Street Sweeper MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Construct
Released	2012-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Return to Ravnica
Set code	RTR
Power	4
Toughness	6
Number	234
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Izzy

Key Takeaways

Street Sweeper’s ability to clear artifacts aids in dominating board control against certain match-ups.
The card’s sorcery speed demands thoughtful main phase play for optimal game impact.
Despite its higher mana cost, it presents a significant threat to artifact-focused strategies.

Text of card

Whenever Street Sweeper attacks, destroy all Auras attached to target land.

The sweepers roam endlessly, scrubbing away the refuse—and anything else too slow or too clumsy to get out of their way.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Street Sweeper allows you to keep your battlefield clean of pesky enchantments and artifacts, providing an edge in maintaining board control. This can potentially disrupt your opponent’s strategy, leading to a significant shift in the game’s momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to resource acceleration, by removing mana-generating artifacts or those that reduce casting costs, Street Sweeper indirectly slows down an opponent’s resource accumulation, putting you at an advantage by comparison.

Instant Speed: Street Sweeper operates at sorcery speed, which encourages strategic play around your main phases. Although it does not have the flexibility of an instant, its effect can dictate how the next turn will unfold, making it a thoughtful addition to any match where timing is key.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Street Sweeper’s strategy may be cumbersome as its activation requires an unwanted discard, potentially depleting valuable hand options in critical game moments.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for color-specific decks, the necessity for both white and blue mana restrains its versatility across various deck builds, impacting its adoption rate among players.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a robust mana cost attached to its abilities, Street Sweeper competes with a wide array of other cards that might offer similar or better cleaning efficiencies at a lower cost, affecting its place in a player’s deck optimization.

Reasons to Include Street Sweeper in Your Collection

Versatility: Street Sweeper can be a handy addition to decks that struggle with artifact-heavy opponents. It can serve as recurring artifact removal every attack, making it a flexible sideboard option or even a maindeck card in the right meta.

Combo Potential: Those crafting decks focused on repeatable triggered abilities will find Street Sweeper’s consistent artifact clearing mechanism synergistic. It could be particularly effective in artifact-dense environments, working in tandem with strategies that capitalize on clearing the board.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape dominated by artifacts, Street Sweeper shines. It presents a continuous threat to decks relying on artifacts for their game plans, thereby earning a spot in collections oriented towards staying ahead in the current competitive scene.

How to beat

Street Sweeper presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This artifact creature has the potential to clear away an opponent’s hard-earned enhancements each turn, specifically targeting auras attached to lands. When facing this card, strategic planning comes to the forefront. To mitigate the impact of Street Sweeper, consider using enchantments that can easily be recast or utilizing equipment instead of auras for strengthening creatures.

It’s also worth noting that removal spells are highly effective against Street Sweeper. Instant-speed removal in particular, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can eliminate the threat before it has a chance to activate its ability. Alternatively, using counterspells to prevent Street Sweeper from ever entering the battlefield can save your enhancers from its detrimental effect. Additionally, focusing on non-aura based strategies, like counters or tokens, ensures your game plan remains unhindered by this particular sweeping force.

Whether it’s employing swift removal or rethinking your buffing strategy, overcoming the obstacle that is Street Sweeper requires careful deck construction and precise play. When prepared, you can ensure that your path to victory remains free of roadblocks.

Cards like Street Sweeper

Within the tapestry of Magic: The Gathering, Street Sweeper offers a unique utility in controlling artifacts. This card finds parallels with others like Viashino Heretic, which also provides recurring artifact removal. Whereas Street Sweeper requires a certain condition—attached to a land—Viashino Heretic can target any artifact and destroy it. The choice between the two could hinge on the meta-game, considering the prevalent types of decks in play.

Turning our attention to cards like Reclamation Sage, which offers a one-off effect but hits a wider range of permanents, including enchantments. Street Sweeper’s recurring potential may seem limited in comparison, but it shines in a meta dense with utility lands sporting pesky artifacts. Another card, Ratchet Bomb, can achieve a sweep of artifacts regardless of their attachment but requires a buildup of charge counters to be as effective.

Assessing Street Sweeper amongst its peers reveals its niche role. In games where lands carry powerful artifacts, this card fortifies a position few others can, emphasizing strategic play around your opponent’s resources.

Cards similar to Street Sweeper by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Street Sweeper MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica, 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 Street Sweeper and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Street Sweeper has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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