Seismic Monstrosaur MTG Card


Provides indirect card advantage by pressuring opponents to allocate more resources against it. Affordable casting cost allows for early game dominance and fits aggressive strategies. Haste ability gives Seismic Monstrosaur an element of surprise, acting immediately upon entering the battlefield.
Seismic Monstrosaur - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Dinosaur
Abilities Cycling,Mountaincycling,Trample
Released2023-11-17
Set symbol
Set nameThe Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Set codeLCI
Power 6
Toughness 5
Number166
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohn Tedrick

Text of card

Trample , Sacrifice a land: Draw a card. Mountaincycling (, Discard this card: Search your library for a Mountain card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.)


Cards like Seismic Monstrosaur

Seismic Monstrosaur treads heavily in the land of large creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It’s a five-mana cost dinosaur that packs a significant punch with its 5/5 stats and haste ability, allowing it to attack the turn it comes into play. When comparing it to other creatures in the game, Charging Monstrosaur is an immediate peer. Both dinosaurs boast haste and a 5/5 body, yet Charging Monstrosaur has the added benefit of trample, potentially making it more menacing against an opponent with a cluttered battlefield.

Shifting to the red-green spectrum, Rumbling Ruin stands out as another behemoth. While it lacks haste, at six mana it offers a unique ability to negate opposing creature’s toughness, which can be game-changing in the right deck makeup. It’s also a potential enabler of various growth and combat strategies given its alliances with other creature-focused cards.

In the grand scheme of big creatures, Seismic Monstrosaur serves as a an aggressive option in red-dedicated decks. Despite the lack of additional keywords compared to its counterparts, its straightforward power with the haste feature makes it a reliable choice for players looking to apply immediate pressure in a match.

Charging Monstrosaur - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Ruin - MTG Card versions
Charging Monstrosaur - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Ruin - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Seismic Monstrosaur by color, type and mana cost

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Shivan Dragon - MTG Card versions
Firestorm Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Crater Hellion - MTG Card versions
Callous Giant - MTG Card versions
Bloodshot Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Worldgorger Dragon - MTG Card versions
Two-Headed Dragon - MTG Card versions
Ronin Cavekeeper - MTG Card versions
Oni of Wild Places - MTG Card versions
Thundermare - MTG Card versions
Pardic Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Fiend - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions
Kamahl, Pit Fighter - MTG Card versions
Sunrise Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - MTG Card versions
Bogardan Rager - MTG Card versions
Chartooth Cougar - MTG Card versions
Inferno Titan - MTG Card versions
Greater Stone Spirit - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Seismic Monstrosaur doesn’t directly allow you to draw additional cards, its sheer presence on the battlefield can be a deterrent for opponents, potentially causing them to exhaust resources dealing with it. This can indirectly result in a form of card advantage as your opponent may have to use more than one card to handle this threat.

Resource Acceleration: Seismic Monstrosaur may not provide traditional mana acceleration, its affordable casting cost for its size means you can deploy a significant threat without a substantial mana investment. This can enable you to keep pace in aggressive strategies or maintain pressure in midrange decks without falling behind in resource development.

Instant Speed: Although Seismic Monstrosaur is a creature card and not cast at instant speed, its haste ability allows it to swing in for damage as soon as it hits the table. This makes the Seismic Monstrosaur a surprise factor that can catch an opponent off guard, akin to the benefits of playing spells at instant speed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Seismic Monstrosaur is that some similar creatures might offer additional abilities without a discard requirement, which could put you at an advantage in maintaining card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Seismic Monstrosaur is specifically locked into red mana, necessitating a dedication to red mana sources in your deck, which may reduce the flexibility of your deck-building options and might force you into a certain archetype.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana, Seismic Monstrosaur competes with other high-impact creatures and spells in the 5-mana slot. Players might find themselves choosing between deploying this dinosaur or opting for other powerful options that could offer more utility or immediate board impact.


Reasons to Include Seismic Monstrosaur in Your Collection

Versatility: Seismic Monstrosaur is a powerful addition to any red-based deck that thrives on aggressive game play. Its substantial power and trample ability allow it to serve as a robust finisher, capable of breaking through board stalls and delivering crucial damage.

Combo Potential: The card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on high-power creatures or those that trigger abilities upon dealing damage. Its trample effect makes it an ideal candidate for enablers that require creature combat damage to activate.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where the battlefield can quickly become crowded with smaller creatures, Seismic Monstrosaur stands out as a creature that can shift the tide. It can effectively contest the board against common creature decks and remains a threat even against opponents with larger defensive setups.


How to beat

Seismic Monstrosaur is a creature that demands attention on the battlefield with its significant power. Its impact is immediate, especially with its haste ability, allowing it to strike quickly. This dinosaur is a force to be reckoned with but not insurmountable. To tackle this behemoth, control strategies are key. Counter spells can preemptively deal with it before it even gets a chance to roar onto the field. In case it lands, removal spells such as Murder or Path to Exile can dispatch it efficiently without allowing it any chance to unleash its fury.

Cards that restrict creatures from attacking or block its damage, like Pacifism or Fog, can also buy time or nullify its threat. Enchantment-based removal can also be your ally, with cards such as Oblivion Ring, offering a versatile solution to potential problems. If you’re looking for a creature-based solution, chump blockers or creatures with deathtouch can neutralize the Seismic Monstrosaur, making it less daunting for you to maintain a board presence. Facing the Seismic Monstrosaur is a test of battlefield management; utilize your removals and controls carefully, and this prehistoric adversary can be overcome.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Seismic Monstrosaur MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Seismic Monstrosaur and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Seismic Monstrosaur has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal