Overtaker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Merfolk Spellshaper
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. With Overtaker, players can disrupt opponent strategies and gain tactical board advantage without using their hand.
  2. Its instant speed allows players to execute surprise maneuvers and adapt their tactics on the fly.
  3. Overtaker’s effectiveness hinges on strategic use due to its high mana cost and requirement for blue mana.

Text of card

o3o U, oc T, Discard a card from your hand: Untap target creature and gain control of it until end of turn. That creature gains haste until end of turn. (It may attack and oc T the turn it comes under your control.)

"It's no challenge to master a Mercadian."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Overtaker provides the player with the potential to control an opponent’s card, thereby effectively gaining card advantage. This disrupts the opponent’s strategy and enhances your own board position.

Resource Acceleration: By taking control of the opponent’s creature, you accelerate your resources without expending additional cards from your hand. This can lead to swift changes in the dynamics of the game, allowing for unexpected plays and tactical advantages.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Overtaker at instant speed gives players flexibility and control over the timing of the game. This can turn the tide during an opponent’s combat phase or before they can utilize certain abilities, making it a powerful tool for surprise maneuvers and strategic depth.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Overtaker card demands players to discard a card to utilize its ability. This condition can be particularly taxing during the late game or in situations where maintaining card advantage is crucial. Players might find this requirement counterproductive when they are seeking to maximize the cards in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Overtaker comes with a specific mana cost, which includes blue mana. This can sometimes be restrictive because it necessitates a sufficient number of blue sources in a player’s mana base. It may not fit well in multicolored decks that can’t consistently provide the blue mana required.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost being on the higher side for its effects, Overtaker might not always represent the best value for mana investment. Players often look for more immediate impact or lower-cost alternatives that allow for a more diverse range of plays within a turn.


Reasons to Include Overtaker in Your Collection

Versatility: Overtaker brings adaptability to any deck, excelling in control or tempo strategies. Its ability to disrupt opponents by temporarily stealing creatures can shift the tide of any match.

Combo Potential: By taking control of key creatures, Overtaker can facilitate powerful synergies or interrupt opponent’s combos, providing both offensive and defensive benefits.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based tactics are prevalent, Overtaker’s control-changing dynamic makes it a valuable asset for turning enemy threats into temporary allies.


How to beat

Understanding the mechanics of Overtaker can give players a strategic edge in MTG matchups. This card allows you to temporarily gain control of an opponent’s creature through exertion, which prevents it from untapping during your next untap phase. To counteract the potential disadvantage this card can create, consider adopting control strategies or incorporating instant-speed removal into your deck. Direct removal spells effectively neutralize threats before they can be overtaken. Similarly, having countermeasures for when your creatures are targeted ensures that you maintain the upper hand. Incorporating flash creatures that can be played at instant speed allows you to surprise your opponent and disrupt their plays. Anti-control cards, which limit the abilities of your opponent to target or affect your board, also provide a robust defense against the tactics Overtaker employs. By carefully navigating the battlefield and employing the right mix of spells, MTG players can mitigate the impact of Overtaker and maintain control of the game.


Cards like Overtaker

Overtaker from Magic: The Gathering presents a unique twist on creature control dynamics. Its closest counterpart, Ray of Command, also offers a temporary creature theft during combat. Overtaker, however, can be reused multiple times by paying its activation cost, giving it a recurring edge in the battlefield.

Another similar conceptual comparison is with Act of Treason. While Act of Treason allows players to seize control of any target creature for a turn, Overtaker is more selective, only targeting tapped creatures but offering constant utility throughout the game.

Control Magic is yet another notable comparison due to its permanent control effect once it enchants a target creature. Unlike Overtaker, Control Magic does not require a repeated activation cost, securing the creature for as long as the enchantment remains on the battlefield. Despite their differences in conditions and duration of control, each card offers strategic benefits for controlling opponents’ creatures.

Overall, while Overtaker may require more strategic timing and a steady mana investment, its recurring use affords players ongoing tactical advantages that distinguish it from other creature control cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Act of Treason - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Act of Treason - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Overtaker MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques Promos and Mercadian Masques, 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 Overtaker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Overtaker Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 1999-10-04. Illustrated by Clyde Caldwell.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-10-04Mercadian Masques PromosPMMQ 891997NormalBlackClyde Caldwell
21999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 891997NormalBlackClyde Caldwell
32002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 322021997NormalBlackClyde Caldwell

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Overtaker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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