Thieving Magpie MTG Card


Thieving Magpie ensures a consistent card supply, crucial for sustained in-game advantage and versatility. Engaging with instants, it thrives in a tactical setup, encouraging a layered and reactive approach to combat. While potent, its blue-heavy casting cost and mana investment require a strategic deck structure to optimize performance.
Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Bird
Abilities Flying
Power 1
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying Whenever Thieving Magpie deals damage to one of your opponents, you draw a card.

Rayne once made several unkind comparisons between the bird's naked opportunism and Urza's.


Understanding Thieving Magpie’s Role

Thieving Magpie is a unique creature card that has held its place in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to draw a card whenever it deals damage to an opponent. In many ways, it can be likened to cards such as Bident of Thassa, which also enables card draw with combat damage, but extends this ability to all creatures you control, not just itself. However, Thieving Magpie stands out for being a creature itself, ready to act individually without relying on other creatures on the battlefield.

Cards like Thieving Magpie

When considering cards akin to Thieving Magpie, it’s evident that it shares a conceptual lineage with the likes of the Baleful Strix. Both creatures offer more than just their combat capabilities. While Thieving Magpie allows a card draw with direct player damage, Baleful Strix provides card draw upon entering the battlefield, as well as deathtouch for deterrence. The balancing act between these cards comes down to immediate draw versus potential repeating benefits. We also observe Coastal Piracy, which mimics the Bident of Thassa effect, sustaining card advantage through relentless attacks, albeit without providing the body to attack that the Magpie does.

Ultimately, Thieving Magpie offers a repeatable effect that can steadily tip the scales in your favor, making it a noteworthy option for any player seeking to merge offense with card advantage on the battlefield.

Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Baleful Strix - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Baleful Strix - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Thieving Magpie by color, type and mana cost

Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
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Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
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Phantasmal Dragon - MTG Card versions
Havengul Runebinder - MTG Card versions
Elgaud Shieldmate - MTG Card versions
Wonder - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Infuser - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Dragon - MTG Card versions
Havengul Runebinder - MTG Card versions
Elgaud Shieldmate - MTG Card versions
Wonder - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Every time Thieving Magpie deals damage to an opponent, you’re entitled to draw a card. This repetitive draw effect keeps your hand replenished, creating a constant flow of options and hampering the possibility of running out of steam during long duels.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana or treasure tokens, the consistent card draw from Thieving Magpie can lead to more land pulls and other resource acceleration spells, indirectly speeding up your game plan and paving the way to your victory.

Instant Speed: While Thieving Magpie itself isn’t an instant, the card plays well with instant speed spells. It encourages a defensive playstyle where you can attack with Thieving Magpie and still hold up mana for instant speed interactions on your opponent’s turn. This pressure and flexibility combination can often lead to significant advantages as the game progresses.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the context of Thieving Magpie, while the card itself does not have a discard requirement, it’s crucial to acknowledge that maintaining card advantage can be tricky. When Thieving Magpie draws you a card upon dealing combat damage to a player, it’s beneficial, but it comes at a cost – ensuring the bird can continue to attack safely, and that might require other card sacrifices to keep the path clear.

Specific Mana Cost: Thieving Magpie demands a strict blue mana presence with a casting cost that includes two blue mana symbols. This may pose a challenge for multicolored decks vying to balance versatile mana bases, ultimately limiting Thieving Magpie’s inclusion to primarily blue or blue-heavy decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that must be blue, Thieving Magpie’s effect of drawing a card upon inflicting combat damage may be less resource-efficient compared to other options. Considering the creature’s base stats of 1/3, players might find alternative card draw mechanisms that provide more immediate value or a stronger board presence for the same or less mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thieving Magpie fits seamlessly into blue-based control or midrange decks with its ability to draw cards while applying pressure on the opponent.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that allow multiple attack phases or untapping creatures, Thieving Magpie can turn into an engine, offering repeated card advantage to outpace competitors.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games typically extend into the late stages, Thieving Magpie’s consistent card draw can provide the resources needed to close out matches against slower, control-oriented decks.


How to beat

Thieving Magpie is known for its subtle but consistent card advantage mechanism in Magic: The Gathering as it allows players to draw a card whenever it deals combat damage to a player. Tackling this avian nuisance requires a strategic approach. Control the board with removal spells or blockers that can handle flying creatures, negating the Magpie’s opportunity to chip away at your defenses and draw additional cards for your opponent.

Effective tactics include utilizing instant-speed removal like ‘Murder’ to eliminate the Magpie before it strikes or setting up aerial defense using cards like ‘Wind Drake’. Ensnaring it with enchantments like ‘Pacifism’ is also an option to prevent its attack ability, thereby stopping the card draw trigger. If your strategy involves a long game, prioritize cards that can outvalue the incremental advantage a Thieving Magpie might provide, or simply overwhelm your opponent with more aggressive plays, reducing the relevancy of their extra draw.

Remember, the key to overcoming Thieving Magpie lies in hindering its ability to engage in combat. Counter it swiftly, outpace its slow card draw, or employ cards that neutralize its abilities, and this pesky bird won’t steal the win from you.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thieving Magpie MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and Seventh Edition, 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 Thieving Magpie and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thieving Magpie Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-06-07Urza's DestinyUDS 491997NormalBlackUna Fricker
22001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 1041997NormalWhiteChristopher Moeller
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 104★1997NormalBlackChristopher Moeller
42003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1072003NormalWhiteChristopher Moeller
52003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 107★2003NormalBlackChristopher Moeller
62005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 103★2003NormalBlackUna Fricker
72005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1032003NormalWhiteUna Fricker
82007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 115★2003NormalBlackUna Fricker
92007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1152003NormalBlackUna Fricker
102010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 162003NormalBlackUna Fricker
112019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5181997NormalBlackUna Fricker
122020-09-26The ListPLST UDS-491997NormalBlackUna Fricker
132023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 682015NormalBlackUna Fricker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thieving Magpie has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal