Black Cat MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Cat
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Activating Black Cat’s discard effect can significantly disrupt an opponent’s strategy, giving players a strategic edge.
  2. Being able to trigger its ability at instant speed allows players to use Black Cat’s effect at the most impactful moment.
  3. While Black Cat can be effective, its two-mana cost for a 1/1 creature may limit its efficiency in some decks.

Text of card

When Black Cat dies, target opponent discards a card at random.

Its last life is spent tormenting your dreams.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Black Cat hits the graveyard from the battlefield, it forces an opponent to discard a card at random, potentially disrupting their strategy and giving you an edge in resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although Black Cat itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its discard effect can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by potentially removing key pieces from your opponent’s hand, allowing you to advance your board state with less interference.

Instant Speed: The ability to block and sacrifice Black Cat at instant speed means you can choose the most opportune moment to trigger its discard effect, potentially catching an opponent off-guard and gaining a psychological advantage in the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing the Black Cat card necessitates a situation where an opponent discards a card. This effect is triggered upon the death of the Black Cat, meaning you need the cat to be destroyed to capitalize on its ability. However, relying on your opponent to kill the cat, or having to sacrifice it yourself, may not always align with your strategy, particularly if you’re aiming to maintain a strong board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires one black mana to cast. While this is not particularly restrictive, it does require a deck with black mana sources. Players not running black or playing a deck with minimal black mana may find it challenging to seamlessly incorporate the Black Cat into their game plan.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana for a creature that only has one power and one toughness, the Black Cat might occupy a slot where players could opt for more impactful cards. In environments where mana efficiency is key, using two mana for a relatively low impact on the board state could be seen as a detriment compared to other cards with similar costs that offer greater immediate value or power.


Reasons to Include Black Cat in Your Collection

Versatility: Black Cat is a multifaceted card perfect for any discard strategy due to its ability to force an opponent to discard when it dies, providing value in both offensive and defensive situations.

Combo Potential: Pairing Black Cat with cards that capitalize on death triggers or reanimation can lead to powerful combo plays, exploiting this seemingly innocuous creature for significant strategic advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where hand disruption is key to destabilizing an opponent’s game plan, Black Cat serves as an accessible and repeatable source of discard, disrupting tightly orchestrated strategies and giving you the upper hand.


How to beat

The Black Cat card in Magic: The Gathering serves as a subtle yet strategic piece in any deck, especially fitting within a discarding-oriented setup. Its deceivingly simple effect of forcing an opponent to discard a card when Black Cat dies can disrupt opponents’ plans and provide you with an advantage. To effectively counter this feline threat, consider options that eliminate creatures without triggering death-related abilities. Spells that exile creatures, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, render Black Cat’s ability null, as the creature doesn’t hit the graveyard to initiate its effect.

Additionally, utilizing cards that can grant you hexproof status like Leyline of Sanctity can prevent targeted discard effects from reaching you directly, further neutralizing the advantage Black Cat might grant an adversary. Another strategy is incorporating cards that benefit from discarding, thus turning the tables on your opponent’s tactics. Madness cards or those with abilities triggering from the graveyard, known as graveyard synergy, could leverage the discard to your favor. Devising a plan to either sidestep or subvert the Black Cat’s ability is key to ensure that this seemingly innocuous creature doesn’t erode your hand and strategy over the course of a game.


Cards like Black Cat

Dabbling in the realm of creature-based strategies within Magic: The Gathering, Black Cat is a creature card that brings eerie similarities to cards like Burglar Rat or Yarok’s Fenlurker. What sets the Black Cat apart is its death-triggered ability, which forces an opponent to discard a card at random when it dies. Burglar Rat, conversely, requires opponents to discard a card as soon as it enters the battlefield.

Yarok’s Fenlurker escalates this discard theme by providing an additional static +1/+1 counter when it enters the battlefield, although it demands an extra black mana compared to the Black Cat’s two. If you’re aiming to disrupt your opponent’s hand right away, Burglar Rat might be your go-to. However, Black Cat’s arbitrary discard upon death can throw a wrench in your opponent’s calculations, potentially snagging a crucial card they needed.

Analyzing such cards within MTG, it becomes clear that Black Cat positions uniquely, offering an unpredictable twist with its random discard, contrasting with the predictable outcomes of Burglar Rat or Yarok’s Fenlurker. Its cost-effective summoning and the potential to dispense with key cards posthumously makes Black Cat a compelling choice for players who relish in chance-based disruption tactics.

Burglar Rat - MTG Card versions
Yarok's Fenlurker - MTG Card versions
Burglar Rat - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Yarok's Fenlurker - Core Set 2020 (M20)

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Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
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Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
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Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
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Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Black Cat MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension and Magic 2015, 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 Black Cat and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Black Cat Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2012-02-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by David Palumbo.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-02-03Dark AscensionDKA 542003normalblackDavid Palumbo
22014-07-18Magic 2015M15 862015normalblackDavid Palumbo
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5732015normalblackDavid Palumbo
42020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2032015normalblackDavid Palumbo
52020-09-26The ListPLST M15-862015normalblackDavid Palumbo
62022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 3772015normalblackDavid Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Black Cat has restrictions

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

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