Stealth Mission MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2019-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | War of the Spark |
| Set code | WAR |
| Number | 70 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Heonhwa Choe |
Key Takeaways
- Enhances creatures, making them unblockable, beneficial for aggression-based deck strategies.
- Requires discard and specific mana, adding complexity to resource management.
- Permanent power boost offers strategic advantages in creature combat scenarios.
Text of card
Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature you control. That creature can't be blocked this turn.
"What they don't know will definitely hurt them." —Lazav
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stealth Mission provides a direct impact on the battlefield by boosting up one of your creatures, potentially turning them into a significant threat. This can lead to a more dominating board presence and, in some cases, additional card draw if the creature has any card draw abilities upon dealing combat damage.
Resource Acceleration: Although Stealth Mission doesn’t directly produce additional resources, it does facilitate a faster and more devastating offense. This can put pressure on opponents, forcing them to use their resources inefficiently or accelerate your path to victory before they stabilize.
Instant Speed: This spell operates at sorcery speed, compelling strategic planning for the most opportune moment to cast. While it doesn’t have the flexibility of an instant, it ensures that your creature gets through for damage and can’t be easily blocked the turn it’s played, which means you’re able to apply pressure at a crucial stage of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Stealth Mission requires a player to discard a card to utilize its full potential. This can be a setback when your hand is already dwindling, forcing tough decisions about resource management.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Stealth Mission necessitates both blue mana and generic mana. Decks not running blue or those with a tight mana base may find it challenging to cast this card on curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Stealth Mission might seem steep when compared to other spells with similar effects. Players might find themselves pondering the cost-benefit ratio, especially in fast-paced games where mana efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Stealth Mission offers a significant boost to any creature, turning even the smallest utility creature into an immediate threat. As an aura that straightforwardly increases power and assigns unblockable status, it’s a flexible inclusion in blue-based aggro or voltron strategies.
Combo Potential: Alongside creatures that have on-hit effects, Stealth Mission can be a game-changer. It synergizes well with creatures that have card-draw or life-total impacting abilities, ensuring those effects are triggered.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based combat is prevalent, Stealth Mission provides an unanswerable means to slip through defenses. This can be critical for dealing commander damage or pressing an advantage when board stalls occur.
How to beat
Stealth Mission is a unique Aura card in MTG, focused on quietly powering up a creature to deal damage directly to an opponent. When attached to a creature, it not only boosts the power of the creature by +2/+0 but also grants it the unblockable ability as long as it has no other enhancements.
Dealing with such a card requires strategic thinking. One effective approach is to keep a close eye on the battlefield and maintain a healthy supply of removal spells, ready to take down the creature before the Aura hits. Instant speed removal like Disenchant or specific bounce spells such as Unsummon can disrupt the opponent’s plans by making their creature an invalid target. Counter spell strategies also work well, ensuring Stealth Mission never even resolves.
Ultimately, while Stealth Mission can be a threatening card, it is by no means invincible. Knowing when to play your removal or counterspells can prevent your opponent from sneaking in those enhanced attacks, keeping you safe from the surprise onslaught.
Cards like Stealth Mission
Stealth Mission holds a unique place among MTG’s array of sorcery cards designed to boost creature capabilities. It shares similarities with cards like Distortion Strike, which also temporarlily increases a creature’s threat level by giving it unblockability for a turn. However, Stealth Mission’s key differentiator is its support for a longer-term strategy through its counter addition, permanently enhancing the creature’s power.
Comparably, we look at cards like Artful Dodge, with its focus on agility and surprise. Artful Dodge grants unblockability as well, but at a lower mana cost. Unlike Stealth Mission, it doesn’t leave a lasting mark on the field in terms of power augmentation. In terms of invigorating your creatures, another peer is Aqueous Form. Alongside making a creature unblockable, Aqueous Form strategically scrys with each attack, allowing for better deck manipulation but not enhancing power directly as Stealth Mission does.
Assessing these cards side by side reveals Stealth Mission’s aptitude for prolonged impact, positioning it as a valuable tool for players looking to steadily increase their tactical edge in the game. This distinction in functionality underlines its place in the MTG landscape, being particularly suited for progressive playstyles focused on growth and combat strength.
Cards similar to Stealth Mission by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stealth Mission MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Stealth Mission and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stealth Mission has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
