Ainok Tracker MTG Card

Ainok Tracker’s first strike delivers a combat edge, making it a formidable force against adversaries. Resource and card advantages are indirectly offered through this tracker’s tactical board presence. While powerful, the tracker’s specific mana requirements may limit its deck compatibility.

Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
2014-09-26 - Number 96

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 834

Ainok Tracker - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Magic Online Promos (PRM)
2002-06-24 - Number 55779

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number KTK-96

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Dog Scout
Abilities	First strike,Morph
Power	3
Toughness	3

Text of card

First strike Morph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

Some ainok of the mountains are accepted among the Temur as trusted hunt-mates.

Cards like Ainok Tracker

Ainok Tracker from Magic: The Gathering holds its ground as a formidable figure in the realm of creature cards. With the prowess to engage in battle as a formidable 3/3 with first strike, this card offers a tactical edge during the combat phase. Delve into the archives and you’ll find cards like Aven Skirmisher sharing comparable traits, presenting players with a resilient creature that can swiftly chip away the opponent’s life total.

Contrasting with Ainok Tracker is the card Borderland Marauder, a creature which doesn’t inherently possess first strike but gains a power boost when it attacks, transforming it into a potent offensive force. While it mirrors the Tracker in offensive situations, the lack of first strike means it can be more vulnerable to counterattacks. Additionally, we can look at cards like Summit Prowler, a vanilla creature with a static power and toughness that offers a reliable presence on the battlefield, yet it can’t match the strategic advantage given by Ainok Tracker’s first strike ability during skirmishes.

Critical assessment reveals that Ainok Tracker secures a niche spot among creatures of similar mana cost, balancing strategic combat prowess with a solid physical presence on the board, making it a valuable asset for players who prefer to seize early combat advantages in MTG.

Cards similar to Ainok Tracker by color, type and mana cost

Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Ainok Tracker is renowned for its prowess in battle which, while not directly influencing card draw, can put opponents on the defensive and indirectly lead to card advantage as they’re forced to deal with the threat it presents.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct source of resource acceleration, this formidable tracker can support strategies that capitalize on board presence, indirectly speeding up your capacity to deploy further threats and overwhelm your adversary.

Instant Speed: While Ainok Tracker itself is not an instant, it synergizes well with cards played at instant speed. This allows you to create a multifaceted strategy, keeping mana open for other spells while setting the stage for the tracker’s entrance when the timing is right.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Ainok Tracker is the potential need to discard additional cards to leverage any synergistic abilities it may have. This cost can set you back if your hand is already running low, making it a risky play in some situations.

Specific Mana Cost: Ainok Tracker comes with a specific mana cost that includes red, which might not seamlessly fit into all deck builds. Players running multicolor decks may struggle to meet the mana requirements or may find it inconvenient to include this card in their strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a costlier mana investment than some other creatures of similar stats, Ainok Tracker may not always be the best choice for the four-mana slot in your deck. Other creatures or spells could offer more utility or power, making Ainok Tracker a less optimal choice in terms of mana efficiency.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ainok Tracker’s prowess in bolstering your battlefield presence makes it a utility player in various deck types. Its first strike ability ensures it’s a robust defender and a calculated attacker, tailored for those looking to enhance their combat tactics.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergy with mechanics that capitalize on creature abilities, such as +1/+1 counters and warrior tribal themes, paving the way for dynamic plays and amplifying your strategy.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, prowess in manipulating the battlefield remains crucial. Ainok Tracker’s blend of power and first strike capability makes it tactically valuable against a range of popular deck archetypes, ensuring its relevance in shifting metagames.

How to beat

Ainok Tracker is known in the world of MTG as a creature that can bolster your battlefield presence due to its ferocious ability, enhancing its capabilities if you control a creature with power 4 or greater. This makes Ainok Tracker a potential threat that can grow stronger over the course of a game. To successfully navigate around this card, one should look into removal options or strategies to neutralize creatures before their power becomes formidable.

Efficient creature removal spells are key to keeping Ainok Tracker in check. Using instant-speed removal allows you to respond to your opponent casting Ainok Tracker before it ever has a chance to become bolstered or benefits from its prowess in combat. Alternatively, imposing restrictions on creature abilities with cards like Pacifism can prevent Ainok Tracker from leveraging its might. In a game where board control is essential, preemptive measures and strategic planning can go a long way to diminishing the threat of prowess creatures like Ainok Tracker.

It’s evident that maintaining a repertoire of versatile responses in your deck to address growing threats is a critical component of a well-rounded strategy in MTG. This will ensure that cards like Ainok Tracker won’t catch you off guard and tilt the balance of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ainok Tracker MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Khans of Tarkir, 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 Ainok Tracker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ainok Tracker Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Evan Shipard.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	~~2002-06-24~~	Magic Online Promos	PRM	55779	2015	Normal	Black	Evan Shipard
2	2014-09-26	Khans of Tarkir	KTK	96	2015	Normal	Black	Evan Shipard
3	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	834	2015	Normal	Black	Evan Shipard
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	KTK-96	2015	Normal	Black	Evan Shipard

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ainok Tracker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2014-09-20	A permanent that turns face up or face down changes characteristics but is otherwise the same permanent. Spells and abilities that were targeting that permanent, as well as Auras and Equipment that were attached to the permanent, aren’t affected.
2014-09-20	Any time you have priority, you may turn the face-down creature face up by revealing what its morph cost is and paying that cost. This is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to. Only a face-down permanent can be turned face up this way; a face-down spell cannot.
2014-09-20	At any time, you can look at a face-down spell or permanent you control. You can’t look at face-down spells or permanents you don’t control unless an effect instructs you to do so.
2014-09-20	Because the permanent is on the battlefield both before and after it’s turned face up, turning a permanent face up doesn’t cause any enters-the-battlefield abilities to trigger.
2014-09-20	If a face-down permanent leaves the battlefield, you must reveal it. You must also reveal all face-down spells and permanents you control if you leave the game or if the game ends.
2014-09-20	Morph lets you cast a card face down by paying , and lets you turn the face-down permanent face up any time you have priority by paying its morph cost.
2014-09-20	The face-down spell has no mana cost and has a mana value of 0. When you cast a face-down spell, put it on the stack face down so no other player knows what it is, and pay . This is an alternative cost.
2014-09-20	When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. It’s colorless and has a mana value of 0. Other effects that apply to the creature can still grant it any of these characteristics.
2014-09-20	You must ensure that your face-down spells and permanents can easily be differentiated from each other. You’re not allowed to mix up the cards that represent them on the battlefield in order to confuse other players. The order they entered the battlefield should remain clear. Common methods for doing this include using markers or dice, or simply placing them in order on the battlefield.