Erratic Cyclops MTG Card


Erratic Cyclops grows stronger with each instant and sorcery, elevating your battlefield strategy. Its mana-specific demands and high cost require careful deck construction and management. With reactive play, it shines in spellslinger decks and against creature-heavy metas.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Cyclops Shaman
Abilities Trample
Power 0
Toughness 8

Text of card

Trample Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Erratic Cyclops gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is that spell's converted mana cost.

"The League accepts no responsibility for former members and the damage they may cause." —Maree, Izzet chamberlain


Cards like Erratic Cyclops

Erratic Cyclops stands out in the lineup of creatures within Magic: The Gathering due to its unique prowess in converting spells to power. This creature’s strength scales with each instant or sorcery cast, ensuring a consistent growth in threat level. A comparable card is the Crackling Drake that draws inspiration from the spell-slinging synergy. However, contrary to Erratic Cyclops, Crackling Drake also considers graveyard spells to calculate its power and even provides card draw upon entering the battlefield.

Exploring further, we find the Enigma Drake, another similar creature that gains strength from the spells cast throughout the game. Though both Enigma Drake and Erratic Cyclops have their power tied to instants and sorceries, Enigma Drake’s flying ability grants it a tactical edge. Yet, Erratic Cyclops holds the advantage of trample, making it harder for opponents to block effectively without taking damage.

Evaluating these cards reminds us that each provides distinct strategic directions in deck building. While Erratic Cyclops focuses on a potent and escalating offensive, its counterparts offer alternative benefits, like card draw and evasion, making the choice a matter of aligned tactics and style within MTG’s dynamic gameplay.

Crackling Drake - MTG Card versions
Enigma Drake - MTG Card versions
Crackling Drake - MTG Card versions
Enigma Drake - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Erratic Cyclops by color, type and mana cost

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Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Erratic Cyclops offers a unique strategic depth as its power increases with every instant and sorcery spell you cast, thereby potentially transforming each spell into an increase in battlefield presence.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, this card synergizes well with spells that untap lands or generate additional mana, effectively acting as a force multiplier for your resource acceleration efforts.

Instant Speed: Due to its reliance on the casting of instant spells to grow stronger, Erratic Cyclops encourages a playstyle that maximizes the value of playing at instant speed. This allows for reactive tactics and maintaining the element of surprise to overpower opponents during critical turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As a magic card that becomes more potent with instants and sorceries, Erratic Cyclops often leaves you in a predicament when your hand is empty. Without spells to cast, its potential remains untapped, serving as a mere roadblock rather than an offensive powerhouse.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck builders bear the burden of weaving a web of red mana sources to summon Erratic Cyclops. This specific mana need restricts deck diversity and can result in a faltering mana base in multi-colored decks, potentially compromising your game plan.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating four mana for a creature whose strength relies on subsequent play can be a tall order. Especially when you consider alternative creatures or spells that could immediately impact the board or your card advantage without such a weighty investment upfront.


Reasons to Include Erratic Cyclops in Your Collection

Versatility: Erratic Cyclops offers a unique dynamic on the battlefield, fitting well into spellslinger decks and strategies that look to cast large numbers of instants and sorceries.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in combo-centric decks, particularly with spells that can dramatically increase its power, as its ability converts instant and sorcery spell damage directly into a power boost.

Meta-Relevance: In metas that are heavy on creature combat, Erratic Cyclops can serve as both a formidable blocker and a potent threat that demands an answer from your opponent.


How to beat

Erratic Cyclops is a unique creature in MTG, gaining strength from the casting of instant and sorcery spells. Its ability to grow its power based on the converted mana cost of these spells can make it quite a formidable opponent. When facing the Erratic Cyclops, it’s crucial to adopt strategies that can mitigate its potential threat on the battlefield. Having removals ready is key – spells like Murder or Cast Down can eliminate it before it becomes too powerful. Additionally, counter spells serve as a strong defense, preventing your opponent from casting those game-altering instants or sorceries that would pump the Cyclops’ power.

It’s also worth noting that Erratic Cyclops has a base power of zero, which is a vulnerability that certain cards can exploit. Fliers and creatures with trample can bypass it effectively since its high toughness is not a barrier against evasive creatures. Playing cards that restrict your opponent from playing non-creature spells, like Damping Sphere, can also stifle the growth of Erratic Cyclops. Always prioritize maintaining control over the board state, and remember, strategic play is as essential as the cards in your hand when taking down a powerhouse like the Erratic Cyclops in MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Erratic Cyclops MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Commander 2021, 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 Erratic Cyclops and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Erratic Cyclops Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Milivoj Ćeran.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 982015NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1662015NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Erratic Cyclops has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Erratic Cyclops card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2018-10-05 Erratic Cyclops’s triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2018-10-05 If a spell has in its mana cost, include the value chosen for that X when determining the mana value of that spell.