Slither Blade MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Naga Rogue
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Its unblockable nature ensures steady combat damage, enhancing card advantage through various synergies.
  2. Does not directly accelerate resources, but pairs perfectly with cards benefiting from combat damage.
  3. Complements instant speed strategies by being a persistent threat that leaves mana open for responses.

Text of card

Slither Blade can't be blocked.

Some naga initiates move as silently the suns' reflections on the water.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Slither Blade’s unblockable nature makes it a reliable means of dealing combat damage to an opponent and triggering card draw effects from various equipment or auras you might attach to it, enhancing your card advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Even though Slither Blade itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, its consistent ability to hit the opponent provides perfect synergy with cards that offer rewards or resource boosts whenever combat damage is dealt to a player.

Instant Speed: While Slither Blade is not an instant, it effectively complements an MTG strategy revolving around instant speed interaction. By posing a constant threat that requires no further mana investment post-deployment, it allows you to keep your mana untapped and ready for instant-speed responses during your opponent’s turn without sacrificing offensive momentum.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Slither Blade may seem like a negligible threat to an unsuspecting opponent. However, utilizing it to its full potential often necessitates additional card support. This can lead to a discard requirement for synergistic auras or equipment, potentially depleting hand resources prematurely and possibly leaving you at a disadvantage if your card pool is already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Slither Blade requires a single blue mana to cast. While this is relatively easy to accommodate in mono-blue or two-color decks, it does necessitate a commitment to blue mana sources, potentially restricting the card’s inclusion in more diverse, multi-colored decks where the mana base is stretched across several colors and the inclusion of numerous blue sources can’t be guaranteed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its low casting cost, the real investment for Slither Blade comes from the need to allocate other deck resources to make it effective. To transform this unblockable one-power creature into a substantial threat, players often need to string together other cards such as buffs or equipment. This indirect cost can be high when compared to other creatures that are effective without additional support. Thus, whilst Slither Blade has a low initial cast cost, the true expense can be much higher to achieve competitive playability.


Reasons to Include Slither Blade in Your Collection

Versatility: Slither Blade is an efficient addition to any deck focused on low-cost creatures. Being just one mana for a 1/2, it slips easily into both aggro and tempo builds, requiring minimal resource investment for a reliable early-game presence.

Combo Potential: With its innate ability to be unblockable, this card can be a key piece in synergies that capitalize on direct player damage or require a creature to connect with an opponent to trigger abilities. This makes it powerful for strategies needing consistent hits to activate more potent plays.

Meta-Relevance: As the game sees cycles of control and creature-heavy decks, Slither Blade maintains its effectiveness. It shines through by dodging most common removals and slipping through creature defenses, all while paving the way for high-impact cards to take advantage of an open opponent.


How to beat

Slither Blade is a crafty creature card that can slip through defenses unnoticed in MTG. Its unblockability makes it a nuisance in the early game, allowing its controller to chip away at an opponent’s life total unhindered. While it may seem daunting, overcoming Slither Blade is about disrupting the synergy it relies on. Targeted removal spells like Fatal Push or Shock can dispatch this elusive creature before it becomes buffed by other cards or starts enabling combos.

Another effective strategy is to use creatures with reach or cards that can deal damage to any target, like Lightning Bolt, to maintain board control despite its unblockable nature. Additionally, using enchantments that restrict your opponent’s ability to cast spells or attack, such as Ghostly Prison, can neutralize the threat of Slither Blade. By preventing the buildup of a formidable offense that Slither Blade can signal, you can tilt the scales in your favor and secure victory.

Remember, Slither Blade’s strength lies not in its power but in its evasiveness and the subsequent plays it enables. Address it quickly, and you can minimize the impact this stealthy threat has on the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the allure of a card like Slither Blade reveals its strategic charm in MTG deck construction. With its innate unblockability, it offers a dependable pathway to trigger card effects and maintain pressure on the opponent from the early stages of the game. Integrating Slither Blade into your arsenal can boost your deck’s agility, enabling a suite of combo possibilities. For players seeking to gain an edge by outmaneuvering defenses, Slither Blade serves as a linchpin for innovative playstyles. Embrace this cunning one-drop’s potential—dive deeper into our MTG resources and refine your deck to harness its full prowess.


Cards like Slither Blade

Slither Blade stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a stealthy one-drop creature. It shines when compared to other unblockable creatures such as Triton Shorestalker and Mist-Cloaked Herald, each with a similar ability to sneak past defenses. Slither Blade mirrors Mist-Cloaked Herald in both mana cost and power, but what sets Slither Blade apart is its added blue color identity, providing synergy with decks that care about color specifics.

Gudul Lurker is another comparable card, which can be megamorphed for a surprise factor, although requiring more mana investment to unlock its full potential. On the other hand, Shadow Rift grants any creature temporary unblockability while also drawing a card, albeit at the cost of using an additional spell slot in a player’s deck. Slither Blade’s consistent presence on the battlefield offers reliable unblocked damage each turn, attractive for strategies that benefit from connecting with an opponent.

Assessing these options, Slither Blade is a solid choice for players aiming to maximize early game pressure with an elusive one-drop. Its adaptability and strategic advantage in certain MTG deck builds make it a noteworthy contender in its category.

Triton Shorestalker - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Gudul Lurker - MTG Card versions
Shadow Rift - MTG Card versions
Triton Shorestalker - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Mist-Cloaked Herald - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Gudul Lurker - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
Shadow Rift - Tempest (TMP)

Cards similar to Slither Blade by color, type and mana cost

Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Flying Men - MTG Card versions
Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
Cloud Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Diver - MTG Card versions
Fledgling Osprey - MTG Card versions
Manta Riders - MTG Card versions
Faerie Squadron - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Fugitive Wizard - MTG Card versions
Wandering Ones - MTG Card versions
Teardrop Kami - MTG Card versions
Dreamcatcher - MTG Card versions
Drifter il-Dal - MTG Card versions
Sage of Epityr - MTG Card versions
Screeching Sliver - MTG Card versions
Timebender - MTG Card versions
Cloud Sprite - MTG Card versions
Merrow Witsniper - MTG Card versions
Cursecatcher - MTG Card versions
Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Flying Men - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Shrieking Drake - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Cloud Pirates - Portal (POR)
Rootwater Diver - Tempest (TMP)
Fledgling Osprey - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Manta Riders - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Faerie Squadron - Invasion (INV)
Faerie Seer - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Fugitive Wizard - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Wandering Ones - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Teardrop Kami - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Dreamcatcher - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Drifter il-Dal - Time Spiral (TSP)
Sage of Epityr - Time Spiral (TSP)
Screeching Sliver - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Timebender - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Cloud Sprite - Tenth Edition (10E)
Merrow Witsniper - Morningtide (MOR)
Cursecatcher - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Slither Blade MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Mystery Booster, 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 Slither Blade and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Slither Blade Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Zezhou Chen.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 712015normalblackZezhou Chen
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4972015normalblackZezhou Chen
32020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 792015normalblackZezhou Chen
42020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 362015normalblackZezhou Chen
52020-09-26The ListPLST AKH-712015normalblackZezhou Chen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Slither Blade has restrictions

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

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