Charging Badger MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Badger
Abilities Trample
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Its low mana cost grants early board presence, saving stronger cards for subsequent turns.
  2. Aligns with fast playstyles, maintaining tempo and conserving mana for flexible play.
  3. Trample ability pairs well with instant-speed buffs, turning it into a surprise combat threat.

Text of card

Trample

"If the hierarchies of nature were determined by ferocity alone, the badger would be lord of the beasts." —Anthousa of Setessa


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Charging Badger might appear modest, but its low casting cost offers a subtle card advantage in a game’s early stages. It enables players to establish board presence without expending significant resources, saving more impactful cards for later rounds.

Resource Acceleration: This creature’s one-mana cost efficiently contributes to resource acceleration. It aligns with decks designed to swiftly deploy threats, allowing players to maintain tempo while conserving their mana pool for other uses.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Charging Badger synergizes well with instant-speed buffs and combat tricks. Its inherent trample allows it to take full advantage of such spells, turning this seemingly small creature into a potent and unpredictable threat during combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Charging Badger’s utility in your deck may not be high enough to justify a card slot, especially when other cards that don’t require discarding could bring greater value.

Specific Mana Cost: Although the mana cost of Charging Badger is low, it specifically requires green mana, which might not always align with the color scheme of your deck, especially in multi-colored formats where mana flexibility is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While only costing one green mana, the badger’s power and toughness may not stand up to other creatures you could cast for the same, or just slightly higher, mana cost. This makes the badger a less compelling choice when optimizing your deck’s creature base.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Charging Badger offers a simple but effective tool for various green decks. Its low mana cost makes it an early threat on the board that can easily slot into aggro and more tempo-oriented strategies.

Combo Potential: With its inherent trample ability, Charging Badger synergizes with buffs and enchantments. This can lead to unexpectedly powerful combinations, turning this unassuming creature into a formidable attacker.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where early board presence can be crucial, Charging Badger could serve as an inexpensive component to seize control of the game tempo, especially in limited formats or a more casual play environment.


How to Beat Charging Badger

Charging Badger might seem unassuming with its single green mana cost and modest stats, but in the realms of Magic: The Gathering, even the smallest creatures can tip the scales. This one/one creature is often overlooked, yet its trample ability can make it a consistent source of chip damage, capable of squeezing through defenses over time. Unlike larger creatures that might be targets for removal spells or require extensive resource commitment, Charging Badger slips under the radar, nibbling away at an opponent’s life total.

Combating this forest dweller relies on strategic creature blocking or the use of cheap removal. As a one/one, it’s susceptible to an array of damage spells, such as Shock or Dead Weight, which can dispatch it for a minimal investment. Moreover, it’s key to maintain board presence with creatures that can block and eliminate the Charging Badger without suffering losses themselves. Even utilizing a simple one/two creature for defense can serve as an impenetrable wall against our Badger friend. Ultimately, keeping efficient removal in hand and a keen eye on the board is your surest path to mitigate the impact of Charging Badger’s persistent trample damage.


Cards like Charging Badger

Charging Badger offers MTG players a unique blend of aggression and resilience for a low-cost creature. This tenacious 1/1 creature carves its niche with the trample ability, allowing it to deal excess damage over blockers to the opponent. Similar cards include Sedge Scorpion, which brings deathly deathtouch to the table instead of trample. Much like Charging Badger, it’s a one-mana cost creature, yet it focuses on control rather than aggression.

Then we have Rust Scarab, posing a sturdier option for the green mana player. Though it shares the trample ability of Charging Badger, it sits at a higher mana cost and offers a more substantial presence on the board with its 4/5 stats. Still, it’s the badger’s low-cost efficiency that often appeals to players looking for an early game advantage.

In a game that balances power, cost, and abilities, Charging Badger holds its ground in the landscape of MTG creatures. Its trample trait in tandem with a low mana cost gives it a place in many decks focused on quick strikes and persistent pressure. As such, it remains an interesting choice for enthusiasts looking to build around or include such tactics in their strategy.

Sedge Scorpion - MTG Card versions
Rust Scarab - MTG Card versions
Sedge Scorpion - Theros (THS)
Rust Scarab - Gatecrash (GTC)

Cards similar to Charging Badger by color, type and mana cost

Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Rime Dryad - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Willow Dryad - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Norwood Ranger - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elite - MTG Card versions
Scavenger Folk - MTG Card versions
Willow Geist - MTG Card versions
Scryb Sprites - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Llanowar Elves - 30th Anniversary History Promos (P30H)
Ghazbán Ogre - Masters Edition (ME1)
Shanodin Dryads - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Wall of Wood - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Rime Dryad - Ice Age (ICE)
Village Elder - Mirage (MIR)
Willow Dryad - Portal (POR)
Spike Drone - Tempest (TMP)
Skyshroud Elite - Exodus (EXO)
Elvish Berserker - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Tree Monkey - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Norwood Ranger - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Wild Dogs - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Elvish Herder - Urza's Saga (USG)
Pouncing Jaguar - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taunting Elf - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Llanowar Elite - Invasion (INV)
Scavenger Folk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Willow Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Charging Badger MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods and Arena Beginner Set, 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 Charging Badger and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Charging Badger Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-02-07 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-02-07Born of the GodsBNG 1182003normalblackRaoul Vitale
22020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 912015normalblackRaoul Vitale

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Charging Badger has restrictions

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

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