Bitterbow Sharpshooters MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Jackal Archer
Abilities Reach, Vigilance
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Bitterbow Sharpshooters provides defense against flying creatures, contributing to sustained board control.
  2. Vigilance facilitates tap-synergy, enhancing resource acceleration and instant-speed spell flexibility.
  3. Despite advantages, its specific mana cost and discard requirement could limit deck integration.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Vigilance, reach

"Remember, brother, the eyes are always vulnerable." "I never forgot."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bitterbow Sharpshooters can bolster your board presence by virtue of its reach attribute, deterring opponents from attacking with their flying creatures and maintaining your card advantage on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This vigilant unit doesn’t tap when attacking, leaving you with an untapped creature ready to defend or to be utilized for convoke and other tap-synergy mechanics, effectively accelerating your resource utilization.

Instant Speed: While Bitterbow Sharpshooters itself is not an instant, it interacts favorably with cards that can be played at instant speed. Its vigilant nature means you can commit to an attack without leaving yourself unprotected, allowing you flexibility to cast spells at instant speed during your opponent’s turn without compromising your defense.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bitterbow Sharpshooters can leave you at a disadvantage by requiring a discard to fully utilize its abilities, depleting your hand when you may need those cards for future plays.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a mana cost that includes green mana, which might not seamlessly fit into every deck archetype, potentially limiting its versatility across various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is on the higher end for its effects, there are more mana-efficient creatures that you could slot into a deck that could offer similar or better utility and board presence.


Reasons to Include Bitterbow Sharpshooters in Your Collection

Versatility: Bitterbow Sharpshooters offers flexibility to green-focused decks looking for reliable removal options. Its reach ability allows it to effectively defend against flying creatures, which is especially useful in formats where aerial threats are prevalent.

Combo Potential: In conjunction with cards that benefit from dealing damage or destroying creatures, Bitterbow Sharpshooters can become a key component in executing such combos. Its potential to clear the battlefield while setting up for bigger plays shouldn’t be underestimated.

Meta-Relevance: The relevance of Bitterbow Sharpshooters can fluctuate with the meta, but maintaining a few in your collection ensures preparedness for when creature-heavy decks dominate. Their ability to selectively take out key threats makes them a worthy consideration in a variety of deck builds.


How to beat

Bitterbow Sharpshooters presents tactical challenges on the board with its reach ability, allowing it to block creatures with flying successfully. This four-power creature is a considerable obstacle, especially for decks that rely on air superiority. One efficient strategy to overcome Bitterbow Sharpshooters is by leveraging removal spells. Spells that can unconditionally destroy or exile creatures, such as Path to Exile or Murder, can clear the way and negate the card’s defensive strength.

Control decks may consider counter strategies by using cards like Essence Scatter when Bitterbow Sharpshooters is cast, preventing it from entering the battlefield altogether. Furthermore, utilizing board wipe spells like Wrath of God can be effective, especially if you’re facing multiple creatures along with the Sharpshooters. Decks that emphasize speed and early pressure can also outpace the relatively high mana cost of Sharpshooters and secure victory before the card becomes a factor.

Ultimately, understanding your deck’s strengths and the array of removal at your disposal will equip you to address Bitterbow Sharpshooters efficiently. It’s crucial to plan for potential threats like these and have ready answers within your deck to maintain the upper hand.


Cards like Bitterbow Sharpshooters

Bitterbow Sharpshooters stands out as a solid creature card in Magic: The Gathering with its keen sniping abilities. Comparable to cards like Baloth Gorger, it boasts a formidable body which can dominate the battlefield. Though Baloth Gorger doesn’t have reach or vigilance, it does offer the option to kick for a stronger late-game presence.

In a related comparison, Sentinel Spider is a creature not to overlook. With both reach and vigilance like Bitterbow Sharpshooters, it poses a similar strategic advantage for defense and offense. However, the spider falls short on power, featuring a 4/4 stat line against the Sharpshooters’ vigorous 5/4. Another related card, Thornweald Archer, also comes into play with reach and deathtouch, providing a different kind of control, but with significantly less impact on the board due to its 2/1 stats.

Ultimately, when evaluating the utility and board control offered by various creatures, Bitterbow Sharpshooters holds a competitive position within MTG, especially for those looking to exercise control over flying threats while maintaining a constant pressure on opponents.

Baloth Gorger - MTG Card versions
Sentinel Spider - MTG Card versions
Thornweald Archer - MTG Card versions
Baloth Gorger - Dominaria (DOM)
Sentinel Spider - Magic 2013 (M13)
Thornweald Archer - Future Sight (FUT)

Cards similar to Bitterbow Sharpshooters by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Bramble Elemental - MTG Card versions
Indrik Stomphowler - MTG Card versions
Golgari Grave-Troll - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Cockatrice - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Ironroot Treefolk - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Elvish Bard - Alliances (ALL)
Durkwood Boars - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Redwood Treefolk - Weatherlight (WTH)
Spined Wurm - Stronghold (STH)
Rabid Wolverines - Exodus (EXO)
Deadly Insect - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Vintara Elephant - Prophecy (PCY)
Spring-Leaf Avenger - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Primeval Force - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spitting Spider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Copperhoof Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Llanowar Behemoth - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bramble Elemental - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Indrik Stomphowler - Commander 2015 (C15)
Golgari Grave-Troll - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Kavu Climber - Masters 25 (A25)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bitterbow Sharpshooters MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Mystery Booster, 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 Bitterbow Sharpshooters and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bitterbow Sharpshooters Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Bram Sels.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-07-14Hour of DevastationHOU 1122015normalblackBram Sels
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 11402015normalblackBram Sels
32020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 1832015normalblackBram Sels
42020-09-26The ListPLST HOU-1122015normalblackBram Sels

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bitterbow Sharpshooters has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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