Waylaying Pirates MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Pirate |
| Released | 2023-11-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
| Set code | LCI |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 85 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Zoltan Boros |
Text of card
When Waylaying Pirates enters the battlefield, if you control an artifact, tap target artifact or creature an opponent controls and put a stun counter on it. (If a permanent with a stun counter would become untapped, remove one from it instead.)
"The only drink in your future is seawater."
Cards like Waylaying Pirates
Waylaying Pirates stands out in the Magic: The Gathering world with its crew of disrupting abilities. If we place it alongside cards like Dockside Extortionist, the differences become particularly clear. Although the Extortionist is a creature that provides an immediate surge of Treasure tokens, Waylaying Pirates delivers a more nuanced advantage by potentially deterring an opponent’s combat decisions.
Hostage Taker is another card that tampers with the battlefield’s status quo by exiling an opponent’s creature or artifact until it leaves the battlefield. Unlike Hostage Taker, Waylaying Pirates doesn’t remove threats directly but instead influences attacks. Moreover, the Pirates differ in that they are not merely about obtaining a singular short-term gain but focus on a more strategic combat approach.
Looking at the big picture, Waylaying Pirates finds its niche by synergizing piracy and combat deterrents, making it a card that can subtly turn the tides of battle in your favor. While other cards might offer more immediate rewards, Waylaying Pirates is the strategic player’s choice for ongoing battlefield advantage.
Cards similar to Waylaying Pirates by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Waylaying Pirates offer a distinct advantage by potentially deterring opponents from attacking. Their presence can indirectly lead to card preservation, maintaining hand superiority during the match.
Resource Acceleration: By generating Treasure tokens, Waylaying Pirates can ramp up your mana resources. This acceleration is crucial for deploying high-impact cards sooner, giving you a practical edge.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Waylaying Pirates at instant speed provides a tactical advantage. It enables reactive play during an opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their combat strategies and keeping you one step ahead.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Waylaying Pirates obliges players to discard another Pirate card just to get it onto the battlefield, which can strain your hand when you’re already managing limited resources.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s reliance on both blue and black mana makes it less flexible, necessitating a dedicated dual-color mana base that can complicate deck building for those preferring mono-color or other multi-color combinations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost requiring three specific mana, Waylaying Pirates demands a significant investment which might hinder tempo, especially considering alternative creatures or spells that provide more immediate board presence or impact.
Reasons to Include Waylaying Pirates in Your Collection
Versatility: Waylaying Pirates brings a unique blend of aggression and control to the board. With its ability to disrupt your opponent’s strategy while building your own board presence, it complements a variety of deck archetypes and can adapt to different gameplay situations.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in environments rich with piracy and treasure mechanics. It can be a linchpin in decks focused on leveraging treasure tokens, enhancing both the offensive and defensive capabilities of your pirate-themed deck or any strategy that appreciates an extra bit of thievery.
Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts and control decks gain prominence, Waylaying Pirates stands out as a card that can tilt the scales. The ability to capitalize on shifting power dynamics ensures this card remains a worthwhile addition, particularly in game formats where tempo and disruption can decide the victor.
How to beat
Waylaying Pirates presents a unique twist on board control dynamics in Magic: The Gathering. Not only does it challenge opponents to reconsider attack mechanics due to its potential to generate Treasure, but it can also become a major threat if left unchecked. To successfully navigate against Waylaying Pirates, players must employ careful strategies.
Effective counters involve managing creature removals, such as using spells that can bypass the Pirate’s triggered abilities or sweepers that clear the board post-attack phase. Alternatively, enchantments that restrict or penalize attacking could diminish the value that Waylaying Pirates bring to the table. Ensuring that you have instant-speed interaction can mitigate the impact of Waylaying Pirates activating during combat.
Avoiding unnecessary confrontations and limiting the number of creatures going into the red zone are also key. This way, you’re not presenting additional opportunities for your opponent to accumulate treasures and fuel their mana base or enhance their future plays. By implementing these tactics, players can effectively dilute the advantages that Waylaying Pirates aim to create, ultimately securing their stronghold against this cunning adversary.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Waylaying Pirates MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Waylaying Pirates 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Waylaying Pirates 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 |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Waylaying Pirates card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-11-10 | The enters-the-battlefield ability can target an artifact or creature that's already tapped. If so, you'll just put a stun counter on that artifact or creature. |