Shadow Stinger MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Vampire Rogue |
| Abilities | Mill |
| Released | 2020-09-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Zendikar Rising |
| Set code | ZNR |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 123 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | John Thacker |
Key Takeaways
- Enhances deck access and strategic plays by connecting attacks to increase card advantage.
- Instant speed transformation to unblockable poses challenging blocking decisions for opponents.
- Requires careful hand management due to card discard activation cost, impacting resource balance.
Text of card
Tap another untapped Rogue you control: Shadow Stinger gains deathtouch until end of turn. Whenever Shadow Stinger deals combat damage to a player, that player mills three cards. (They put the top three cards of their library into their graveyard.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shadow Stinger enables its controller to delve deeper into their deck. Activating its ability can potentially add to your hand if the attack connects, paving the way to outmaneuver your opponent with a greater selection of strategic plays.
Resource Acceleration: While Shadow Stinger doesn’t generate resources directly, it synergizes well with cards that benefit from its Deathtouch ability. This can lead to accelerated board presence or resource gains through other card interactions.
Instant Speed: Shadow Stinger can transform into an unblockable threat at instant speed. This not only complicates your opponent’s blocking decisions but also allows stealthy attacks that can be timed perfectly to disrupt your opponent’s strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Shadow Stinger requires a player to discard a card to activate its ability. This can be a setback when a player’s hand is already depleted, and the loss of a card might outweigh the benefits of the trigger effect.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Shadow Stinger includes black mana, which necessitates a commitment to that color. Players running a multicolor deck may find this requirement restrictive, as it reduces the card’s flexibility in various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s considered high for its abilities, Shadow Stinger competes with other cards in the same mana range that may offer more impactful effects or stronger creatures. This cost-to-benefit imbalance could make it a less attractive option in a deck that values efficiency.
Reasons to Include Shadow Stinger in Your Collection
Versatility: Shadow Stinger can adapt to various decks, particularly for those valuing deathtouch capabilities or needing efficient blockers. Its ability to become unblockable under certain conditions also provides strategic value.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations, enabling synergies with cards that care about dealing combat damage to a player or triggering upon successful hits, potentially drawing cards or removing threats.
Meta-Relevance: As creature-centric decks continue to pace the game, Shadow Stinger holds its ground as a relevant defensive and offensive asset against a range of opponents.
How to Beat Shadow Stinger
Overcoming the challenge of Shadow Stinger in MTG requires understanding its strengths and utilizing its weaknesses strategically. As an elusive creature known for its synergy in decks that focus on Deathtouch, Shadow Stinger can quickly turn the tides by slipping past defenses and strategically removing opposing creatures from the board. However, confronting such a stealthy adversary isn’t insurmountable.
One effective approach is to limit its ability to connect with your life total by controlling the board with removal spells or creatures that can block and trade effectively. Sweepers can clear multiple threats at once, efficiently dealing with Shadow Stinger and its possible companions. Cards with Reach can also be invaluable, as they are able to block Shadow Stinger despite its evasion ability. Furthermore, beware of its activated ability which can create card advantage and potential game-winning interactions for your opponent. Keeping up instant-speed interaction to disrupt combos or remove the card in response to its activation is key.
In summary, focus on preemptive board control, readying answers for unexpected moves, and taking advantage of its limited toughness to remove it. Through a comprehensive defensive strategy, you’ll tip the scales in your favor against the concealed dangers of Shadow Stinger.
Cards like Shadow Stinger
Shadow Stinger is an interesting unit within the Magic: The Gathering rogue-themed decks. Comparable to cards like Slither Blade, both offer the elusive ability to be unblockable, allowing for consistent hits on the opponent. However, Shadow Stinger’s potential to tap an untapped rogue you control adds an extra layer by transforming it into a deathtouch assassin, enabling it to effortlessly take down larger creatures on defense.
Thieves’ Guild Enforcer is another card that shares the rogue synergy with Shadow Stinger. While the Enforcer doesn’t have the innate unblockability, it does possess a significant mill advantage, disrupting opponents’ strategies by sending their cards to the graveyard and growing stronger with each rogue or mill trigger. Zulaport Duelist, with flash and the ability to give a creature -2/-2 until end of turn, offers instant-speed interaction, although without the staying power of a deathtouch threat that Shadow Stinger provides.
Evaluating their in-game value within rogue decks, Shadow Stinger’s blend of unblockability and conditional deathtouch gives it a distinct role. It excels not just in slipping past defenses but also in removing key threats, reinforcing its niche in rogue strategies across the diverse landscape of Magic: The Gathering gameplay.
Cards similar to Shadow Stinger by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shadow Stinger MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Shadow Stinger 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shadow Stinger 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 |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shadow Stinger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-09-25 | You can tap any other untapped Rogue you control, including one you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, to pay the cost of Shadow Stinger’s first ability. |
