Can anyone tell me if this is legal? So my friend played one of these and I used Act of Aggression to take control of it and use it's own ability to kill itself since it tapped to use it's ability.
Haha someone at the pre-release seriously got him AND Crown of Empires.
Woozly
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
"A NON-LETHAL TAKEDOWN IS ALWAYS THE MOST SILENT TAKEDWON"
NatalyNeeSama
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
He looks like a member of Kiss xD.
But, he is nice, I used him in the past, if he have 2/2 he will be perfect, because 1/1 he is a easy target =/
ZEvilMustache
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
I really like him with Frost Breath.
"I'm killing you, now. Next turn, I'm comin' back for your mate."
SirMalkin
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@Gabriel422
Your mom is as outdated as Alladin's Ring.
RJTheDestroyer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Deco_y
I assume you mean Gideon's Lawkeeper rather than Gideon's Avenger; if so, you would be quite right (all 3 cards together would be a nice combo as well). Also, the Crown of Empires would work as well for a mono black deck (although at a higher price). Basically anything that can allow you to tap your opponent's creatures is awesome with this guy (especially to kill those annoying ones with Vigilance).
Out of all of the reprints (especially for being in every core set since Alpha), Royal Assassin has aged quite well. It's not like Sengir Vampire who grows crotchety and his somehow aging bones has made him only Uncommon at the nursing home. No, when the years start to wear on him, he says "F**k you time. If you were tapped, I'd kill you!" while everyone stares in worry as they start to strap him back into the straitjacket and put him back in his room while Sengir starts laughing but also cries a little inside because people don't think the vampire could ACTUALLY kill time. Because the Assassin has done it before, and he's not afraid to do it again (Wonder why Time Elemental hasn't been reprinted? Now you know. And shut up, it isn't because it's ability is almost useless or whatever).
What i am saying is that Royal Assassin is a good card that was made 18 years ago.
and that old assassin's never lose their touch.
PS. No, I'm not crazy. I've already had that checked.
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
antisynergy with itself. *taps and kills itself*
Concerned_Bystander
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ ryukotsen
I wondered the same thing and spent ages looking through the comprehensive rules, the conclusion i came to is that the attacking creature becomes tapped prior to any damage being dealt so you can in fact destroy an attacker with Royal Assassin before it deals any damage.
ryukotsen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ concerned bystander
ok if that be the case shouldnt there be a limit on how many can be in the deck other than the normal 4 cause it is an extremely bs card...
burnsbabe
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Concerned_bystander and @ryukotsen
Tap abilities work at instant speed. You can activate this ability whenever you have priority. For example, in response to an opponent declaring attackers (who are, at that point tapped. It's just like dropping a Lightning Bolt or Shock on a declared attacker to stop it from dealing damage.
I have four of these along with four icy manipulators. I *** people off when I won't let them cast any creatures.
Macsen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He's pretty cool. I don't know if I would use him very much, but I love the idea of some creepy clown dude sneaking up on a behemoth while it's sleeping and stabbing it in the mountain-sized back. Or even an Eldrazi... How do you do it little guy?
solid card for control decks, makes your opponent pass the attacking turn. prolongs the game in favor for most control builds.
Kryptnyt
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Never had the art it deserved. Needs more flowing cape, jagged knife, lurking on rooftops, etc. This guy in the art just lacks sty|e, and finesse. If you're gonna kill giant tapped beasties you might at least look awesome.
Opined_Fluke
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Man, he's been drawing that same knife since 8th edition. I'm very happy that this has stayed with Black for so long, but he could use some new arts. I guess he'd have to worm his way into an actual block for that.
This guy is great card advantage, and the sole reason (outside of Standard) to pick Serra over Baneslayer.
sarroth
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
@Ferlord: Unless Gatherer and a whole lot of people at Wizards are seriously mistaken, this card was not "in every core set since Alpha." Note that Royal Assassin seems to be missing the 5th, 6th, and 7th edition icons. But even if those were wrong, I doubt during the Core Set Survivor promotion Wizards had prior to M12 that they somehow missed that Royal Assassin should have made the list of contestants. The only card to have been printed in every core set from Alpha to M12 is in fact Giant Spider: http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/718
Your general idea, that Royal Assassin is amazing, remains true, though.
FirstPrime
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Stop it! Stop printing this art! Just stop!
ArtVandelay10
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Thornbite Staff, Swiftfoot boots. Which attackers were you talking about?
Lchowa
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Icy Manipulator + Royal Assassin = annoying as hell
kiseki
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Why do people call this guy "Vinny"?
Sessy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ahh, the Royal A$$, how I remember making you a must have in every MBC deck I made.
Alas, cards like Lili and Nighthawk have taken your spot competitively, but you're still one of my favs. 4/5
AlBout
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Seems to pair well with black Urabrask the Hidden. The assasin active as soon it hit the table, and it enable vigilance card to be killed as they enter.
Not really a combo, but 2 nice cards to have. can build more synergy arround em.
LordRandomness
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Stab, stab, stab!
swords_to_exile
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(3 votes)
New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed New art needed
spartanvi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love R. Assassin, but taking him out at T3 ALWAYS always always invites gut shot or Tragic Slip. I can't seem to keep this little guy alive long enough to do anything useful. T4 Assassin with an Undying Evil is all I can do to successfully pull him out.
Dabok
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Royal Assassin : So they put me on the bench when the exalted mechanic comes back in? OH COME ON!
ZeroCube100
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Surprisingly, no one has quoted the words how this card is from:
"To eliminate your enemy, Hit them in their sleep, And when all is won and lost, The spoils of wars are yours to keep." - , Megadeth
OK I know this quote is much more famous from Ultima V and Lord British (every geek from the 80s know how the whole deal is about, and I bet PhD Garfield do), but this is how the idea of this card came about.
Ratazana
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This dude is monster in casual!
DanielLPennington
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
1 of my favorite cards of all time. The body count on that knife through the years commands respect. I triple dog dare you to Tap that Elf. 4.5/5, All Day Everyday. Would be 5/5 if he could kill Serra Angel unassisted.
EdgarPoeAllen
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
This dude kills Emrakul. What does he do, run up and stab one of Cthulu there's tentacles with a dagger? 0_o
captainsealed
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Patrol Chief: "OK, people, the Cabal intents to send Royal Assassins against our beloved king. Thankfully for us, they're idiots. They wear ridiculous white make-up with a black eye. So kill anyone with black and white make-up." Guard:"But, sir, what if they're just mimes?" Patrol Chief:"I can live with a few dead mimes in my conscience."
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Surprisingly affordable card.
Its more of a deterrent, not killing anything unless they are swarming. With that 1/1 body its fragile to any kind of removal + alpha strike.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Would be really sweet to try it in R/B with haste, or in grixis with haste and untap effects.
It's worth noting that if they attack with 2+ creatures you can nail 2 before they attack again.
Mirrordin_Pure
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Well he does what Assassins do best, catching people off guard. I just wish he were a 2/1 or 1/2, something to show he knows a little bit more than the common man in terms of being able to fend for himself. 4/5 from me.
Royal Assassin + Icy Manipulator = Very Angry Opponent
When I started playing MTG back in high school the first combo I remember coming up against was Royal Assassin + Icy Manipulator. I run this guy in every black deck. I love seeing the look on my opponents face when they realize that they dare not attack me lest they want one of their creature shanked by little friend before anything touches me. Sure he's easy to kill being a 1/1 but it forces them to focus on getting rid of him while I build up to something bigger.
Matszeus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh the days, this little fella together with icy manipulator and puppet strings for some untap / untapping, and if he dies just drop an unearth and he's back for more stabbing.
His flavor text should say : "From the smallest of toads, to the biggest of mountains, I'll stab it if the price is right"
Fun addition to royal is the sorceress queens and coffin queens, I drop it and pop it, Ty for the army you want it back? Sorry it got exiled :)
ManaNailed
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Having this guy kill all your creatures is a royal pain in the assassin.
Comments (51)
Edit: @Endomarru
Right from the rulings page: Can't target itself because you choose the target before you tap him. At that time he is not yet a legal target.
This ability in black is as outdated as Aladdin's Ring.
But, he is nice, I used him in the past, if he have 2/2 he will be perfect, because 1/1 he is a easy target =/
"I'm killing you, now. Next turn, I'm comin' back for your mate."
Your mom is as outdated as Alladin's Ring.
I assume you mean Gideon's Lawkeeper rather than Gideon's Avenger; if so, you would be quite right (all 3 cards together would be a nice combo as well). Also, the Crown of Empires would work as well for a mono black deck (although at a higher price). Basically anything that can allow you to tap your opponent's creatures is awesome with this guy (especially to kill those annoying ones with Vigilance).
Definitely one of my favourite cards.
Facing Royal Assassin - 2%
Facing Wurmcoil Engine - 98%
It's not like Sengir Vampire who grows crotchety and his somehow aging bones has made him only Uncommon at the nursing home.
No, when the years start to wear on him, he says "F**k you time. If you were tapped, I'd kill you!" while everyone stares in worry as they start to strap him back into the straitjacket and put him back in his room while Sengir starts laughing but also cries a little inside because people don't think the vampire could ACTUALLY kill time.
Because the Assassin has done it before, and he's not afraid to do it again (Wonder why Time Elemental hasn't been reprinted? Now you know. And shut up, it isn't because it's ability is almost useless or whatever).
What i am saying is that Royal Assassin is a good card that was made 18 years ago.
and that old assassin's never lose their touch.
PS. No, I'm not crazy. I've already had that checked.
*taps and kills itself*
I wondered the same thing and spent ages looking through the comprehensive rules, the conclusion i came to is that the attacking creature becomes tapped prior to any damage being dealt so you can in fact destroy an attacker with Royal Assassin before it deals any damage.
ok if that be the case shouldnt there be a limit on how many can be in the deck other than the normal 4 cause it is an extremely bs card...
Tap abilities work at instant speed. You can activate this ability whenever you have priority. For example, in response to an opponent declaring attackers (who are, at that point tapped. It's just like dropping a Lightning Bolt or Shock on a declared attacker to stop it from dealing damage.
0/5
This guy in the art just lacks sty|e, and finesse. If you're gonna kill giant tapped beasties you might at least look awesome.
Your general idea, that Royal Assassin is amazing, remains true, though.
Alas, cards like Lili and Nighthawk have taken your spot competitively, but you're still one of my favs. 4/5
The assasin active as soon it hit the table, and it enable vigilance card to be killed as they enter.
Not really a combo, but 2 nice cards to have. can build more synergy arround em.
"To eliminate your enemy, Hit them in their sleep,
And when all is won and lost, The spoils of wars are yours to keep."
- , Megadeth
OK I know this quote is much more famous from Ultima V and Lord British (every geek from the 80s know how the whole deal is about, and I bet PhD Garfield do), but this is how the idea of this card came about.
So kill anyone with black and white make-up."
Guard:"But, sir, what if they're just mimes?"
Patrol Chief:"I can live with a few dead mimes in my conscience."
Its more of a deterrent, not killing anything unless they are swarming. With that 1/1 body its fragile to any kind of removal + alpha strike.
It's worth noting that if they attack with 2+ creatures you can nail 2 before they attack again.
4/5 from me.
When I started playing MTG back in high school the first combo I remember coming up against was Royal Assassin + Icy Manipulator. I run this guy in every black deck. I love seeing the look on my opponents face when they realize that they dare not attack me lest they want one of their creature shanked by little friend before anything touches me. Sure he's easy to kill being a 1/1 but it forces them to focus on getting rid of him while I build up to something bigger.
His flavor text should say : "From the smallest of toads, to the biggest of mountains, I'll stab it if the price is right"
Fun addition to royal is the sorceress queens and coffin queens, I drop it and pop it, Ty for the army you want it back? Sorry it got exiled :)