Stalking Bloodsucker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Vampire
Abilities	Flying
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	163
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Greg Staples

Key Takeaways

Stalking Bloodsucker draws cards, indirectly accelerating resources, and utilizes instants for maximum impact.
The requirement to discard cards and specific mana costs could limit its strategic use in various decks.
Its versatility and meta relevance make it an appealing card for resilient and adaptable deck strategies.

Text of card

Flying o1o B, Discard a card from your hand: Stalking Bloodsucker gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

The pits feed both its thirst for combat and its thirst for blood.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stalking Bloodsucker offers a repeatable mechanism to draw cards when it deals combat damage to a player. This ability can provide a consistent edge in terms of card options, keeping your hand filled with potential answers or threats.

Resource Acceleration: By leveraging its ability to turn each point of damage dealt into additional card draws, Stalking Bloodsucker indirectly contributes to resource acceleration. More cards often mean more tools and options to propel your strategy forward swiftly.

Instant Speed: This creature may not function at instant speed itself, but it can capitalize on instant speed spells or effects that clear your opponent’s path or offer surprise buffs, thus maximizing the potential card draw from its combat-driven ability.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of the Stalking Bloodsucker is its activated ability, which comes with the stipulation that you must discard a card. This can be particularly taxing if your hand is already depleted, potentially stripping you of crucial resources at a time when every card in hand could turn the tides of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirement of Stalking Bloodsucker is not overly flexible, necessitating both black and generic mana. This specificity could restrict its inclusion to mono-black or black-focused decks, making it a less versatile option for players running multicolored decks that may not heavily prioritize black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Delving further into cost analysis, the mana investment to get Stalking Bloodsucker on the field is on the higher end compared to other creatures in its class. This may deter players who are aiming for a more aggressive mana curve or those looking for creatures that offer similar abilities at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include Stalking Bloodsucker in Your Collection

Versatility: Stalking Bloodsucker offers a dynamic presence across multiple game phases, adept in both offensive and defensive roles. The combination of flying and its ability to become stronger makes it a strong inclusion in decks that thrive on adaptability.

Combo Potential: With its capability to discard cards for a power boost, this card interacts well with graveyard-based strategies or setups that capitalize on card cycling. It can be a cornerstone in synergistic plays that fuel powerful combos.

Meta-Relevance: As games evolve, having a creature that can quickly shift the balance is key. In environments where maintaining board presence is critical, Stalking Bloodsucker’s resilience and threat level keep it relevant against a variety of opposing decks.

How to Beat Stalking Bloodsucker

Stalking Bloodsucker is a creature card that poses a unique challenge on the Magic: The Gathering battleground. This formidable flyer can become an annoyance if not tackled early. The key to defeating Stalking Bloodsucker lies in its vulnerability to instant-speed removals. Utilizing spells such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can swiftly eliminate it before its controller gets the chance to leverage its abilities. Similarly, countering it while it’s still on the stack with negation spells like Counterspell secures an early game advantage without the need for direct confrontation.

One must also consider its activated ability, which allows its controller to beef up the Bloodsucker at the cost of discarding a card. This ability can be costly for the opponent, setting you up to pull ahead in card advantage. Balancing your approach by maintaining card advantage while deploying effective removal is crucial in outmaneuvering the card’s potential threat. Always be poised to act when the Bloodsucker tries to assert dominance on the field. Moreover, efficient creature trades or damage mitigation through blockers are useful strategies to stave off damage and minimize its impact.

Overall, while Stalking Bloodsucker can threaten with its imposing presence, a strategic approach using targeted removal, countering tactics and anticipation of your opponent’s strategies can ensure your triumph over this nocturnal predator.

Cards like Stalking Bloodsucker

Stalking Bloodsucker holds a unique position among creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares the essence of life-leeching abilities with the likes of Vampire Nighthawk, which also offers a flying advantage and a way to gain life via its lifelink ability. However, Stalking Bloodsucker comes with an additional layer of utility—its ability to discard a card for the benefit of strengthening itself is not commonly found in many creature cards.

Another card to consider is Bloodthrone Vampire, which, like Stalking Bloodsucker, can sacrifice a creature to increase its power. Although this effect is indeed more immediate than discarding a card, it doesn’t provide the same card quality control that comes with Stalking Bloodsucker’s discard ability. Then, there’s Guul Draz Vampire, a card that becomes stronger as an opponent’s life total gets lower, showcasing another form of conditional power increase.

When assessing these options, Stalking Bloodsucker’s blend of offensive power and control over hand resources provides a strategic depth, making it an intriguing choice for players seeking versatile vampiric abilities in their decks.

Bloodthrone Vampire - URL/Convention Promos (PURL)

Cards similar to Stalking Bloodsucker by color, type and mana cost

Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions

Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions

Geth, Lord of the Vault - MTG Card versions

Ihsan's Shade - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)

Necrosavant - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)

Wire Surgeons - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Chittering Harvester - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Crossway Troublemakers - Crimson Vow Commander (VOC)

Iname, Death Aspect - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Geth, Lord of the Vault - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stalking Bloodsucker MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Stalking Bloodsucker and other MTG cards: