Avalanche Tusker MTG Card

Avalanche Tusker can dictate combat by forcing disadvantageous blocks for the opponent. Mana color requirements for the Tusker might challenge deck consistency. High mana cost and discard requirement are strategic considerations for its use.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elephant Warrior
Power 6
Toughness 4

Text of card

Whenever Avalanche Tusker attacks, target creature defending player controls blocks it this combat if able.

"Hold the high ground, then bring it to your enemy" —Surrak, khan of the Temur

Cards like Avalanche Tusker

Avalanche Tusker is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to other creature cards that emphasize aggressive combat strategies, such as Ghor-Clan Rampager. Both create significant impact in the attack phase, yet Avalanche Tusker uniquely forces opponents to block if able, which can disrupt their board and potentially lead to advantageous trades. Ghor-Clan Rampager, instead, lets you power up a solitary creature for a surprise combat trick.

Examining Duskwatch Recruiter, it shows a different facet of value by providing utility in creature selection and potential mana cost reduction on your turns. It doesn’t pressure the board directly as Avalanche Tusker does. However, the Recruiter’s flexibility in card advantage can be pivotal in the long game. Still, in the role of combat dominator, the Tusker stands out with its on-attack trigger effect.

Ultimately, for players who enjoy commanding the battlefield and dictating combat dynamics, Avalanche Tusker presents a unique position. Its combination of size and combat manipulation offers a distinct edge within the beast creature space in MTG.

Ghor-Clan Rampager - MTG Card versions
Ghor-Clan Rampager - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Avalanche Tusker can often single-handedly cause a two-for-one by forcing unfavorable blocks, leaving you ahead in available resources.

Resource Acceleration: While the Tusker itself does not directly accelerate resources, its formidable presence on the battlefield could potentially deter opponents from attacking, indirectly preserving your life total and other crucial resources.

Instant Speed: Although the Tusker doesn’t have instant speed abilities itself, its mere existence can impact the battlefield immediately, forcing opponents to think twice about their plays. Moreover, it pairs well with instant speed interactions, allowing you to maximize both offensive and defensive strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Avalanche Tusker is that activating its ability often necessitates discarding a card from your hand. This can place you at a strategic disadvantage, particularly when your hand is already depleted from maintaining board presence against an aggressive opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Avalanche Tusker demands a specific combination of mana colors to play—green, blue, and red. This trifecta can sometimes be hard to assemble, especially early in the game, rendering the card potentially cumbersome in multicolored decks that struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing five mana to summon, the Avalanche Tusker is a substantial investment in the mid-game phase. Considering that the meta frequently offers creatures with competitive statlines or immediate impacts at a lower mana value, this cost can deter players from including it in fast-paced or highly optimized decks.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Avalanche Tusker offers a dynamic threat in games, adept at fitting into decks that prize aggressive strategies alongside a need for creatures that can influence combat decisions. Its ability to force blocks can be pivotal in dismantling an opponent’s board presence.

Combo Potential: With the ability to target a creature to block it each combat, this card can be used to create favorable matchups on the battlefield or work in tandem with effects that trigger upon creatures becoming blocked or blocking.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that is creature-heavy, the Tusker’s capacity to manipulate combat can be a game-changer, often acting as a removal magnet and clearing the way for other, more potent threats within your deck to shine.

How to beat

Avalanche Tusker is a formidable creature card that can turn the tide in a game of Magic: The Gathering. It shines in aggressive strategies, utilizing its unique ability to force opponents to block, which can disrupt their plans. Armored with a significant body, it demands attention the moment it charges onto the battlefield. However, overcoming this Ice Age juggernaut is not beyond reach.

To outmaneuver the Tusker, it’s crucial to have removal spells at the ready. Direct damage spells, such as Lightning Strike or Doom Blade, can swiftly eliminate it before it wreaks havoc. Another technique is playing cards with deathtouch, which makes even a single blocker lethal to the Tusker, regardless of its size. Shrewd players also rely on counterspells, stopping the Tusker dead in its tracks before it even lands on the board.

Understanding and anticipating your opponent’s strategy is key in any game. Keeping the right answers in hand ensures that when the ground starts to tremble with the approach of an Avalanche Tusker, you’ll be ready to cool its momentum and keep your defenses solidly in place.

Where to buy

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

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Avalanche Tusker Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2014-09-26. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 545142015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
22014-09-26Khans of Tarkir PromosPKTK 1662015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
32014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 1662015NormalBlackMatt Stewart
42014-09-26Khans of Tarkir PromosPKTK 166s2015NormalBlackMatt Stewart

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Avalanche Tusker has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Avalanche Tusker 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 If the target creature can’t block Avalanche Tusker, but could block another attacking creature, it’s free to block that creature or block no creatures at all.
2014-09-20 If, during the declare blockers step, the target creature is tapped or is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t block, then it doesn’t block. If there’s a cost associated with having that creature block, its controller isn’t forced to pay that cost. If the player doesn’t, the creature doesn’t block in that case either.