a variety of decks, particularly those favoring fast, aggressive strategies. With its power to cheat creatures into play for a single red mana, it opens up a world of possibilities for any deck.

Combo Potential: This card aligns flawlessly with strategies revolving hallmarked creatures or enter-the-battlefield effects, making it a potent tool for triggering powerful combinations. Its unique effect allows you to intricately set up your play, bringing possibilities for exhilarating combos.

Meta-Relevance: In the current meta of MTG, speed is often key. Residing comfortably in this fast-paced environment, Sneak Attack lets you play bulky creatures ahead of the curve, often meaning the difference between victory or defeat in the current meta game.


How to beat

The renowned MTG Card Sneak Attack is an intriguing play. It allows for every creature card in your hand to be put on the battlefield, offering a sudden shift in dynamics. However, the creatures are not invincible and can be toppled. The key lies in quick action and effective counterspells.

Firstly, counter the Sneak Attack spell before it takes effect. For this, you require instant speed responses. Counterspells like Cancel or Negate can interrupt the Sneak Attack play directly by negating its cast.

Secondly, implementing board wipes after the Sneak Attack can prove effective. Spells like Wrath of God and Day of Judgement help clear the battlefield, effectively neutralizing the threat.

Lastly, focus on removing Sneak Attack from the battlefield. You can do this with spells like Disenchant or Return to Nature that specifically target and destroy enchantments.

Remember, the goal is to recognize and understand the dynamics of the MTG Card Sneak Attack and to have the right arsenal of responses prepared. Each game offers its unique set of challenges, and sometimes losing is the first step to mastering the strategies. Keep practicing and experimenting with your approach, and soon you shall master the art of countering Sneak Attack.


Conclusion

Concluding, the journey in Magic the Gathering is a blend of strategy, keen understanding, and the thrill of the unknown. Crafting the ultimate deck and seizing victory demands both sharp skills and clever card choices. Embrace the constant journey of improvement, as each match offers a path to grow as a seasoned player. Keep venturing deeper into the MTG realm, embrace the challenges, and uncover hidden gems for your arsenal. Your quest for dominance is enriched with every encounter. Elevate your gameplay, and connect with us for deeper insights to claim your victories and reign as a formidable MTG player.


Cards like Sneak Attack

Examining a card such as Sneak Attack from the MTG collection against its peers provides an insightful foray into strategic gameplay. Compare it to cards like Show and Tell or Through the Breach, all possessing unique capabilities to put creatures onto the battlefield. Sneak Attack’s wizardry lies in its one-turn, low-cost deployment of creatures without casting them, but at the cost of sacrificing at end of turn.

Show and Tell, on the other hand, allows both you and your opponent to put a creature, artifact, or land from your hands onto the battlefield. However, it lacks the tactical surprise of Sneak Attack. So too, Through the Breach, while sharing the creature deployment advantage, comes with a higher mana cost and the limitation of being a sorcery spell.

In a game that thrives on strategy, each card has its own strengths depending on your deck’s synergy. Sneak Attack, with its unexpected deployment ability, can tip the balance of a tight game, hence ranking highly in Magic: The Gathering’s repertoire of game-changing cards.

Show and Tell - MTG Card versions
Through the Breach - MTG Card versions
Show and Tell - Urza's Saga (USG)
Through the Breach - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Cards similar to Sneak Attack by color, type and mana cost

Manabarbs - MTG Card versions
Orcish Oriflamme - MTG Card versions
An-Zerrin Ruins - MTG Card versions
Lightning Cloud - MTG Card versions
Aether Flash - MTG Card versions
Heart of Bogardan - MTG Card versions
Furnace of Rath - MTG Card versions
No Quarter - MTG Card versions
Shiv's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Antagonism - MTG Card versions
Pyromancy - MTG Card versions
Collapsing Borders - MTG Card versions
Stand or Fall - MTG Card versions
Impulsive Maneuvers - MTG Card versions
Magmatic Core - MTG Card versions
Pyrohemia - MTG Card versions
Uncontrollable Anger - MTG Card versions
Elemental Mastery - MTG Card versions
Splinter Twin - MTG Card versions
Stranglehold - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Orcish Oriflamme - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
An-Zerrin Ruins - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Lightning Cloud - Visions (VIS)
Aether Flash - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Heart of Bogardan - Weatherlight (WTH)
Furnace of Rath - Planechase (HOP)
No Quarter - Tempest (TMP)
Shiv's Embrace - Magic 2011 (M11)
Antagonism - Urza's Saga (USG)
Pyromancy - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Collapsing Borders - Invasion (INV)
Stand or Fall - Invasion (INV)
Impulsive Maneuvers - Odyssey (ODY)
Magmatic Core - Coldsnap (CSP)
Pyrohemia - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Uncontrollable Anger - Tenth Edition (10E)
Elemental Mastery - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
Splinter Twin - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Stranglehold - Commander 2011 (CMD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sneak Attack MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Magic Online Promos, 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 Sneak Attack and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sneak Attack Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 5 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 2181997normalblackJerry Tiritilli
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 828662015normalblackMark Zug
32016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1482015normalblackTyler Jacobson
42020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1452015normalblackTyler Jacobson
52020-08-07Double Masters2XM 3482015normalborderlessMark Zug
62020-09-26The ListPLST USG-2181997normalblackJerry Tiritilli
72023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3311997normalblackJerry Tiritilli
82023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1392015normalblackJerry Tiritilli
92023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting TalesWOT 502015normalborderlessShafer Brown
102023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting TalesWOT 792015normalborderlessCanata Katana
112023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting TalesWOT 992015normalborderlessCanata Katana

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sneak Attack has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricBanned
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-08-07 You sacrifice the creature only if you still control it at end of turn. If that creature has left the battlefield, even if it came back, you don't sacrifice it.

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