Cloak and Dagger MTG Card


Cloak and Dagger - Morningtide
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeTribal Artifact — Rogue Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2008-02-01
Set symbol
Set nameMorningtide
Set codeMOR
Number141
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDaren Bader

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts combat abilities at instant speed, saving mana and surprising opponents.
  2. Demands strategic hand management due to its discard requirement for balance.
  3. Inclusion elevates Rogue synergies, significantly enhancing deck versatility.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +2/+0 and has shroud. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.) Whenever a Rogue creature comes into play, you may attach Cloak and Dagger to it. Equip


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cloak and Dagger can provide you with an edge in card efficiency, often allowing you to protect a valuable creature with its shroud ability while also improving its combat capabilities.

Resource Acceleration: Equipping this artifact at instant speed without paying its equip cost when a Rogue comes into play can save you crucial mana resources, letting you deploy other spells or abilities to control the game.

Instant Speed: The capacity to attach Cloak and Dagger swiftly in response to threats ensures your Rogues can be armed and dangerous at a moment’s notice, a critical factor in high-stakes situations.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Cloak and Dagger card demands players to discard another card, which could signify a setback when your hand is already dwindling, consequently impacting your strategic options and potentially leaving you at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates exact mana allocation for casting, specifically requiring both black and colorless mana. This characteristic can potentially restrict its integration, mainly in multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the Cloak and Dagger card necessitating a larger mana investment than some alternatives, players may find it cumbersome when seeking to maintain tempo against decks that boast lower-cost utility cards, particularly in the early game where mana resources are at a premium.


Reasons to Include Cloak and Dagger in Your Collection

Versatility: Cloak and Dagger offers a unique blend of protection and aggro boost, fitting well into both offensive and defensive strategies. Its ability to equip automatically to Rogues for free makes it an adaptable choice for decks utilizing these types of creatures.

Combo Potential: When in play, this card can springboard combos by equipping instantly, allowing newfound rogues to benefit immediately. This can lead to powerful synergies in decks built around Rogue tribal themes or those that look to exploit equipment mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with numerous removal spells and targeted destruction, the shroud provided by Cloak and Dagger is exceptionally pertinent. It not only bolsters your creatures’ stats but also serves as a safeguard that can keep your key creatures in play longer, potentially swaying the game in your favor.


How to Beat Cloak and Dagger

Cloak and Dagger is a multifaceted card that can be both a boon for players utilizing it and a thorn in the side for their opponents in Magic: The Gathering. This card can make creatures nearly untouchable with shroud, and when it’s equipped, it not only buffs the creature but can also make rogue creatures downright formidable. Overcoming this requires strategic thinking and the right cards.

To effectively counter Cloak and Dagger, think removal or bounce spells that don’t target, such as board wipes like Wrath of God, which can clear the board regardless of protective equipment. Alternatively, mass bounce effects like Cyclonic Rift bypass the shroud protection by not targeting individual creatures. Artifact removal spells that target on a broader scale, such as Shatterstorm, can also provide an avenue to neutralize the cloak’s benefits. It’s important to plan for these situations, possibly holding back such spells until Cloak and Dagger makes its appearance.

Remember, while Cloak and Dagger furnishes a substantial advantage, maintaining card advantage and board control with non-targeting removal spells can efficiently disrupt the momentum this equipment can provide. Careful planning and anticipation are key to turning the tide in your favor against it.


Cards like Cloak and Dagger

Cloak and Dagger is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering, serving a dual purpose of enhancing a creature’s abilities and safeguarding your game strategy. It bears an intriguing comparison to other equipment cards such as Swiftfoot Boots, which also grants creatures the vital keyword ‘hexproof’ along with the added benefit of haste. Both items excel in protecting and empowering your creatures but offer different strategic advantages.

Leaning into similar functionalities, we also have Whispersilk Cloak. Unlike Cloak and Dagger, Whispersilk Cloak offers full protection by granting ‘shroud’ and unblockability, yet it does not boost a creature’s offense. Comparatively, Cloak and Dagger specifically boosts Rogues, fortifying their combat prowess, coupled with the granting of ‘shroud’ to evade targeted spells.

Assessing these equipments, Cloak and Dagger stands out for players who favor Rogue-themed decks, enabling both a defensive shield and an aggressive edge. While each option has distinct implications for gameplay, Cloak and Dagger presents an optimal choice for synergistic strategies focused on Rogue creatures. Its specialized attributes facilitate a combination of defense and assault, making it a formidable card among similar MTG artifacts.

Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Whispersilk Cloak - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - Magic 2012 (M12)
Whispersilk Cloak - Darksteel (DST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cloak and Dagger MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide, 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 Cloak and Dagger and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cloak and Dagger has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-04-01 Each of these Equipment has a triggered ability that says “Whenever a
-reature type] creature enters the battlefield, you may attach
-his Equipment] to it.” This triggers whenever any creature of the specified creature type enters the battlefield, no matter who controls it. You may attach your Equipment to another player’s creature this way, even though you can’t do so with the equip ability.
2008-04-01 Each of these Equipment has two subtypes listed on its type line. The first one is a creature type, which in this case is also a subtype of tribal. The second one is Equipment, which is a subtype of artifact.
2008-04-01 If you attach an Equipment you control to another player’s creature, you retain control of the Equipment, but you don’t control the creature. Only you can activate the Equipment’s equip ability, and if the Equipment’s ability triggers again, you choose whether to move the Equipment. Only the creature’s controller can activate any activated abilities the Equipment grants to the creature, and “you” in any abilities granted to the creature refers to that player.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks