Armored Cancrix MTG Card
2010-07-16 - Number 44
2013-07-19 - Number 44
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Crab |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Cards like Armored Cancrix
Armored Cancrix, a towering crustacean in the world of MTG, serves as a defensive staple in many blue decks. Its sheer size for its cost puts it in direct comparison with other formidable walls like Wall of Frost, which, for an extra blue mana, provides not only a sturdy defense but also the ability to lock down opposing creatures. While Armored Cancrix lacks this freezing effect, its resilience lies in its simplicity and the lower color mana necessity, making it an easier fit in multi-colored decks.
Maritime Guard is another card with similarities. Though its toughness is lower, it comes into play for less mana, offering a quicker defensive option. Armored Cancrix shines in stalling the game longer, boasting a toughness that can endure most early to mid-game threats. Additionally, Armored Cancrix fits into strategies involving high tough creatures, synergizing well with cards like Aegis Turtle, which showcases equally impressive toughness for a single blue mana, albeit with a lower threat deterrence due to its tinier power stat.
Evaluating Armored Cancrix alongside its peers, it establishes itself as a reliable choice when building a deck with a focus on holding the fort. Its simplicity and compatibility with various deck types lend it an understated charm among MTG cards designed to outlast and obstruct opponents.
Cards similar to Armored Cancrix by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Armored Cancrix does not directly allow you to draw cards, it serves as a formidable blocker, often deterring multiple enemy creatures from attacking, effectively letting you preserve the cards on your side of the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: As a simple common card, Armored Cancrix isn’t designed to ramp up your mana resources. However, its presence can passively contribute to resource management by potentially delaying the game and leaving your mana open for other game-changing spells.
Instant Speed: While Armored Cancrix does not operate at instant speed, it can integrate well into decks that do. This crab’s robust defensive stats make it a reliable drop that allows you to maintain a strong board presence while holding mana for instant-speed interactions on your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the challenges when playing Armored Cancrix is the fact that, although it does not have a discard requirement itself, it is often not a priority card to keep in hand. This means if a player faces a situation where discarding is necessary due to another card’s effect or an opponent’s strategy, Armored Cancrix is likely a less painful choice to let go, reflecting its lower impact on the game.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature comes with a specific mana cost that requires two blue mana, which can potentially limit its integration in multi-colored decks. Players running a deck without a strong blue mana base might find it challenging to summon Armored Cancrix on curve, thus possibly hindering its playability in certain archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value of five for a 2/5 body, Armored Cancrix might not seem like an efficient investment, especially when there are other creatures or spells at the same or lower cost that can provide greater utility or offensive capabilities. Its high mana cost relative to its effect on the game often relegates it to a lower-tier choice among available blue creatures.
Reasons to Include Armored Cancrix in Your Collection
Versatility: Armored Cancrix may not be the flashiest addition, but its solid body as a 2/5 makes it a dependable blocker in limited formats or a deck that’s heavy on defense. Its synergy with wall and defender strategies gives it a place in specific builds that capitalize on toughness.
Combo Potential: While it may not have an immediate combo application, its high toughness makes it a viable candidate for strategies involving cards that trigger off of creatures with high defense values or cards that allow creatures with defender to attack as though they didn’t have defender.
Meta-Relevance: Depending on the metagame, the Armored Cancrix can be a useful tool against aggressive strategies. In an environment where early creature removal is prevalent, having a low-cost creature with a sizeable toughness can help stabilize the board until you can establish your game plan.
How to beat
Armored Cancrix is a steadfast defender in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, known for its considerable toughness and ability to withstand numerous attacks. Its presence on the battlefield can be quite a hurdle due to its resilience. However, despite its defensive prowess, players can find ways around this blue crab creature.
Efficient removal spells are a key strategy when dealing with Armored Cancrix. Spells that can bypass its toughness, such as those dealing with exile or -X/-X effects, prove to be particularly effective. Facing a battlefield with an Armored Cancrix, it is also advantageous to deploy creatures with flying or unblockable abilities, skirting around the crab’s defenses altogether. Furthermore, utilizing enchantments that pacify or neutralize the abilities of creatures can render the Cancrix harmless, allowing your strategies to flourish without its interference.
When analyzing its attributes, while Armored Cancrix can be an obstacle for ground-based creature strategies, it falls short when confronted by the various versatile removal and evasion tactics available to players in Magic: The Gathering. Adapting your strategy to include these elements will help maintain the tempo of your gameplay and diminish the impact of the Armored Cancrix on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Armored Cancrix MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2011 and Magic 2014, 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 Armored Cancrix 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
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Printings
The Armored Cancrix Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-07-16 and 2013-07-19. Illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 44 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek | |
| 2 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 44 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Armored Cancrix has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |