Viashino Cutthroat MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Viashino
Abilities	Haste
Released	1999-02-15
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Legacy
Set code	ULG
Power	5
Toughness	3
Number	94
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Edward P. Beard, Jr.

Key Takeaways

Viashino Cutthroat excels at applying consistent pressure through damage to opponents, subtly aiding card advantage.
Its haste and attack boosts synergize with resource acceleration, maximizing tempo and board presence.
With instant-speed play advantages, this card enhances strategic depth by keeping opponents on their toes.

Text of card

Viashino Cutthroat is unaffected by summoning sickness. At end of turn, return Viashino Cutthroat to owner's hand.

"You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up with ya." —Vark, goblin scout, last words

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Viashino Cutthroat may not directly provide card draw, but its unblockable nature when hasted, ensures it repeatedly threatens your opponent’s life total. This consistent damage output can pressure your opponent into unfavorable trades or using removals prematurely, indirectly leading to a subtle form of card advantage as you dictate the pace of resource exchange.

Resource Acceleration: While Viashino Cutthroat doesn’t ramp in the traditional sense, it aligns perfectly with decks that want to capitalize on resource acceleration. Its haste combined with power boosts or additional attack phases can exponentially increase its damage output, ensuring you get the most out of accelerated resources dedicated to establishing board presence and tempo.

Instant Speed: Although the Viashino Cutthroat itself isn’t an instant, it benefits greatly from instant-speed interactions. With the ability to slice through defenses when hasted, it rewards strategic play, allowing you to use your mana efficiently on other instant-speed spells. You can keep up the threat of activation or casting other spells until the last possible moment, ensuring your opponent always has to guess your next move.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Viashino Cutthroat often involves a discard cost to unleash its potential. If your hand is sparse, this requirement can set back your strategy, leaving you at a card disadvantage against an opponent who may capitalize on this weakness.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of mana, featuring both red and generic requirements. Decks not aligned with a red mana base might struggle to harness this card, reducing its versatility across various MTG strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that skews towards the high end for its abilities, Viashino Cutthroat competes with other cards at a similar cost point that could provide greater value or impact on the game state. In comparison, you might find there are more cost-effective creatures or spells that give you a better tactical advantage.

Reasons to Include Viashino Cutthroat in Your Collection

Versatility: Viashino Cutthroat is an aggressive creature that can be included in a variety of Red deck builds. Its haste ability allows for immediate impact on the game, providing a quick option for dealing damage or surprising an opponent with unanticipated force.

Combo Potential: The card’s ‘Unearth’ ability offers a second burst of utility from the graveyard, making it a fantastic component for decks that harness graveyard mechanics or require temporary creatures for combo execution.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment that rewards swift and decisive plays, Viashino Cutthroat’s ability to quickly enter the battlefield and provide a substantial threat makes it a worthy consideration for inclusion in decks looking to dominate the early-to-mid game phase.

How to beat Viashino Cutthroat

Confronting the Viashino Cutthroat in Magic: The Gathering requires a strategy that capitalizes on its weaknesses. This card is recognized for its haste, allowing an immediate impact on the battlefield. However, its Unearth ability, while potent, is a double-edged sword. It temporarily brings Viashino Cutthroat back from the graveyard, but it’s exiled at the end of the turn.

To combat this fiery creature, consider using cards that prevent it from attacking or utilize removal spells when it’s most vulnerable. Since its Unearth ability can’t be used on the opponent’s turn, make sure to eliminate it when it’s under your control. Efficient removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can be excellent choices here.

Moreover, focus on maintaining a robust board presence. Creatures with higher toughness can blunt the force of the Viashino Cutthroat, and enchantments like Propaganda discourage attacks by imposing a cost. Remember that once Viashino Cutthroat has used its Unearth ability, it won’t be coming back, so if you can weather its storm, you’ll leave your opponent with one less threat to contend with.

Cards like Viashino Cutthroat

When evaluating the tempo and aggression in red creature decks, Viashino Cutthroat is a card that often stands out. Its blitz-like attack can be likened to cards such as Viashino Sandstalker, another creature with haste that, however, returns to the hand at the end of the turn. Viashino Cutthroat, with its Unleash ability, chooses to stay on the battlefield but potentially at the cost of being unable to block.

Steelclaw Lance, while more equipment than creature, offers an interesting comparison with its boost to attack power and durability for a low equip cost. It shines in decks aiming for consistent pressure rather than a one-time burst. Yet, Viashino Cutthroat edges ahead with its immediate impact and potential to surprise opponents. Vulshok Berserker shares the haste trait but trades off the potential for a stronger attack for the flexibility of defending in subsequent turns.

In sum, when appraised for its aggressive characteristics, Viashino Cutthroat holds its ground with hasty threats in Magic: The Gathering. Its unique blend of attack power and permanence offers strategic value, particularly in a red deck built around swift, decisive damage output.

Viashino Sandstalker - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Viashino Cutthroat by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Viashino Cutthroat MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy, 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 Viashino Cutthroat and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Viashino Cutthroat has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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