Phantom Ninja MTG Card


Phantom Ninja excels in slipping past blockers, enabling sneaky combat damage and potent triggered abilities. Its minimal casting cost promotes swift gameplay, despite a specific mana requirement limiting deck diversity. Combining Phantom Ninja with instant speed spells or complementary cards maximizes its strategic advantage.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Illusion Ninja
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Phantom Ninja can't be blocked.

"Ninjas can run across water, pull ladders from pockets, kill with a kiss, and slip between bricks. Pack of lies, I say." —Benden, teahouse gossip


Cards like Phantom Ninja

The inclusion of Phantom Ninja in deck strategies signals a stealthy approach to combat in Magic: The Gathering. This creature shares tactical nuances with other unblockable cards such as Mist-Cloaked Herald, which can also evade defenders with ease. While the Herald comes with a lower casting cost, it does not share Phantom Ninja’s fading ability, which can offer a temporary advantage on the battlefield.

Exploring further, Invisible Stalker stands out with both unblockability and hexproof, guaranteeing a persistent threat that is difficult to remove. Yet, unlike the Stalker, Phantom Ninja requires a tactical setup to maximize its effectiveness. Additionally, there’s the Thalakos Seer, offering unblockability alongside a card draw when it leaves play. The Seer and Phantom Ninja both cater to strategies that aim to benefit from evasive creatures that can influence the board state indirectly.

To sum up, Phantom Ninja’s unique attribute of phased unblockability establishes itself as a strategic option for players who appreciate subtlety and strategic timing, comparing favorably among creatures that provide elusive advantages on the playing field.

Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Invisible Stalker - MTG Card versions
Thalakos Seer - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Invisible Stalker - MTG Card versions
Thalakos Seer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Phantom Ninja by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Reef Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Clam Session - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Reef Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Clam Session - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When the Phantom Ninja is in play, it provides the strategic benefit of bypassing blockers, potentially leading to direct damage and enabling triggered abilities that can result in drawing cards or disrupting opponent’s plans.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly provide traditional mana ramp, but its low casting cost coupled with its evasive nature allows for swift and efficient plays which can accelerate your board state and resource allocation.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the Phantom Ninja can be complemented by instant speed spells that protect it or remove threats at critical moments, thus maintaining card and board advantage while keeping opponents on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Phantom Ninja may ask players to discard a card to unleash its abilities, potentially diminishing hand advantage and forcing tough decisions if your hand size is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirements of Phantom Ninja are limited to specific mana types, restricting deck-building options and potentially causing mana base issues for multicolor decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the mana investment required to get Phantom Ninja onto the battlefield, players may find themselves unable to efficiently manage their mana resources while competing with other low-cost spells for a place in the deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Phantom Ninja offers a flexible role in deck construction, melding well with strategies favoring unblockable creatures or ninjutsu mechanics. Its ability to evade blockers ensures it can be a consistent source of damage or a reliable enabler for various enter-the-battlefield triggers.

Combo Potential: With synergistic cards that benefit from dealing combat damage to a player, Phantom Ninja becomes a linchpin in executing damaging combos or drawing cards. Integrating it with cards that capitalize on dealing combat damage can significantly enhance your strategy’s potency.

Meta-Relevance: Given the landscape of competitive play, which often includes decks filled with numerous creatures, having an unblockable asset like Phantom Ninja can give you an edge. It’s particularly useful in environments where evasion is key to overcoming congested battlefields and securing a path to victory.


How to beat

Phantom Ninja presents a clever challenge for MTG players with its elusive nature. This card allows for unprecedented tactical advantage by not being blockable whenever it attacks. With its ability, it has the potential to become a consistent source of damage, pushing opponents to find creative solutions to mitigate its impact on the battlefield.

Counteracting Phantom Ninja requires strategic planning and the use of cards that bypass its unblockability. Removal spells are an effective method – spells that specifically state “destroy target creature” or “exile target creature” can serve as a clear path to dealing with the Phantom Ninja menace. Moreover, cards that force a tap before combat or abilities that prevent creatures from attacking are also worthwhile considerations for players struggling against this stealthy adversary.

Ultimately, overcoming Phantom Ninja hinges on a deck prepared with a diverse arsenal of answers. Incorporating versatile removal, keeping control of the battlefield with tap and lock effects, and maintaining a proactive approach to board state can disarm this ninja’s silent threat. As players anticipate this card’s inclusion in their opponent’s strategy, they’ll find that a prepared defense is key to turning the tide.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unleash the power of stealth in your MTG collection with Phantom Ninja. Ideal for players keen on strategies that finesse through defenders, this card enhances your ability to land consistent damage and trigger pivotal abilities. Incorporate Phantom Ninja into your arsenal for a cunning edge in gameplay. If you’re wrestling with the decision to adapt your deck to include this card, remember, strategic diversity often dictates victory. Embrace the subtlety of unblockable creatures to outmaneuver opponents. Delve deeper into MTG strategies and refine your deck-building skills with us. Elevate your game and seize victory with elusive prowess.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phantom Ninja MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Phantom Ninja and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Phantom Ninja Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Joe Slucher.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 622015NormalBlackJoe Slucher
22021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 2302015NormalBlackJoe Slucher

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Phantom Ninja has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal