Ruthless Sniper MTG Card


Utilizes cycling to gain card advantage while disrupting opponent’s creatures with -1/-1 counters. Instant speed ability enables surprise interactions, making the Sniper a tactical asset. While offering control, its dependency on discarding and specific mana can limit versatility.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Archer
Power 1
Toughness 2

Text of card

Whenever you cycle or discard a card, you may pay . If you do, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.

"You may feel a slight sting."


Cards like Ruthless Sniper

Ruthless Sniper is a unique character within the realm of creature spells in MTG. It has a distinct loyalty to the ‘cycling’ mechanic, found on cards like Street Wraith or Archfiend of Ifnir. Street Wraith allows a player to cycle it at zero cost but comes at the price of 2 life, offering a way to filter cards without diminishing mana. Archfiend of Ifnir, while more costly, utilizes cycling to weaken your opponent’s creatures, showcasing a correlation with Ruthless Sniper in controlling the board.

Drake Haven is another card that synergizes well with cycling, rewarding the player with a 2/2 Drake token for each cycle or discard. Although it doesn’t put -1/-1 counters on opponents’ creatures like Ruthless Sniper, it compensates by broadening your airborne offense. Then there is Faith of the Devoted, which, rather than impacting the board presence, chips away at an opponent’s life total and fortifies your own with each cycle.

From these examples, it’s evident Ruthless Sniper has a strong affinity with similar cycling-centric cards. It fosters deliberate strategizing, as it plates -1/-1 counters amidst the common goal of deck maneuverability and resource optimization, making it a forceful ally in specialized MTG deck builds.

Street Wraith - MTG Card versions
Archfiend of Ifnir - MTG Card versions
Drake Haven - MTG Card versions
Faith of the Devoted - MTG Card versions
Street Wraith - MTG Card versions
Archfiend of Ifnir - MTG Card versions
Drake Haven - MTG Card versions
Faith of the Devoted - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ruthless Sniper by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Zodiac Rat - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Champion of the Perished - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Shadow-Watcher - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Plague Beetle - MTG Card versions
Festering Goblin - MTG Card versions
Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions
Knucklebone Witch - MTG Card versions
Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Zodiac Rat - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Champion of the Perished - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Shadow-Watcher - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Plague Beetle - MTG Card versions
Festering Goblin - MTG Card versions
Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions
Knucklebone Witch - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Ruthless Sniper. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Rakdos ScamRakdos Scam LegacyRakdos ScamLegacy Qualifier 2024-03-01

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ruthless Sniper offers a unique form of card advantage through cycling synergy. Each time you cycle another card, you may pay a small fee to have the Sniper put a -1/-1 counter on a target creature. This encourages a constant flow of new cards and strategic depletion of your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: The intrinsic synergy with cycling cards aids in resource acceleration. Discarding a card to cycle not only potentially upgrades your hand quality but activates the Sniper’s ability, turning a basic mechanic into a tool for controlling the battlefield without extra mana investment.

Instant Speed: While Ruthless Sniper itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability can be used at instant speed whenever you cycle a card. This allows for strategic plays during your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and potentially disrupting their plans by shrinking key creatures when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ruthless Sniper necessitates the discarding of another card to activate its crucial ability. This can deplete your hand quickly and leave you at a disadvantage if you don’t have enough backup cards or a reliable means to replenish your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a black mana to play, which can restrict its inclusion in decks that aren’t aligned with black mana or multi-colored decks that might struggle to produce the necessary mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that must be met to get the most out of Ruthless Sniper, its expense can be a bit steep compared to other options. There might be more beneficial cards with lower mana requisites that offer better board control or utility without the need for additional card investments.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ruthless Sniper offers flexibility for deck builders, as it can easily slide into cycling or madness themed decks and provide incremental advantage with its ability to put -1/-1 counters on creatures, creating significant board impact.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergistic environments, working well with cards that cycle or discard, allowing you to control the opponent’s creatures and keep the board state in your favor while advancing your game plan.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy with creature-based strategies, Ruthless Sniper can become a key player, providing you with a repeatable source of creature control to disrupt your opponents while you build a winning position.


How to beat

Ruthless Sniper can become a significant threat on the battlefield in MTG if left unchecked. This creature thrives in decks built around cycling or discarding cards, enabling it to consistently weaken opponents’ creatures. To counteract this, it’s important to disrupt its ability to target your key creatures. This can often mean either removing the Sniper quickly or limiting its targets through hexproof and indestructible effects. Instant speed removal spells that can outpace the cycling mechanism, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are excellent tools. Additionally, applying pressure with fast-paced aggressive strategies can overwhelm a deck reliant on a card like Ruthless Sniper. Denying resources or applying hand disruption strategies can also prevent the buildup of cycling cards, cutting off the synergy before it starts. Remember, prioritizing threats and understanding when to react can be the difference between victory and defeat when facing down this steady marksman.

Control elements are also effective; counterspells ensure that Ruthless Sniper never hits the board, while enchantments like Rest in Peace can inhibit graveyard strategies that often accompany cycling decks. By incorporating these strategies, you can mitigate the impact of Ruthless Sniper, securing your position and paving your way to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ruthless Sniper MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Ruthless Sniper and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ruthless Sniper Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Sara Winters.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 1052015NormalBlackSara Winters
22020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 1212015NormalBlackSara Winters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ruthless Sniper has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2017-04-18 An ability that triggers whenever you discard a card doesn’t give you permission to discard cards. You’ll need another effect that instructs or allows you to discard them.
2017-04-18 An ability that triggers whenever you “cycle or discard” a card triggers only once if you cycle a card. The ability “Whenever you discard a card” is functionally identical to this ability; cycling is mentioned for clarity.
2017-04-18 If a player discards a card during their cleanup step due to having too many cards in hand, any appropriate abilities that trigger on discarding that card trigger. If this happens, those triggered abilities are put onto the stack and players receive priority in that cleanup step to cast spells or activate abilities (normally, no players may take actions during a cleanup step). Another cleanup step is created following that one.
2017-04-18 Some cards have an ability that triggers whenever you cycle any card. These triggered abilities resolve before you draw from the cycling ability.
2017-04-18 While resolving Ruthless Sniper’s triggered ability, you can’t pay multiple times to put more counters on creatures.