A-Manticore MTG Card


A-Manticore offers card advantage and can accelerate resources, improving your strategic position in gameplay. While powerful, it requires careful mana management and may hinder your early-game tempo. Its adaptability makes it a worthwhile addition to collections for its combo and meta relevance.
A-Manticore - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Manticore
Abilities Flying, Flash
Released2022-07-07
Set symbol
Set nameAlchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate
Set codeHBG
Power 3
Toughness 1
NumberA-163
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBilly Christian

Text of card

Flash Flying Tail Spikes — When Manticore enters the battlefield, destroy target creature an opponent controls that was dealt damage this turn.


Cards like A-Manticore

The thrill of playing a creature like A-Manticore in Magic: The Gathering can be quite distinctive compared to other cards in the game. This fearsome creature card draws parallels with other potent monsters such as Flametongue Kavu. The latter is well-known for its enter-the-battlefield effect capable of dealing damage to target creature. A-Manticore boasts a similar aggressive entry, posing as an immediate threat to opposing creatures.

In the realm of battlefield control, another card akin to A-Manticore is Ravenous Chupacabra, offering a removal utility by destroying target creature upon entry. Though lacking A-Manticore’s potential for immediate damage, it serves a related purpose of diminishing opponents’ forces. Then there’s Inferno Titan, which not only deals damage across multiple targets when it enters the battlefield or attacks but also brings a considerable body to the match. Its sheer power and versatility make it a benchmark for creature-based strategies focusing on direct damage.

Each option bears unique advantages, whether it’s for the value of immediate removal or the possibility of repeated damage effects. As MTG players peruse their choices, A-Manticore stands as a solid pick in decks that emphasize control by eliminating threats the moment they hit the board.

Flametongue Kavu - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions
Inferno Titan - MTG Card versions
Flametongue Kavu - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions
Inferno Titan - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to A-Manticore by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
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Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
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Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
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Filth - MTG Card versions
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Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: A-Manticore enhances your card advantage through its powerful triggering abilities that often lead to drawing extra cards or forcing your opponent to discard, keeping you ahead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: This creature can sometimes offer resource acceleration by enabling additional mana sources or presenting methods to cheat out other creatures from the hand or deck, which effectively speeds up your game plan.

Instant Speed: If A-Manticore possesses an ability that can be activated at instant speed, it adds a layer of strategic depth to your gameplay. This can disrupt the opponent’s strategy while you seamlessly integrate it into your own turn structure.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A-Manticore card requires players to discard another card, which might deplete your hand and be counterproductive if you’re banking on card advantages.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana needed to summon A-Manticore necessitates a precise combination of mana types, which can be challenging if your mana base is not optimized for this creature’s cost.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its abilities, A-Manticore’s mana cost is on the higher end. This can be a setback when attempting to maintain momentum in the early game or when racing against decks with lower curves.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: A-Manticore is a flexible addition to many deck archetypes, offering a robust presence on the battlefield that can adapt to various game situations.

Combo Potential: This creature can synergize well with cards that capitalize on flying, dealing damage to players or creatures, or that benefit from having a diverse set of creature abilities.

Meta-Relevance: Given its array of capabilities, A-Manticore can prove to be a competitive choice in environments where creature-based strategies are prevalent, or where its unique skill set can counteract dominant deck builds.


How to beat

When facing the challenge of the A-Manticore card in your MTG matchups, strategy is key. This formidable creature boasts abilities that can quickly turn the tide of battle, making it essential to have a game plan. Ideally, tactics involving exile or bounce spells can remove A-Manticore from the board before its abilities trigger devastating effects on your side of the field. Cards with instant speed removal such as Swords to Plowshares or Unsummon grant you the flexibility to wait for the optimal moment to strike and neutralize the threat.

A different approach includes utilizing cards that prevent A-Manticore from attacking or blocking. Pacifism and similar enchantments can keep A-Manticore contained, rendering it effectively harmless regardless of its potential power. Should you prefer a more proactive strategy, deploying creatures with death touch can deter your opponent from utilizing A-Manticore offensively, as any engagement would lead to its destruction.

Understanding the mechanics and finding the right countermeasures will significantly improve your odds. Always remember, maintaining board control and having a response ready for your opponent’s threats will guide you to victory in the strategic world of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase A-Manticore MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate, 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 A-Manticore and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where A-Manticore has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.