Xantcha, Sleeper Agent

Legendary Creature — Minion

As Xantcha, Sleeper Agent enters the battlefield, an opponent of your choice gains control of it.

Xantcha attacks each combat if able, and can't attack its owner or planeswalkers its owner controls.

{3}: Xantcha's controller loses 2 life and you draw a card. Any player may activate this ability.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (49)

Slashdance on Land of the Lost

2 months ago

Update!

Removed: Bloodtracker, Xantcha, Sleeper Agent, Chain Reaction, Ruinous Path, Gaze of Granite, Flameblast Dragon, Loyal Guardian, Temple of the False God

Added: Nissa of Shadowed Boughs, Retreat to Valakut, Oran-Rief Hydra, Lotus Cobra, Titania, Protector of Argoth, World Shaper, Mina and Denn, Wildborn, Riveteers Overlook

poorpinkus on The Devil On Your Shoulder - EDH Tempting Deals

2 months ago

Thanks ObserverWill! I agree, I've seen a lot of Nekusar, the Mindrazer decks and such that go way too all in and then get confused when people target them, I built this deck as a way to make it more "obvious" what you're doing so that people think of you as a lower threat and let your stuff stay around.

As for your question, I'd like to phrase it in a different way, because it's not necessarily preventing all of your stuff from being targeted, but keeping your plans under the radar. For example, Vial Smasher the Fierce can be scary, and so people think of that as your main plan, so they do everything they can to remove her. I just let them, because it makes them feel more comfortable and realize that Ludevic alone isn't too bad, in a sense you let them give and take.

In terms of keeping my plans under the radar, this deck always makes it to the end of the game and rarely is removed early. At the end of the game I do tend to have quite a few options open, since the extra card draw lets me gradually filter my hand into good removal and burn. Usually for me when the game ends it's not always a win, but the games tend to be very close, which is my favourite way to shut things out. For example I've had games where 3 players were under threat of losing to Triskaidekaphobia.

As for the midgame I usually do have at least one engine going that people let stay, for example Fevered Visions usually stays on the board for a very long time. You'll need to play a few games to gain your group's trust that you're not about to spring a huge trap, and you'll need to figure out how people assess threats before you go too hard on something like Xantcha, Sleeper Agent in the wrong situation for example. The good thing though is that this deck is designed for you to be able to play in a fairly genuine way without causing too many issues for people, so even if people do notice that you play a huge threat, they'll remove it and feel comfortable that your biggest threat is gone despite the fact that you still have a lot of good stuff on the board.

Anyways, yeah, I'd say that it's good at flying under the radar, it doesn't have too much "momentum" so people don't feel a huge sense of urgency when you play synergies. The key is to let them lose resources on their own terms, or in a way that is a good deal, and let their own greed get the best of them. I recommend letting people look through your deck before playing so that there's no surprises haha, that trust lets you get some big swingy turns even though people felt like you weren't a threat.

Hope that you have fun! Let me know how it goes if you do get it!

plakjekaas on Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's …

3 months ago

I don't think it is. Have you ever donated a creature with Quicksilver Amulet? Because that's worded the exact same way, and I've never heard someone state that if it's from your hand, it wouldn't have to enter the battlefield under your control as well (exceptions like Xantcha, Sleeper Agent not considered, of course)

Hybrow on How to Burn Your Bridges

3 months ago

Ohh.. also, one of my friends suggested Xantcha, Sleeper Agent if you want to just kill one person on the table. Give it to him then everyone can pump their mana into her.

Gleeock on Cards that put creature token …

4 months ago

Clackbridge Troll rules! & is underestimated. Xantcha, Sleeper Agent is another single creature gift.

DankMagicianD on Die, Snowflake!

5 months ago

Last, the cuts. Fellwar Stone was replaced by a more reliable signet. Outpost Siege was just too clunky compared to similar effects. Titan Hunter and Crimson Honor Guard proved too unreliable at triggering for their mana cost. Charging Tuskodon died because my five drops needed trimming and he's too much of a glass cannon. Cleansing Nova has been replaced by more efficient options. It's modal use rarely came up compared to its clunky mana cost. Ruin Raider has proven to be much more effective at killing me than providing card advantage. Curse of Stalked Prey was fun, but often too low value compared to a signet or equipment. A shame, as I really like the card. Finally, Rite of the Raging Storm and Xantcha, Sleeper Agent weren't used well. Giving my opponents creatures does not guarantee they will use them the way I want. Better to give their existing creatures options, to make it seem like it's more their idea.

legendofa on Rare commander build?

5 months ago

I think my most unusual commander is Dromar, the Banisher in Color Shift. Less unusual as a commander, but more unusual as a deck, is my Xantcha, Sleeper Agent {B}{R} pure friendliness group hug, Everyone gets to party! Everyone's invited!.

Basically, I usually mess with the table rather than try for a win.

Gleeock on Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

6 months ago

Coward_Token Having extensively experimented in that strategy, with Xantcha, Sleeper Agent & Thantis, the Warweaver I totally agree. This Kaima, the Fractured Calm feels like a tone-deaf attempt by someone in R&D who has not playtested this difficult archetype much.. Much like Thantis herself was - though I still love & play that deck. Unless Streets of awesome demons has a buttload of support for this, it will be a swing & a miss. With the power level of plug & play (card draw, land drop) commanders now, they could have given this card some sort of edge.. I'm thinking something like a activated Aura redirect ability, leaves the battlefield destroy auras ability, heck even a {G} destroy your auras on all creatures... or if you wanted to be less nerfed {G}{R} destroy target enchantment... Or something more creative & balanced to add some juice to this guy.