Accursed Centaur MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Centaur |
| Released | 2002-10-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Onslaught |
| Set code | ONS |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 123 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jerry Tiritilli |
Text of card
When Accursed Centaur comes into play, sacrifice a creature.
"The Cabal mocks the natural order. For its minions, death is just a pause between duties." —Kamahl, druid acolyte
Cards like Accursed Centaur
Within the realm of black creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, Accursed Centaur offers an intriguing dynamic. It notably shares some parallels with Nantuko Husk, another creature that requires a sacrifice upon its entry to the battlefield. However, Nantuko Husk offers a repeatable sacrifice outlet that can grow exponentially stronger. In contrast, Accursed Centaur demands a one-time sacrifice and does not provide an ongoing ability to increase its power.
Comparatively, Alms of the Vein is among the cards that offer a similar ‘sacrifice for benefit’ theme, though it focuses on life drain rather than field presence which can be vital in certain situations. While Accursed Centaur impacts the board by presenting a creature, Alms of the Vein alters life totals, offering a different strategic angle.
When examining cards like Fleshbag Marauder, we see yet another example of sacrifice-driven design, demanding each player to sacrifice a creature. This card can potentially affect the entire board state, unlike Accursed Centaur that targets the controller’s side. Each of these cards carries its unique strengths, and when we evaluate their roles in a deck, Accursed Centaur holds its own by providing an early creature presence in exchange for a sacrifice.
Cards similar to Accursed Centaur by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While the Accursed Centaur itself doesn’t directly net you additional cards, its sacrifice requirement can be strategically used to your advantage. By choosing to sacrifice a creature with an enter-the-battlefield or death trigger, you can reap further benefits, thus maintaining or subtly increasing your card value on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: The Accursed Centaur’s low casting cost at just a single black mana makes it an accessible play early in the game. This allows you to utilize your mana efficiently and potentially accelerate your resources by setting up your graveyard for future synergistic interactions, such as with cards that capitalize on creatures being in the graveyard.
Instant Speed: Although the Accursed Centaur isn’t played at instant speed, its mere presence on the battlefield can influence the pace of the game. By strategically sacrificing the Centaur during your own turn, you can flexibly respond to the state of the board and create immediate effects that may impact subsequent plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Accursed Centaur instructs players to sacrifice a creature as part of its casting cost, reducing your board presence and potentially eliminating a key piece of your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands black mana, which can restrict deck-building options and is not always readily available, especially early in the game when an efficient mana base is crucial.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While costing only two mana, the added sacrifice mechanic raises the effective cost of playing the card. In black’s repertoire, there are creatures with equal or greater strength that don’t mandate such a steep price, leading to more strategic plays for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Accursed Centaur in Your Collection
Versatility: Accursed Centaur offers a unique dynamic to black-focused decks. Its sacrifice mechanic can fuel various graveyard strategies, which can be essential in game formats that leverage creature death for powerful effects and recursion tactics.
Combo Potential: With its sacrifice requirement, Accursed Centaur is an excellent enabler for combo decks that can capitalize on creatures dying. It can serve as an engine in a larger strategy that exploits death triggers for cards like “Blood Artist” or helps to enable morbid abilities.
Meta-Relevance: Given that many MTG metagames pivot around strategic creature control and graveyard synergy, Accursed Centaur finds a niche where sacrifice-oriented decks are thriving. This can make it a useful addition in a meta where exploiting death triggers and graveyard mechanics is paramount to victory.
How to beat
Accursed Centaur is a unique creature card that challenges players with its sacrifice mechanic upon entering the battlefield. This card offers strategic depth in Magic: The Gathering, particularly in decks that capitalize on creature sacrifice for gain. Beating this card requires a plan to either render its sacrifice ability ineffective or to benefit from it.
One approach is to inhibit its entry to the battlefield by using counterspell strategies, ensuring it never gets the chance to demand a sacrifice. Should Accursed Centaur land on the battlefield, having creatures that you can afford to lose or ones that provide benefits when they are sacrificed will help turn the tables in your favor.
Alternatively, exploit removal spells that can target Accursed Centaur after it resolves to swiftly eliminate it without much loss. Engaging it in combat is not always the best move, but with forethought, one can circumvent its effect. Some instant-speed removal spells would not only deal with the centaur effectively but will also maintain tempo in your gameplay. Remember, outmaneuvering Accursed Centaur is about flexibility and making its downside an advantage for you.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Accursed Centaur MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Accursed Centaur and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Accursed Centaur has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Accursed Centaur card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If Accursed Centaur is the only creature on the battlefield, you must sacrifice it. |