Samurai of the Pale Curtain MTG Card

Samurai of the Pale Curtain - Champions of Kamigawa

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Fox Samurai
Abilities	Bushido
Released	2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Champions of Kamigawa
Set code	CHK
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	43
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

Interrupts opponents’ plans by exiling their graveyard, gaining you tactical advantage without direct card draw.
Can be played swiftly due to low cost, accelerating your game tempo and resource allocation.
Possessing instant speed capabilities, the Fox Offering adds surprise defense or offensive options.

Text of card

Bushido 1 (When this blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) If a permanent would be put into a graveyard, remove it from the game instead.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Unlike typical creatures, Samurai of the Pale Curtain offers a strategic edge. Though it doesn’t allow you to draw more cards directly, it disrupts the opponent’s graveyard strategy, effectively turning their graveyard resources into a disadvantage and tipping the card advantage scale in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Samurai of the Pale Curtain isn’t a direct source of mana acceleration; however, its affordable casting cost allows for a swift deployment, which means resources can be utilized for other gameplay developments quickly, keeping your tempo ahead of the opponent’s.

Instant Speed: With its Fox Offering ability, this card can be brought onto the battlefield at instant speed, provided you’re casting another Spirit or Arcane spell. This surprise element can serve as both a defensive maneuver or an aggressive play that opponents may not be prepared for, ensuring you effectively utilize your resources at critical moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Samurai of the Pale Curtain does not specifically require you to discard, its ability can inadvertently cause you to exile valuable cards from your own graveyard, thus requiring careful play to avoid unintentional loss of resources.

Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a dual commitment to both white mana sources. For players not running a mono-white or a deck that heavily favors white, this cost can be restrictive and difficult to meet consistently, particularly in the early game stages.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its utility in disrupting graveyard strategies, the samurai’s cost is relatively steep for its 2/2 body. There are alternative cards, possibly at lower mana value, that can offer graveyard control without compromising the deck’s tempo.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Samurai of the Pale Curtain’s ability to exile cards that would go to the graveyard from anywhere makes it a flexible inclusion in decks that aim to disrupt graveyard-centric strategies or simply to clear the board of recurring threats.

Combo Potential: This samurai synergizes with other cards that benefit from exiling opponent’s resources, enhancing strategies that leverage the diminishing resources of an opponent for benefits or to trigger ability effects.

Meta-Relevance: As long as graveyard manipulation remains a common strategy in the meta, Samurai of the Pale Curtain remains relevant. Its presence on the board can turn the tide against decks that rely on graveyard synergies, making it a valuable asset in a shifting competitive environment.

How to beat

Confronting Samurai of the Pale Curtain on the battlefield can be a nuanced task for many Magic: The Gathering players. This vigilant fox samurai brings a unique ability to the game, exiling cards that would be put into a graveyard. Forcing opponents to adjust their strategies might seem challenging, but there are strategic maneuvers you can deploy to outwit this creature.

First, consider using spells that bypass the graveyard entirely, such as exile effects or return-to-hand mechanics. Cards like Path to Exile offer a clean solution by removing the samurai without triggering its ability. Alternatively, bouncing it back to its owner’s hand with effects from cards like Unsummon can provide a temporary reprieve and open a window for your graveyard strategies.

Utilizing spells that assert control or change the rules of engagement can also dilute the samurai’s influence. Consider enchantments or creatures that negate or overwrite its abilities, thus neutralizing the threat it poses to your graveyard. In conclusion, while Samurai of the Pale Curtain poses a tactical threat, strategic card choices and understanding of game mechanics can turn the tide in your favor.

Cards like Samurai of the Pale Curtain

Samurai of the Pale Curtain is a unique creature card in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, belonging to the Fox Samurai tribe and offering players both offensive and defensive enhancements. It bears a resemblance to cards like Rest in Peace, which also exile cards but from all graveyards and without presenting a creature to control the battlefield. Samurai of the Pale Curtain, while limited to its controller’s graveyard, introduces a body on the field, blending graveyard disruption with field presence.

Then we have Containment Priest, serving a similar purpose but under slightly different conditions. Instead of acting passively like Samurai of the Pale Curtain, Containment Priest requires non-token creatures to enter the battlefield without being cast to trigger exile. It costs one more mana but operates at instant speed. Comparatively, Leonin Arbiter is another creature that influences an opponent’s game plan by restricting search mechanics, though it doesn’t offer exile abilities.

Each card presents its strengths and tactical benefits, with Samurai of the Pale Curtain standing out due to its dual role as both aggressor and guardian against graveyard strategies, essential for disrupting opponent plays and maintaining board control.

Cards similar to Samurai of the Pale Curtain by color, type and mana cost

Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions

Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Samurai of the Pale Curtain MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Samurai of the Pale Curtain and other MTG cards: