Serpent-Blade Assailant MTG Card


Provides card advantage and can overwhelm opponents by maintaining a resourceful hand. Accelerates resources, enabling faster deployment of powerful spells with its cost-efficiency. Offers instant speed flexibility to adapt and gain tactical advantage during battle.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf Warrior
Abilities Backup,Deathtouch
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Backup 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that's another creature, it gains the following ability until end of turn.) Deathtouch

"Kaldheim's cosmos was never yours to corrupt."


Cards like Serpent-Blade Assailant

Serpent-Blade Assailant finds its place in Magic the Gathering as an intriguing creature card option. Its closest kin in terms of functionality may be the Fencing Ace. Both cards are known for their double strike ability, allowing them to deal damage twice each combat. However, our new serpent friend presents a unique twist with its death-touch attribute, empowering you to eliminate any blocker regardless of its toughness.

Another card worth mentioning is the Skyhunter Skirmisher. Like Serpent-Blade Assailant, the Skirmisher flies high with double strike, but it lacks the lethal touch of deathtouch, which often changes the dynamics on the battlefield. While the Skirmisher might soar unchecked in the air, the Assailant forces opponents to think twice before blocking, whether on the ground or in the air due to its potential board-impacting presence.

Conclusively, the Serpent-Blade Assailant offers an intriguing combination of aggressiveness and control. Its dual capabilities of striking twice and the built-in threat to dispatch any blocker give it a compelling edge in combat scenarios, thus casting this card as a solid choice for players looking to enhance their strategic play in Magic the Gathering.

Fencing Ace - MTG Card versions
Skyhunter Skirmisher - MTG Card versions
Fencing Ace - MTG Card versions
Skyhunter Skirmisher - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Serpent-Blade Assailant by color, type and mana cost

Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
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Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
Lurker - MTG Card versions
Rysorian Badger - MTG Card versions
Sabertooth Cobra - MTG Card versions
Quirion Druid - MTG Card versions
Uktabi Orangutan - MTG Card versions
Spike Feeder - MTG Card versions
Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions
Titania's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Taoist Mystic - MTG Card versions
Femeref Archers - MTG Card versions
Verduran Enchantress - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Elder - MTG Card versions
Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Champion - MTG Card versions
Realmwalker - MTG Card versions
Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Shizuko, Caller of Autumn - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Serpent-Blade Assailant provides a strategic upper hand in matches where retaining a full grip of options can tip the scales in your favor. Its ability to contribute to the battlefield while also giving you potential access to additional cards can keep your resources flowing and overwhelm your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Although Serpent-Blade Assailant itself may not directly provide mana, in synergistic decks, it can effectively become a catalyst for various resource acceleration strategies. By being a cost-effective creature, it allows your mana to be allocated to other potent spells sooner, keeping the pressure on your adversary.

Instant Speed: Flexibility is key in dynamic gameplay, and Serpent-Blade Assailant aligns with this principle by fitting seamlessly into strategies that capitalize on the surprise factor. Whether it’s ambushing an unsuspecting creature or simply being deployed at the most opportune moment, the instant speed of spells associated with this card can provide a crucial tactical advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Serpent-Blade Assailant demands that you pitch another card to gain its full effect. This can strain your hand, especially in a tight game where resources are already pushed to the limit.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and green mana to play, Serpent-Blade Assailant can’t just slip into any deck. This can hinder deck building, particularly for those looking to keep their options flexible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When looking at Serpent-Blade Assailant’s mana value, it’s important to consider if the investment matches the impact. The card falls in a spectrum where numerous alternatives could potentially offer more bang for your buck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Serpent-Blade Assailant is a card that seamlessly integrates into a myriad of deck themes, particularly those seeking a robust early game presence with evasion capabilities through deathtouch.

Combo Potential: Owing to its deathtouch trait, this critter pairs well with equipment or spells that enable it to ping or deal damage to multiple creatures, clearing the way for a decisive victory.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creatures tend to dominate the board, Serpent-Blade Assailant shines as an efficient creature removal tool, thereby keeping the tide of battle in your favor.


How to beat

Serpent-Blade Assailant makes a swift entrance as a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. This agile creature is known for its menace, making it unblockable except by two or more creatures. Its combat potential can be a real challenge for opponents without a solid defensive strategy. To counteract the menace of the Serpent-Blade Assailant, consider using removal spells that can bypass its threatening presence. Options like Doom Blade or Murder are straightforward solutions, eliminating the creature before it can inflict significant damage.

For a more nuanced approach, cards that force sacrifices can turn the tables on your adversary. Diabolic Edict, for instance, compels your opponent to sacrifice a creature, effectively sidestepping the menace ability. Ensnaring multitudes of blockers can also dilute the assailant’s impact. Look to tokens or copious creature strategies to construct impenetrable walls that the Serpent-Blade Assailant simply can’t slither through. Keeping these tactics in mind, you can fortify your position and neutralize threats like the Serpent-Blade Assailant with strategic play and card choice.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Serpent-Blade Assailant MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine and March of the Machine Art Series, 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 Serpent-Blade Assailant and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Serpent-Blade Assailant Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Durion.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 2052015NormalBlackDurion
22023-04-21March of the Machine Art SeriesAMOM 402015Art seriesBorderlessDurion

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Serpent-Blade Assailant has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-04-14 Backup confers only abilities that are actually printed below it. Any abilities that are gained by the permanent are ignored, including abilities gained due to a resolving spell or ability or copy effects.
2023-04-14 If a backup ability causes another creature to gain abilities, the creature with backup will still have those abilities.
2023-04-14 If a backup ability targets the creature with backup, that creature will get +1/+1 counters, but it won’t gain additional abilities.
2023-04-14 If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a card with a backup ability or a token is created that is a copy of that card, the order of the printed abilities is maintained.
2023-04-14 The abilities that backup grants to the target creature are determined only once, at the time the ability triggers. They won’t change if the permanent with backup loses any abilities before the backup ability resolves.