Minotaur Sureshot MTG Card
2017-04-28 - Number 143
2020-07-17 - Number 350
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Minotaur Archer |
| Abilities | Reach |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Boards are managed effectively by removing threats, indirectly gaining card advantage.
- Applying pressure may slow opponents, enhancing your resource acceleration.
- Its reach capability enables surprising defensive maneuvers against fliers.
Text of card
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) : Minotaur Sureshot gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
"Those wings are no advantage. I will pin them to the ceiling of the Hekma."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The prowess of Minotaur Sureshot lies in its versatility on the battlefield. While it doesn’t directly offer card draw, its ability to shoot down smaller creatures helps control the board, subtly tipping the scales of card advantage in your favor. Over time, removing key blockers or threats means you’re chipping away at your opponent’s resources, which can lead to a wider path for your other creatures to strike through.
Resource Acceleration: Minotaur Sureshot, on its own, may not ramp your mana, but in the grander scheme of things, if positioned well within an aggro deck, it can indirectly influence resource acceleration. How? By applying pressure and forcing opponents to address it, you potentially divert resources they would have otherwise used for their own development, thus slowing them down while you continue to develop your board unhindered.
Instant Speed: This creature excels with its Reach ability, becoming an unexpected defender against flying threats. While not at instant speed itself, it combines well with instant-speed tricks in your hand. Bluffing mana for a combat trick while having Minotaur Sureshot ready to activate can lead to advantageous combat scenarios, where you outmaneuver your opponent and make the most out of every turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of Minotaur Sureshot is the potential discard condition to activate certain abilities. This might lead to a depletion of valuable cards in hand, reducing your strategic options in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Minotaur Sureshot demands a specific mana investment, which includes red mana. This could restrict deck-building choices, making it a less versatile pick for decks that run on a different color scheme or multicolored decks that might not prioritize red mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost requiring three mana, including one red, Minotaur Sureshot can be a bit costly compared to other creatures with similar combat abilities or stats. Some players might opt for lower-cost creatures that provide similar battlefield advantages more efficiently.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Minotaur Sureshot offers flexibility with its efficient cost and Reach ability, allowing it to be a useful inclusion in red-based decks that require defense against flying creatures.
Combo Potential: The card has synergy with strategies that amplify its ability to deal damage. Using effects to increase power can turn Minotaur Sureshot into a formidable offensive force.
Meta-Relevance: With flying creatures often prevalent in competitive play, having a creature that can interact with the skies while remaining relevant on the ground is a smart tactical choice.
How to Beat Minotaur Sureshot
Minotaur Sureshot adds a layer of strategy and power to red creature decks with its reach capability and the strength to boost its own power. While on the surface it might seem challenging to counter, certain tactics can effectively neutralize this formidable card. Playing spells that can exile or bounce creatures will remove Minotaur Sureshot from the field without triggering death-related abilities that could benefit your opponent.
Moreover, enchantments that prevent creatures from attacking or blocking can also diminish the Minotaur Sureshot’s impact, rendering it a non-threat. Control decks utilizing blue spells are particularly adept at this, with numerous options to keep creatures like Minotaur Sureshot at bay. Additionally, including creatures with higher toughness values in your deck ensures that even an empowered Minotaur Sureshot’s attack won’t be lethal, and it can be efficiently blocked and removed from the game.
Understanding the dynamics of combat and leveraging the right mixture of control elements, you can not only withstand Minotaur Sureshot’s offensive but also turn the tide to press the advantage in your favor in the versatile world of MTG.
Cards like Minotaur Sureshot
Minotaur Sureshot enters the battlefield as an intriguing creature option for enthusiasts of aggressive strategies in Magic: The Gathering. With a stat line paralleling that of Barbed Sliver, Minotaur Sureshot provides a different kind of edge to your offensive front. While Barbed Sliver grants all Slivers the ability to ping the enemy for damage, the Sureshot relies on its individual reach ability to bring down flyers, widening your control over the aerial battlefield.
The comparison isn’t complete without mentioning Sling-Gang Lieutenant. Although it’s in a different tribe, the Lieutenant enables sacrificing other creatures for direct damage to any target, a more flexible approach than the Sureshot’s dedicated reach. However, Minotaur Sureshot shines with its beefier presence on the board, remaining a constant threat instead of relying on expendable creatures.
Pitting Minotaur Sureshot against competition, it’s worth appreciating its role in MTG decks deploying Red’s direct tactics. While not as utility-focused as its peers, the reach ability and enhancing effects mesh seamlessly with Red’s common themes, securing its position as a reliable supporting player in a deck’s roster.
Cards similar to Minotaur Sureshot by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Minotaur Sureshot MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Jumpstart, 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 Minotaur Sureshot and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Minotaur Sureshot Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Joseph Meehan.
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Minotaur Sureshot 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 |
