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Explosive combos with Souvenir Snatcher
Blue has long trusted that knowledge is power, and a little misdirection can tilt the board in your favor. Souvenir Snatcher, a rare mutate creature from Commander 2020, is the perfect embodiment of that philosophy. For four mana plus a blue kicker, you get a 4/4 flyer with Mutate and a powerful on-mutate payoff: whenever this creature mutates, you gain control of a target noncreature artifact. In other words, every time you reorganize the battlefield by mutating, you get to swipe a piece of your opponent’s toolkit. 🧙♂️🔥💎
Souvenir Snatcher text: Mutate {5}{U} (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.) Flying. Whenever this creature mutates, gain control of target noncreature artifact.
That combination of flying and a built-in theft trigger can redefine late-game dynamics. The mutate mechanic, born in Ikoria and refined in Commander 2020, lets you stack stacked layers of value—top creature’s abilities combined with all of the under-creature’s effects—while Souvenir Snatcher’s trigger quietly nidifies your control over powerful artifacts. It’s the kind of card that makes blue players grin and pirate players groan. 🧭⚔️
Core ideas: how to build around the Snatcher
- Prioritize artifact density: The more noncreature artifacts you can threaten to steal, the more inevitability Souvenir Snatcher builds. Mana rocks, card drawers, or situational artifacts like Thran Dynamo or Chromatic Lantern become prime targets. When Souvenir Snatcher mutates, you pick a noncreature artifact to seize, disrupting opponents while you advance your own game plan. 🔧🎲
- Protect the mutate engine: Mutate spells are blue's tempo bread and butter, but they’re expensive and vulnerable to removal. Include countermagic and protection in the 75: Counterspell, Mystical Tutor fetches, or a converted mana base that keeps you online. The better you protect the mutate, the more times you trigger artifact-steals and the more control you gain of the battlefield. 🧊🛡️
- Define your artifact capture targets: Keep a short list of artifacts your deck wants to steal—Sol Ring, mana rocks, or key swords and shields—that shift the momentum toward you. You don’t need to steal every artifact; the strategic value of stealing one or two pivotal pieces can swing the game in your favor, especially if you pair it with card draw or selection to stay ahead on fuel. 💎
- Mutate with intent: The top creature matters—mutating onto a non-Human creature you own ensures you preserve access to the mutating ability while the bottom creature lends its own utility. Consider targets that let you accelerate your plan (e.g., creatures with ETB or attack-triggered effects) so the Snatcher’s theft lines up with your strategy. 🧠✨
- Timing is everything: In Commander, a single stolen artifact can unlock a cascade of plays—extra mana to cast your next spell, a draw engine kept online, or a key answer removed from an opponent’s hand. Look for windows when you can mutate, steal, and threaten another mutation soon after to maximize pressure. 🕰️🔥
Practical combos to try at the table
- The mana-swap tempo: Early in the game, target a critical mana artifact such as Sol Ring or Mana Crypt when Souvenir Snatcher mutates. If you’ve got a second mutate spell handy, you can chain a second mutation and steal a second artifact, stacking your resource advantage while you ride the tempo into threats like Supreme Will or Time Warp. The result is a blue-control tempo deck that can outpace slower opponents and threaten a finish with big counter-maya plays. 🧙♂️⚡
- Lockpieces with protective draw: Combine Snatcher with a couple of card-drawing or filtering artifacts. If you steal an artifact that accelerates your hand (think of some colorless draw options or filter effects), you keep finding answers while the battlefield tilts under the weight of your mutates. It’s a classic blue approach: gain the tempo, then lock down threats with counters and careful sequencing. 🎨🧊
- Steal to flex: Mutate onto a creature with generic utility, then steal a noncreature artifact that directly disrupts an opponent’s game plan (for example, a utility artifact that untaps lands or a permanents-key equipment). The target becomes available for future mutations, letting you keep the chain going as you build inevitability. The result is not just board presence; it’s a moving piece of control that your table learns to respect. 🪄🗡️
- Political leverage: In multiplayer formats, the threat of stealing an opponent’s artifact can be a powerful negotiation tool. When you mutate Snatcher onto a creature you own, the act of stealing a critical artifact can sour your rival’s mood enough to soften a potential attack or trade for a safer path to victory. The social dynamic is as much a part of the puzzle as the math. 🤝🎭
- Budget-friendly value: Commander 2020 cards, including Souvenir Snatcher, show that you don’t need a vault-full of rares to make a meaningful impact. If you’re building a blue mutate-artifact shell on a budget, focus on solid interaction and reliable draw to ensure Snatcher’s mutates land with a little extra swagger. The card’s price point keeps it accessible while still delivering powerful moments at the table. 💸💎
Flavor-and-design note: Mutate lets a creature borrow the body and the abilities of what’s underneath while the keyworded ability on Souvenir Snatcher rewards you for pushing the mutate trigger. It’s a neat intersection of Ikoria’s mutative creativity and Commander’s artifact-rich, politics-driven playstyle. The art by Kev Walker and the bold black frame of the Commander 2020 set frame make this card a memorable piece in any blue mutator’s collection. 🎨🧭
For players chasing a theme that blends control, tempo, and theft, Souvenir Snatcher offers a surprisingly explosive toolkit. It’s the kind of card that rewards thoughtful sequencing and a calm, confident vibe at the table—precisely the sort of magic that makes us fall in love with MTG all over again. 🧙♂️🔥💎
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