Thresher Lizard MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Lizard
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Grows stronger as hand size decreases, optimal for aggressive playstyles with consistent card cycling or discard.
  2. While not versatile in mana cost, it synergizes with red-based discard strategies to become a powerful creature.
  3. With careful play, Thresher Lizard can be a potent late-game draw in fast-paced games where hands are empty.

Text of card

Thresher Lizard gets +1/+2 as long as you have one or fewer cards in hand.

The sound of its plated tail beating on desert rocks is often mistaken for the footfalls of a much larger predator.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Thresher Lizard has a unique ability to become stronger as you draw into a smaller hand size, which shifts the game’s dynamics and can catch an opponent off guard. Despite not drawing you extra cards, it effectively converts your low hand count into a board advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While the Lizard doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it benefits from the discarding strategies that enable such acceleration. It thrives in a deck setup to rapidly cycle through or utilize cards, such as red ‘discard and draw’ mechanics, to become a formidable creature quickly.

Instant Speed: Though Thresher Lizard isn’t an instant itself, it pairs well with instant-speed spells in your strategy. Such spells keep your hand size small on your turn to maximize the Lizard’s power, then allow you to replenish after combat or during your opponent’s turn, keeping you flexible and responsive.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The ability of Thresher Lizard to get stronger with fewer cards in hand means that players must maintain a minimal hand size which can put them at a strategic disadvantage in longer games where card options are critically needed.

Specific Mana Cost: The Lizard costs two colorless and a red mana to cast, making it less flexible in multicolored decks that might not always have the red mana available precisely when it’s needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With three mana for a base 3/2 creature, the Thresher Lizard can seem overcosted, especially if you’re not able to consistently meet its hand size condition to make it a formidable force on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Thresher Lizard in Your Collection

Versatility: Thresher Lizard excels in decks looking to manage their hand size. Its power increases as you deplete your hand, which synergizes with strategies that involve aggressive card play or discard mechanics.

Combo Potential: This creature works well with mechanics that benefit from having a high-power creature on the battlefield, such as fling effects or cards that use power-based triggers for damage or card advantage. It makes it an intriguing option for unique and powerful combos.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the meta, particularly one that encourages quick, aggressive playstyles, Thresher Lizard can be a potent surprise. Its ability to grow stronger if you’re empty-handed makes it a potentially fearsome late-game draw when both players are low on resources.


How to beat

Thresher Lizard presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its capacity to grow stronger as you deplete your hand. This creature thrives in situations where the player has one or no cards left, gaining a substantial power boost that can turn the tide of a game. However, there are strategies to mitigate the threat it poses.

Managing your opponent’s hand size is critical. Cards that force players to draw or maintain a larger hand size, such as Howling Mine or Font of Mythos, can prevent the lizard from getting its power boost. Removal spells are also effective; as the lizard is not particularly hard to dispatch if dealt with promptly. Cards such as Murder or Lightning Bolt can take care of the lizard before it grows out of hand.

Lastly, preventing the lizard from attacking is another strategy. Cards with abilities that tap creatures or those that keep creatures from untapping during the next untap step are beneficial. Continuous control through enchantments that pacify such as Pacifism, or freezing their development with lockdown pieces like Frost Lynx, ensures the lizard’s enhanced attack stays just a potential threat, rather than a realized one.


Cards like Thresher Lizard

Thresher Lizard holds its ground as a dynamic creature within the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering. This creature shares common ground with the likes of Rumbling Baloth, a creature that also boasts a considerable body for its mana cost. However, Rumbling Baloth doesn’t quite flex the power adjustment ability that Thresher Lizard does when a player’s hand is running low on cards. This gives Thresher Lizard potential bursts of strength in the late game, setting it apart from the statically powered Baloth.

Another analogous creature is the Serra Angel. While the angel is a higher cost flier with vigilance, Thresher Lizard has the distinction of potentially becoming stronger if your hand is light, showcasing its capacity to be a threat without relying on evasion or additional abilities. Lastly, the comparison wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Nimble Mongoose. Although the Mongoose flourishes with a graveyard strategy giving it shroud and a strength boost, the Lizard’s power spike is solely reliant on hand size, offering a different strategic angle.

Overall, Thresher Lizard offers an intriguing option for decks that benefit from reduced hand sizes, demonstrating how it can be a potent asset in the right circumstances and play environment. Its directness and the condition-based power increase make it a unique creature on the battlefield.

Rumbling Baloth - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Nimble Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Baloth - Magic 2014 (M14)
Serra Angel - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Nimble Mongoose - Odyssey (ODY)

Cards similar to Thresher Lizard by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Sabretooth Tiger - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Sabretooth Tiger - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Goblin Chieftain - Resale Promos (PRES)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thresher Lizard MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Masters 25, 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 Thresher Lizard and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thresher Lizard Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Craig J Spearing.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 1502015normalblackCraig J Spearing
22018-03-16Masters 25A25 1532015normalblackCraig J Spearing
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 10822015normalblackCraig J Spearing
42020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 1782015normalblackCraig J Spearing
52020-09-26The ListPLST AKH-1502015normalblackCraig J Spearing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thresher Lizard has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-03-16 Because damage remains marked on a creature until it’s removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to Thresher Lizard while you have one or fewer cards in hand may become lethal if cards are put into your hand during that turn.

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