Harbor Bandit MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Rogue
Released	2012-07-13
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2013
Set code	M13
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	95
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jesper Ejsing

Key Takeaways

Harbor Bandit’s unblockability against monocolored creatures makes it a potent offensive asset in games.
Synergizes with instant speed spells, enhancing its capability for safe attacks and strategic play.
Mana requirements and activation cost may restrict integration into certain deck archetypes.

Text of card

Harbor Bandit gets +1/+1 as long as you control an Island. : Harbor Bandit is unblockable this turn.

He always drops a little trinket into the bay as thanks to the merfolk who taught him all his best tricks.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Harbor Bandit has a solid place in decks that emphasize sneaking past opponent defenses. This can translate into card advantage as a consistent source of damage that can often evade blockers, especially since it’s unstoppable by monocolored creatures when its activated ability is used.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana acceleration, Harbor Bandit’s ability to become unblockable after a mana investment synergizes well with cards that benefit from combat damage to a player, potentially accelerating resource access through such interactions.

Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant itself, Harbor Bandit can capitalize on instant speed spells to catch opponents off guard. By holding mana for instant speed interactions, you grant Harbor Bandit more opportunities to attack safely after opponent’s threats are neutralized or their resources are tapped.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Harbor Bandit’s utility might be diminished in a game state where your hand is already depleted, as it lacks an inherent discard mechanism to offset its own activation costs.

Specific Mana Cost: This rogue requires both Black and Blue mana, which can pose deck-building constraints and may not seamlessly fit into mono-colored or certain multi-colored strategies without sufficient mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering Harbor Bandit clocks in at three mana and doesn’t impact the board immediately, it’s competing with other three-drops that may provide more value or immediate interaction upon entering the battlefield.

Reasons to Include Harbor Bandit in Your Collection

Versatility: Harbor Bandit is a card that adapts well to various deck themes, particularly those built around a strong rogue or pirate synergy. Its ability to become unblockable by controlling a Swamp makes it a solid choice in multicolor decks that include black mana.

Combo Potential: This sneaky pirate can work wonders with cards that reward players for dealing combat damage to opponents, thanks to its potential for consistent, unblockable attacks. It can effectively enable abilities or support strategies centered around connecting with an opponent directly.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature decks are prevalent, Harbor Bandit can serve as a reliable damage dealer that bypasses potential blockers. As such, it maintains relevance in the evolving metagame, able to quietly chip away at an opponent’s life total.

How to beat

Harbor Bandit takes a stealthy position among creatures in Magic: The Gathering, claiming its advantage when it turns unblockable upon controlling an Island. This dark figure, much like a sly rogue, can potentially slip past defenses to deliver damaging hits. Nonetheless, there are tactics to mitigate its impact on the battlefield.

One effective way to counter Harbor Bandit is through removal spells or abilities that do not target it directly, bypassing its unblockable status. Cards that change the land type of the terrain, disrupting the Island condition, can also render the Harbor Bandit blockable again, clipping its wings, so to speak. Board wipes are especially potent as they clear the field of all creatures, including elusive ones like the Harbor Bandit, regardless of any conditional advantages.

Ultimately, keeping a close watch on your opponent’s land types and being prepared with versatile removals or board control strategies will ensure that the Harbor Bandit doesn’t catch you off guard. Knowing this, players can cleverly navigate around Harbor Bandit’s strengths and render this shadowy assailant harmless in a game of cunning strategy.

Cards like Harbor Bandit

Harbor Bandit holds a unique spot in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering creatures due to its synergy with specific deck themes. This card shares similarities with other evasion creatures like Latch Seeker, which is unblockable as long as the opponent has no creatures. Yet, Harbor Bandit’s conditional unblockability is dependent on controlling a Swamp and even provides a boost to its power, making it a versatile fit in multicolored black decks.

Comparably, Ghostly Pilferer, while not entirely similar, presents an evasion ability with an upside of card advantage. Though not unblockable, it can be difficult for opponents to block without incurring a cost – a trait synergy-based decks might appreciate. In contrast, the Shadowmage Infiltrator offers both evasion and card draw but doesn’t have the dependency on land types and mana flexibility that Harbor Bandit boasts.

While evaluating the subtleties of monocolored versus multicolored decks, Harbor Bandit could very well be a more adaptable option in certain strategies, leveraging land types to gain board advantage. This makes it a noteworthy contender among creatures with conditional unblockability in MTG’s expansive universe.

Shadowmage Infiltrator - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Harbor Bandit by color, type and mana cost

Phyrexian Infiltrator - MTG Card versions

Siren of the Silent Song - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Harbor Bandit MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013, 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 Harbor Bandit and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Harbor Bandit has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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