Silumgar Assassin MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Assassin
Abilities Megamorph
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides board control by preemptively removing key creatures, gaining an advantage over opponents.
  2. Instant speed transformation allows unexpected gameplay shifts during opponent’s turn.
  3. Can be a constraint with specific mana demands and higher activation costs.

Text of card

Creatures with power greater than Silumgar Assassin's power can't block it. Megamorph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its megamorph cost and put a +1/+1 counter on it.) When Silumgar Assassin is turned face up, destroy target creature with power 3 or less an opponent controls.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Silumgar Assassin presents the strategic benefit of controlling the board by eliminating key creatures, creating card advantage by dealing with threats preemptively.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, but efficiently spending mana to address threats can indirectly lead to a tempo advantage, placing you ahead of your opponent.

Instant Speed: With the capability to transform at instant speed, Silumgar Assassin allows for flexible and unanticipated plays that can disrupt opponents’ strategies during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of Silumgar Assassin’s features may require a player to discard another card, which could deplete a player’s hand. This downside is particularly significant when your options are already limited and each card in hand is crucial for maintaining control of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Silumgar Assassin demands a particular mana spread to be cast and activated. Its colored mana requirement in both black and blue makes it less adaptable for decks that aren’t tailored to a strict Dimir (blue-black) mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its creature removal ability, the assassin’s activation cost is at the higher end of the spectrum. This cost efficiency can be challenging especially when compared to other removal options in the game which may offer similar or better effects for less mana, making them more accessible during critical phases of play.


Reasons to Include Silumgar Assassin in Your Collection

Versatility: Silumgar Assassin is flexible enough to fit into a variety of deck types, adept at controlling the board by targeting smaller creatures. With the Mega Morph feature, this card can adapt to different game scenarios, making it a swiss army knife in your arsenal.

Combo Potential: This card’s capability to become a creature with deathtouch during any turn allows for strategic removal of key threats. It can be an integral part of combos that seek to clear the opponent’s board and pave the way for your victory.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving MTG landscape, the Silumgar Assassin holds value in metas that are creature-centric. An assassin on the battlefield keeps opponents on their toes, particularly if they rely on small to mid-sized creatures to execute their strategy.


How to Beat Silumgar Assassin

Silumgar Assassin is a creature card that can transform the battlefield with its removal ability. It’s a card that commands respect for its versatility and potential to pick off key enemy creatures. To outplay an opponent wielding this stealthy assassin, players need to adopt strategies that neutralize its potent powers.

A reliable tactic is maintaining a board state with creatures that are either too robust for Silumgar Assassin to destroy or those with hexproof abilities. Since the assassin can target only creatures with power less than its own, playing creatures with higher power can prevent it from exploiting its potential. Another effective approach is to use instant-speed removal spells to dispose of the Assassin before its controller has the chance to capitalize on its Megamorph feature, where the real threat lies.

Counterspells also play a significant role in foiling your opponent’s plans, as countering Silumgar Assassin before it lands on the battlefield can save you the headache of dealing with it later. In essence, a mixture of proactive plays, such as applying pressure with sturdy creatures, and reactive measures, like utilizing spells or abilities at crucial moments, can ensure you maintain the upper hand against Silumgar Assassin.


BurnMana Recommendations

Expertise in MTG not only lies within the spells you cast but also in the knowledge of the cards you collect. With a card like Silumgar Assassin, you have the power to shape the battlefield to your advantage. Its unique blend of board control and surprise element makes it a noteworthy contender for your deck. Considering the assassin’s place in the current meta, especially the way it can manipulate the game’s momentum, it’s a card worth mastering. Dive deeper into our resources to fine-tune your deck-building skills and optimize your gameplay, ensuring that Silumgar Assassin becomes a formidable asset in your MTG journey.


Cards like Silumgar Assassin

Silumgar Assassin is a versatile creature card in MTG, offering a blend of control and combat interaction. Much like Silumgar Assassin, Royal Assassin has the ability to control the battlefield, allowing players to destroy tapped creatures. However, Silumgar Assassin boasts the noteworthy advantage of having megamorph, giving it the potential to not only become a larger threat but also catch opponents off guard with its sudden transformation potential.

Nekrataal is another creature card with a similar impact as it enters the battlefield, targeting nonartifact, nonblack creatures for destruction. While this card hits a more limited range of targets upon entry, unlike Silumgar Assassin, it doesn’t require creatures to be tapped but doesn’t offer the morphing versatility. Then, there’s the infamous Skinrender, another creature capable of affecting the battlefield presence by placing negative counters on creatures, though not outright destroying them at instant speed like our assassin does.

When evaluating the nuances and utility of these creature cards, Silumgar Assassin proves to be a multi-faceted tool within MTG, offering strategic depth and potential surprise elements that can shift the momentum of any game in a player’s favor.

Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Nekrataal - MTG Card versions
Skinrender - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Nekrataal - Visions (VIS)
Skinrender - Wizards Play Network 2010 (PWP10)

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Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Silumgar Assassin MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Dragons of Tarkir Promos, 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 Silumgar Assassin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Silumgar Assassin Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2019-08-23. Illustrated by Yohann Schepacz.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 1212015normalblackYohann Schepacz
22015-03-28Dragons of Tarkir PromosPDTK 121s2015normalblackYohann Schepacz
32019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1282015normalblackYohann Schepacz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Silumgar Assassin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-02-25 If a face-down creature with megamorph is turned face up some other way (for example, if you manifest a card with megamorph and then pay its mana cost to turn it face up), you won’t put a +1/+1 counter on it.
2015-02-25 Megamorph is a variant of the morph ability. You can find more information on morph on cards with morph from the Khans of Tarkir set.
2015-02-25 The powers of Silumgar Assassin and the creature trying to block it are checked only as blockers are declared. Changing the powers of either of those creatures after Silumgar Assassin is legally blocked won’t change or undo the block.
2015-02-25 Turning a face-down creature with megamorph face up and putting a +1/+1 counter on it is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to.

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