Pocket Pickpocket

Thieving Varmint slips into play as a compact but consequential black creature. With deathtouch and lifelink it changes combat math every time it trades blows. Its activated ability turns a single life point into a short burst of two colored mana, a currency that can only be funneled into opponents own spells when you are working a steal or a steal adjacent line of play.

In a Commander pod this card plays several roles. It is a deterrent in combat, a way to stabilize life totals, and a utility mana engine for political plays or timed thefts. Keep it protected when you need the lifegain and deathtouch to buy time, or present it as a tempting offer to sway table decisions. Players who know the set will recognize this as a tidy tool for squeezes and sudden tempo shifts.

Card Details:

• Mana Cost — {1}{B}
• Card Type — Creature
• Subtypes — Varmint
• Card Text / Rules Text (Printed) — Deathtouch, lifelink
  T, Pay 1 life: Add two mana of any one color. Spend this mana only to cast spells you don't own.
• Power / Toughness — 2/1