Dreamstalker Manticore MTG Card

It maintains board control by triggering damage with each first spell during opponents’ turns. The Manticore’s synergy with instant-speed spells accelerates resource utilization effectively. However, its requirement to discard for activation could be a drawback in prolonged matches.

Dreamstalker Manticore - Theros Beyond Death

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment Creature — Manticore
Released	2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set name	Theros Beyond Death
Set code	THB
Power	4
Toughness	2
Number	131
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Chris Rallis

Text of card

Whenever you cast your first spell during each opponent's turn, Dreamstalker Manticore deals 1 damage to any target.

Purphoros forged the manticore's tail from bronze, its teeth from silver, and its heart from hate.

Cards like Dreamstalker Manticore

Dreamstalker Manticore is an intriguing creature in MTG, reminding players of other cards with triggered abilities during your turn. A card like Guttersnipe, for instance, deals damage to each opponent whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, aligning with Dreamstalker Manticore’s synergy with noncreature spells. Nonetheless, Guttersnipe’s broader range of activation, hitting all opponents, contrasts Dreamstalker Manticore’s single-target ping ability.

Looking at Skirk Fire Marshal, another card that interacts uniquely with the play of noncreature spells, it provides a more explosive effect but requires a substantial board presence of other Goblins to be effective. In comparison, Dreamstalker Manticore stands out with its accessibility, being effective in decks that may not be heavily creature-based. Then there’s Young Pyromancer, which also benefits from noncreature spells but instead of dealing direct damage, it creates a 1/1 red Elemental creature token with each instance – offering a different approach to leveraging spells for a tactical advantage.

Assessing Dreamstalker Manticore within the pantheon of similar MTG cards, it finds its niche with a balance between enabling damage output and encouraging a spell-slinging playstyle, carving out its own place in decks favoring precision and consistent board interaction during one’s turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The ability to trigger damage every time you cast your first spell on each opponent’s turn maintains consistent card advantage by potentially removing threatening creatures or chipping away at your opponent’s life total. This can lead to significant board control, especially in formats that favor creature-based strategies.

Resource Acceleration: While Dreamstalker Manticore doesn’t directly generate mana or treasure, it does synergize with cards that enable casting at instant speed, effectively accelerating your resource deployment. Integrating it with cards that untap lands or provide additional mana on your opponent’s turn can create powerful tempo swings.

Instant Speed: Dreamstalker Manticore itself may not be an instant, but it incentivizes a deck that maximizes the potential of instant-speed spells. The key is to harness the Manticore’s ability whenever possible, leveraging this dynamic to disrupt your opponents during their turns and preserve your mana for the most opportune moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate Dreamstalker Manticore’s ability, you must discard a card which could deplete your hand, decreasing your options as the game progresses.

Specific Mana Cost: Dreamstalker Manticore requires both red and generic mana to cast, making it less flexible and harder to deploy in multicolored decks not focused on red.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two that must be red, this creature can be a heavier investment compared to other cards with similar effects, which might hinder its inclusion in faster-paced decks.

Reasons to Include Dreamstalker Manticore in Your Collection

Versatility: Dreamstalker Manticore offers a flexible role in decks centered around instant and sorcery spells due to its ability to deal damage each time you cast your first spell during each opponent’s turn. This makes it a valuable addition to red decks seeking to harness spellslinger strategies.

Combo Potential: With Dreamstalker Manticore, the potential to create synergies is significant. Each non-creature spell you cast during an opponent’s turn nudges the Manticore into pinging any target. This acts as a repeatable source of damage, ideal for decks that aim to control the board and reduce opponent’s life incrementally.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where small creature decks dominate or where maintaining board control is paramount, Dreamstalker Manticore’s consistent damage trigger can be a game-changer, disrupting enemy lines while providing a persistent threat each turn.

How to beat

Dreamstalker Manticore has definitely left its mark in MTG as a creature that can potentially unleash a steady stream of damage round after round. Understanding its mechanics is key to countering it effectively. This card thrives in an environment where casting spells during your turn is a common occurrence, which then allows it to ping any target.

To tackle this manticore, consider adjusting your play to minimize casting spells on your own turn. Alternatively, removal spells that can bypass its 4 toughness, like Murder or Doom Blade, can effectively send this creature packing before it wreaks havoc. It’s also important to note that Dreamstalker Manticore requires a noncreature spell to activate its ability, so keeping the pressure with creature spells could also diminish its impact on the game. Lastly, enchantments that neutralize abilities or prevent damage can severely limit Dreamstalker Manticore’s influence on the board, thus tilting the match back in your favor.

Remember, flexibility and smart deck construction are your best weapons. Knowing how this card operates allows you to take preemptive steps to ensure it doesn’t dominate the battlefield. Whether through counterplay or direct removal, maintaining control against Dreamstalker Manticore is absolutely achievable.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dreamstalker Manticore MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Dreamstalker Manticore and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dreamstalker Manticore has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-01-24	An ability that triggers when you cast a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2020-01-24	If you have more than one opponent, this ability can trigger once during each of those opponents’ turns.
2020-01-24	In a Two-Headed Giant game, this ability triggers no more than once during each opposing team’s turn.
2020-01-24	This ability triggers only on your very first spell during an opponent’s turn, not the first spell after the card is on the battlefield. If you cast a spell before it’s on the battlefield (including if you cast this card somehow during an opponent’s turn), the ability won’t trigger.