Thieving Sprite MTG Card

Lorwyn (LRW)
2007-10-12 - Number 143

Modern Masters (MMA)
2013-06-07 - Number 101

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Faerie Rogue
Abilities	Flying
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Thieving Sprite excels in revealing hands and forcing discards, pivotal for disrupting enemy strategies.
While specific in mana needs, it offers great versatility, fitting into multiple deck types easily.
Counters and creature removal are effective strategies against Thieving Sprite’s disruptive entrance.

Text of card

Flying When Thieving Sprite comes into play, target player reveals X cards from his or her hand, where X is the number of Faeries you control. You choose one of those cards. That player discards that card.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thieving Sprite’s ability to force an opponent to reveal their hand and discard a card can be crucial in disrupting their plan while subtly padding your information advantage. Knowing what an adversary holds can guide you in making more informed plays throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: While Thieving Sprite itself doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration, its discard effect can indirectly accelerate your board position against an opponent. By stripping key cards from their hand, you effectively set back their timing, giving you the opportunity to advance your board presence unimpeded.

Instant Speed: Thieving Sprite operates at sorcery speed, but its role in a deck often complements instant speed disruption strategies. It sets the stage for your instant speed removals or counterspells by providing vital information and removing threats or answers from your opponent’s hand before they can be used.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Thieving Sprite forces your opponent to discard a card, which can disrupt your strategy if you rely on your opponent having a full hand for cards with synergies like “Hypnotic Specter.”

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Thieving Sprite requires a specific combination of mana, one black and two generic, which can be restrictive if you’re running a multi-color deck or if your mana sources are limited.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Thieving Sprite can be costly for its power and the effect it provides. There are alternative creatures and spells that could potentially provide more value or a stronger board presence for the same or lower investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thieving Sprite offers adaptability in gameplay, seamlessly fitting into Faerie tribal and control decks. Its ability to disrupt an opponent’s hand makes it a utility card suitable for various situations.

Combo Potential: This card excels when combined with other cards that benefit from knowing the opponent’s hand or that capitalize on discarded cards. It can be a key piece in lock-down strategies or synergize with cards that penalize discarded cards.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where information is power, Thieving Sprite’s advantage grows. It shines in environments where hand disruption can turn the tables, making it a relevant choice against decks that rely heavily on specific card combinations or key cards.

How to Beat Thieving Sprite

Thieving Sprite presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This faerie rogue, much like its kin, leverages subtle but impactful effects to disrupt the opponent’s strategy. When it comes into play, you glimpse into your opponent’s hand and may force them to discard a card, with the number of cards based on the sprite’s power.

Countering this spell is the most straightforward technique to negate its impact, allowing you to preserve your hand and maintain strategic advantage. Should Thieving Sprite land on the board, it’s crucial to minimize the discard impact. To do this, manage your hand size efficiently and hold onto redundant or less critical cards when facing an opponent who runs faeries or hand disruption tactics.

Additionally, creature removal spells can quickly deal with Thieving Sprite after it hits the field. The sprite’s low toughness makes it vulnerable to a wide range of commonly played removal spells. Besides, graveyard retrieval spells can also help recover key cards that were discarded due to the sprite’s effect, thereby blunting the disruption it causes. Remaining adaptable and responsive to on-board threats will ensure that Thieving Sprite’s entrance is nothing more than a minor setback.

Cards like Thieving Sprite

In the vast realm of Magic: The Gathering, Thieving Sprite finds its niche as a sneaky utility creature that disrupts opponents’ plans. When looking at cards akin to Thieving Sprite, one might think of Ravenous Rats, which upon entering the battlefield, also forces the opponent to discard a card. Yet, Thieving Sprite has an added advantage with its variable power based on its faerie synergies, potentially causing more disruption.

Another card in the similar spectrum is Burglar Rat, which like Ravenous Rats, requires your opponent to discard a card. However, Thieving Sprite can affect the board more significantly if you control other faeries, making that single discard potentially escalate to two or more. Lastly, Liliana’s Specter steps into this comparison with its flying ability and the discard trigger. But unlike Thieving Sprite, its influence doesn’t scale with the number of faeries you control, offering a constant yet single-instance impact.

The essence of comparing these creatures lies in their ability to offer both a body on the board and a disruption tactic. Thieving Sprite stands out in environments rich with faerie types, giving it the flexibility to be both a minor nuisance and a major threat in any MTG match.

Cards similar to Thieving Sprite by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thieving Sprite MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Modern Masters, 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 Thieving Sprite and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thieving Sprite Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2013-06-07. Illustrated by Dan Scott.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2007-10-12	Lorwyn	LRW		143	2003	Normal	Black	Dan Scott
2	2013-06-07	Modern Masters	MMA		101	2003	Normal	Black	Dan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thieving Sprite has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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