Slashing Tiger MTG Card
1999-05-01 - Number 145
2009-09-07 - Number 133
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Cat |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Slashing Tiger offers card advantage, pressuring opponents and potentially creating favorable exchanges.
- The card’s mana cost and discard requirement are notable drawbacks to consider in deck building.
- Its trample ability and synergy with enchantments make it a versatile addition to collections.
Text of card
When Slashing Tiger attacks and is blocked, it gets +2/+2 until the end of the turn.
"Unless you enter the tiger's lair, you cannot get hold of the tiger's cubs." —Sun Tzu, *Art of War* (trans. Giles)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Slashing Tiger can create pressure on the board, forcing your opponent to deal with it and potentially leading to a favorable exchange of cards. If it manages to survive combat due to its formidable stats, you effectively remove your opponent’s creatures without losing your own.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or resources, its presence aims to sustain your board state, indirectly preserving resources you’d otherwise spend on deploying more threats. This economy of force can put you ahead in the long term, especially if the Tiger stands unchallenged.
Instant Speed: While Slashing Tiger itself does not operate at instant speed, its robust presence affects when and how your opponent might cast their spells. This subtler tactical advantage influences the pace and flow of the game, often to your benefit.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When it comes to handling Slashing Tiger in your deck, one downside is the need to let go of another card from your hand. During gameplay, having to discard can be a setback, especially if you’re aiming to maintain a strategic hand size.
Specific Mana Cost: The particular mana requirements to cast Slashing Tiger could pose a challenge. If your deck isn’t built to generate the right type of mana consistently, you might find yourself unable to play the card when you need it the most.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Slashing Tiger’s mana cost is on the higher end of the scale for its abilities. There are other creatures within the game that may offer similar strength and toughness for less mana, providing more flexibility and efficiency for your deck’s strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Slashing Tiger can slide into a range of decks with its balanced stats and trample ability, making it a good pick for both aggressive strategies and decks looking for solid mid-game creatures.
Combo Potential: With its trample trait, Slashing Tiger works well with buffs or enchantments that increase power or provide additional effects upon dealing combat damage to a player.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where smaller creature strategies prevail, the trample ability of Slashing Tiger ensures it remains a relevant threat by pushing through damage against chump blockers.
How to Beat
The Slashing Tiger is a unique creature card that requires strategic planning to outmaneuver in the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Adept at delivering damage while eluding blockers with its special abilities, this card can become a nuisance if not dealt with promptly. To counter this feline threat, it’s necessary to employ removal spells or effects that can neutralize it without the need for blocking.
When facing Slashing Tiger, it is effective to use spot removal spells that can eliminate it regardless of its prowess or special abilities. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile are reliable tools, as they can directly remove it from play. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation provide a broader solution, clearing the board of not only Slashing Tiger but also other creatures that may accompany it.
In summary, while Slashing Tiger can be a stealthy and efficient attacker, it remains susceptible to targeted removal and sweeping board clearances. Swift and assertive action is the key to ensuring that this tiger does not take too much out of your life total, maintaining control of the game.
Cards like Slashing Tiger
Slashing Tiger, a creature card in MTG, brings an intriguing dynamic to the battlefield with its formidable power. Standing alongside cards like Sabertooth Mauler, Slashing Tiger shares the quintessential green color that’s known for its strong creatures. However, this Tiger is unique with its ability to potentially become unblockable when you control a forest and pay the cost associated with its ability. In contrast, the Sabertooth Mauler gains in power and toughness via a +1/+1 counter each time a creature you control with power 4 or greater dies.
Similar to Slashing Tiger is Scaled Wurm, another hefty green creature. While the Wurm offers raw power with its higher toughness, it lacks the tactical advantage Slashing Tiger holds in maneuverability around blockers. Conversely, Thicket Crasher, also analogous in offering the potential for an unblocked attack, extends this boon to other green creatures you control, showcasing a collective strategy.
Ultimately, in the realm of green creatures that capitalize on sheer power, the unique tactical advantage Slashing Tiger presents can potentially tip the scales in a game, carving a niche for itself with careful play.
Cards similar to Slashing Tiger by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Slashing Tiger MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Masters Edition III, 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 Slashing Tiger and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Slashing Tiger Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Yang Jun Kwon.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 145 | 1997 | Normal | White | Yang Jun Kwon | |
| 2 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 133 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Yang Jun Kwon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Slashing Tiger has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Slashing Tiger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | When Slashing Tiger becomes blocked, the ability will trigger just once no matter how many creatures are blocking it. |
