Triton Shorestalker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Rogue
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Unblockable nature aids in dealing damage, activating abilities, and bypassing opponent defenses efficiently.
  2. Its Merfolk type offers synergies in tribal decks, enhancing its utility beyond being merely unblockable.
  3. While cost-effective, it lacks built-in protection, highlighting its vulnerability to removal spells.

Text of card

Triton Shorestalker can't be blocked.

"Who will miss you, drywalker? A wife? A child? Perhaps they will blame the sea for your fate, and teach future generations to stay far away from it."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Triton Shorestalker may not directly offer card advantage, but its presence can ensure that key creatures like sea monsters or other high-value threats can connect with an opponent unblocked. This can lead to advantageous situations on the board and even card gains from damage-triggered abilities.

Resource Acceleration: Though Triton Shorestalker itself doesn’t accelerate resources, its low mana cost enhances your ability to deploy other spells sooner. At only one blue mana, it allows for a smooth curve out in the early turns, establishing board presence without hindering the casting of other spells in your hand.

Instant Speed: While Triton Shorestalker is a creature and doesn’t have instant speed, its ability can create instant-like impacts. Being an unblockable creature means it’s able to slip through the opponent’s defenses at any time, making it a consistent threat and a reliable carrier for instant speed equipments or auras that you might cast during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although the Triton Shorestalker doesn’t obligate players to discard, it does lack inherent abilities that could protect it from removal or give you a card advantage. This can leave you vulnerable to more disruptive strategies where card retention is key.

Specific Mana Cost: Triton Shorestalker requires blue mana, which means it is only at home in blue or multicolor decks. This can limit deck-building flexibility and could be a hindrance in formats where color variety is advantageous.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its low absolute cost, when comparing power to mana cost, there are more cost-effective creatures that offer additional abilities or greater power for a similar investment. This can make the Triton Shorestalker a less appealing choice in competitive environments where each mana spent needs to maximize value on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Triton Shorestalker in Your Collection

Versatility: Triton Shorestalker’s unblockable nature makes it a solid choice for a variety of blue decks that aim to chip away at an opponent’s life total or need a reliable creature to carry powerful auras and equipment.

Combo Potential: This creature fits well with cards that benefit from dealing combat damage to a player, such as those with cipher or prowess abilities, allowing for intricate and potent gameplay interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where evasion is key, Triton Shorestalker stands out as an inexpensive way to consistently deliver hits, staying relevant in a meta that appreciates unblockable assailants.


How to Beat Triton Shorestalker

When facing off against the elusive Triton Shorestalker in Magic: The Gathering, you’re up against a blue creature known for its stealthy unblockable nature. Its power lies in its ability to sneak past defenders and chip away at an opponent’s life total. But there are strategic plays to help you circumvent the threat it poses.

Control tactics can be particularly effective. Removal spells are a direct way to handle the Shorestalker. Board wipes, which clear out all creatures, won’t be hindered by its unblockable status. Spot removal spells, even though blue creatures are known for having countermeasures, can often be timed to avoid these. A card like Doom Blade or Fatal Push can easily remove Triton Shorestalker from the board at a low mana cost.

Moreover, leveraging your creature’s abilities can turn the tables in your favor. Creatures with reach or those that can tap to deal damage allow you to interact with Triton Shorestalker despite its unblockable keyword. Alternatively, playing cards that alter combat rules, like Ensnaring Bridge, can negate its offensive capabilities entirely. Through thoughtful counterplay, the Shorestalker’s advantage can be not just mitigated, but entirely overturned, leaving your opponent’s strategy adrift.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deep diving into MTG strategy spotlights cards like Triton Shorestalker as intricate puzzle pieces in a game of skill and surprise. Acknowledging its strengths and weaknesses is key to wielding its potential on the battlefield. As you curate your collection, ponder on the contexts where this sly Merfolk can be the linchpin to victory. For those drawn to the synergies within the blue depths or tribal Merfolk majesty, this card may fit seamlessly into your stratagem. Eager to make waves with your deck? Let’s explore the depths together and uncover the treasures awaiting in the vast ocean of MTG.


Cards like Triton Shorestalker

Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Triton Shorestalker is a nifty inclusion in decks seeking unblockable creatures. This card is akin to other stealthy options like Mist-Cloaked Herald. Both creatures are one-mana blue spells that guarantee they can’t be blocked, enabling consistent damage to opponents. However, Triton Shorestalker’s Merfolk creature type offers synergistic qualities in a Merfolk tribal deck that Mist-Cloaked Herald, as a Siren, does not.

Another comparison is to Slither Blade, a creature of similar stature. Slither Blade comes with the same unblockable ability but with an added benefit – the card can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control unless they pay two extra mana. This makes Slither Blade slightly more resilient against targeted removal spells. The distinction lies in situations where paying additional mana could make a difference between keeping a critical creature on the board or not.

Assessing these cards’ features beyond the sheer invisibility they bring to combat, Triton Shorestalker holds its own. Its Merfolk type remains a strong asset, meshing smoothly with tribal buffs, and maintaining its value in the MTG universe as a straightforward, aggressive one-drop creature.

Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Slither Blade - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Slither Blade - Amonkhet (AKH)

Cards similar to Triton Shorestalker by color, type and mana cost

Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Flying Men - MTG Card versions
Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
Cloud Pirates - MTG Card versions
Fledgling Osprey - MTG Card versions
Manta Riders - MTG Card versions
Faerie Squadron - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Fugitive Wizard - MTG Card versions
Wandering Ones - MTG Card versions
Dreamcatcher - MTG Card versions
Drifter il-Dal - MTG Card versions
Sage of Epityr - MTG Card versions
Screeching Sliver - MTG Card versions
Timebender - MTG Card versions
Cloud Sprite - MTG Card versions
Merrow Witsniper - MTG Card versions
Cursecatcher - MTG Card versions
Martyr of Frost - MTG Card versions
Grixis Illusionist - MTG Card versions
Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Flying Men - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Shrieking Drake - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Cloud Pirates - Portal (POR)
Fledgling Osprey - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Manta Riders - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Faerie Squadron - Invasion (INV)
Faerie Seer - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Fugitive Wizard - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Wandering Ones - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Dreamcatcher - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Drifter il-Dal - Time Spiral (TSP)
Sage of Epityr - Time Spiral (TSP)
Screeching Sliver - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Timebender - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Cloud Sprite - Tenth Edition (10E)
Merrow Witsniper - Morningtide (MOR)
Cursecatcher - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Martyr of Frost - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra (DD2)
Grixis Illusionist - Conflux (CON)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Triton Shorestalker MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx and Zendikar Rising Commander, 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 Triton Shorestalker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Triton Shorestalker Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-05-02 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-05-02Journey into NyxJOU 562003normalblackSvetlin Velinov
22020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 382015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
32022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 3652015normalblackSvetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Triton Shorestalker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

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