Wharf Infiltrator MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Horror
Abilities Skulk
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Wharf Infiltrator excels in card advantage and combo potential, making it a versatile pick for various MTG decks.
  2. Its demand for specific mana and reliance on discarding can limit its use in some strategic situations.
  3. Counter strategies include removal spells and graveyard disruption, essential for tackling this elusive threat.

Text of card

Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.) Whenever Wharf Infiltrator deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card. Whenever you discard a creature card, you may pay . If you do, put a 3/2 colorless Eldrazi Horror creature token onto the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wharf Infiltrator allows players to stealthily transform their creatures into something potentially more powerful. By merely discarding a creature card, a player sketches their next strategy and keeps their hand refreshed.

Resource Acceleration: Skulking through the field of play, this card subtly boosts your resource game. Each time it grants you an Eldrazi Horror token, you’re not just amassing an army; you’re preparing ammunition for future maneuvers.

Instant Speed: The infiltrator operates on a level that aligns with the swift dynamics of instant speed interactions. Though not an instant itself, it allows the discard ability at such a speed, creating a window of opportunity to outpace opponents by a nautical mile.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Wharf Infiltrator’s ability is contingent on discarding a card, which means that in situations where your hand is already depleted, triggering its ability becomes inherently more difficult. This limitation can sometimes be a setback, especially when you need to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Wharf Infiltrator demands a precise mana alignment of one colorless and one blue to be cast. This specific mana requirement restricts its inclusion to blue or blue-focused decks, potentially excluding it from a wider range of deck archetypes where it could otherwise be a useful asset.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Wharf Infiltrator offers both evasion and the potential for card filtering and creating tokens, its two mana cost for a 1/1 creature might not be the most mana-efficient creature available. In the competitive landscape, players are often looking for cards that provide a greater impact on the battlefield for the same or a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Wharf Infiltrator in Your Collection

Versatility: Wharf Infiltrator offers flexibility in gameplay by enabling you to sneakily transform your cards. Its ability to loot and then potentially create powerful Eldrazi Horror tokens allows it to slot into various control or midrange decks.

Combo Potential: Its synergy with discard strategies can be a game-changer. Coupled with cards that capitalize on cards being discarded or creatures entering the battlefield, Wharf Infiltrator has the potential to turn the tides in a combo-centric setup.

Meta-Relevance: Given that efficient creature removal and graveyard interaction are popular in many formats, Wharf Infiltrator’s low-key profile allows it to slip under the radar and become an unsuspected but formidable threat on the board.


How to beat

Wharf Infiltrator brings an intriguing skill set to the table in Magic: The Gathering, offering both a way to discreetly sneak creatures onto the battlefield and a steady stream of card filtering. With its ability to transform cheap creatures into 3/2 Eldrazi Horrors, it becomes an engine that can quickly overwhelm unprepared opponents.

To effectively combat Wharf Infiltrator, players should consider incorporating removal spells that can bypass its Skulk ability. Since Skulk prevents it from being blocked by creatures with greater power, direct removal spells, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can target and eliminate it before its ability is triggered. Additionally, utilizing fast-paced aggression can put pressure on an opponent, cutting down the time they have to capitalize on Wharf Infiltrator’s abilities. Graveyard hate cards, like Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus, also shut down the card’s potential by preventing the use of its looting effect, thereby stymying the player’s ability to churn out Eldrazi Horrors. Therefore, with a strategic approach considering instant-speed interactions and graveyard disruption, Wharf Infiltrator’s impact on the game can be significantly diminished.


BurnMana Recommendations

Ready to weave new tactics into your MTG arsenal? Wharf Infiltrator is a card with intriguing potential, capable of subtly transforming your gameplay. With its ability to sift through your deck while simultaneously building a board presence, it can be a clever addition to your collection. Attune your deck to accommodate its unique mechanics and watch as your strategic shifts disturb the waters of competition. Unlock the full potential of Wharf Infiltrator by understanding its strengths and mitigating its weaknesses. Embark on a deep dive to master its capabilities and ensure your deck is a tidal force to be reckoned with. Explore with us and enhance your MTG experience.


Cards like Wharf Infiltrator

Wharf Infiltrator showcases its unique role in Magic: The Gathering, offering both creature utility and card filtering ability. A card like Looter il-Kor shares the same fundamental idea of looting, but Wharf Infiltrator has an edge with its synergy that creates Eldrazi Horror tokens.

Further comparison leads us to Merfolk Looter, a classic card with a simple tap to draw and discard mechanic. While it lacks the token generating ability, it provides consistent card flow without additional costs. Wharf Infiltrator demands a setup, requiring a creature to hit the opponent for it to trigger, offering a high-reward scenario.

Lastly, we observe the pairing with Advanced Stitchwing. This card also facilitates discarding and drawing, but it flips the script by allowing you to return it from the graveyard to the battlefield. Though it has a higher casting cost, it provides a way to recur itself, ensuring a persistent board presence. Each of these cards has its strengths, but Wharf Infiltrator stands out due to its potential to create board presence, disrupt the opponent’s hand, and filter through your own deck.

Looter il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Looter - MTG Card versions
Advanced Stitchwing - MTG Card versions
Looter il-Kor - Time Spiral (TSP)
Merfolk Looter - Exodus (EXO)
Advanced Stitchwing - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Cards similar to Wharf Infiltrator by color, type and mana cost

Vodalian Soldiers - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
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Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
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Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
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Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Minamo Sightbender - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Minamo Sightbender - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wharf Infiltrator MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Eldritch Moon 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 Wharf Infiltrator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wharf Infiltrator Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 802015normalblackDaarken
22016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 80s2015normalblackDaarken
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7372015normalblackDaarken
42023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 962015normalblackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wharf Infiltrator has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-07-13 Wharf Infiltrator's last ability triggers anytime you discard a creature card, not just when you discard a card because of Wharf Infiltrator's other triggered ability.
2016-07-13 While resolving Wharf Infiltrator's last ability, you can't pay multiple times to get multiple Eldrazi Horror tokens.

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