Cateran Overlord MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Horror Mercenary |
| Released | 1999-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mercadian Masques |
| Set code | MMQ |
| Power | 7 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 123 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Michael Sutfin |
Text of card
Sacrifice a creature: Regenerate Cateran Overlord. o6, oc T: Search your library for a Mercenary card with converted mana cost 6 or less and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.
Cards like Cateran Overlord
Cateran Overlord is an intriguing part of Magic: The Gathering’s array of Mercenary cards. Its closest relatives come from the same Mercenary group, where the power to recruit other Mercenaries is widespread. A card like Rathi Intimidator can also fetch Mercenaries from the battlefield, but unlike Cateran Overlord, it doesn’t have the heft in attack and defense or the same level of mana cost.
Looking at another cousin, Ramosian Lieutenant stands out as a lower cost option with a similar tutoring ability. However, this card is limited to fetching Rebels instead of Mercenaries and doesn’t pack the same formidable presence on the board as Cateran Overlord does. Moreover, blending card synergy and board impact is a delicate balance and the Overlord with its might and utility often tips the scales in its favor.
Assessing their battlefield capabilities, the Overlord boasts a supremacy that requires a considerable mana investment, but for players who can harness its power, it serves as a strong late-game play. It undoubtedly has a position in decks that benefit from its tribal affiliations and unique recruitment mechanic, giving it a niche yet powerful role in MTG.
Cards similar to Cateran Overlord by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Accessing your key mercenaries becomes easier with Cateran Overlord’s search ability. This exceptional feature provides you with a consistent way to sift through your deck for the right tools at any given moment, ensuring that you maintain an upper hand in card availability.
Resource Acceleration: While the Overlord itself might not directly produce additional mana, its tutor ability accelerates your resource potential by fetching mercenaries that align with your strategy, optimizing your plays and giving you the opportunity to execute powerful combos sooner.
Instant Speed: The true power of Cateran Overlord shines in its recruitment ability, which can be activated at instant speed. This offers you the flexibility to end-step search for the perfect response or threat, keeping opponents guessing and your strategy fluid throughout the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Cateran Overlord necessitates that you discard a card as part of its activation cost. This condition can create a dilemma during gameplay, particularly in situations where your hand is already depleted and each card is invaluable to your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana configuration to cast—specifically one black mana and five others. This can be restrictive and often necessitates a deck built around black mana sources to be played consistently, potentially limiting the flexibility in deck design.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of six mana, Cateran Overlord enters the battlefield later in the game. Considering its cost, players might find that there are other creatures or spells within the same mana range that could potentially offer immediate impact or more versatile advantages.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Cateran Overlord’s ability to search for Mercenaries is not to be underestimated. This serves a powerful role in decks that are built around tribal synergies, allowing you to fetch various creatures that can adapt to the flow of the game.
Combo Potential: With a recursive mechanic that lets you bring other Mercenary cards from your deck directly to your hand, this card shines in combinations that exploit creature types or enter-the-battlefield triggers, fueling a variety of strategic plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where creature-based strategies prevail, having a reliable tutor effect like that of the Cateran Overlord ensures a steady stream of threats or answers, making it a valuable asset for tuning your deck to compete effectively.
How to beat
Confronting the Cateran Overlord in MTG requires a strategy that focuses on timely disruption and creature control. This Mercenary creature comes with an intimidating effect that lets a player search for another Mercenary card. Dealing with the Overlord effectively means you must restrict your opponent’s ability to utilize this search ability or to capitalize on the Mercenary they bring into play.
Controlling the battlefield is crucial. Utilize removal spells to compel the Overlord back into the deck or to the graveyard before it can become a recurring threat. Counterspells can be critical for preventing it from hitting the field in the first place. Additionally, since the Overlord’s ability caters to Mercenary synergies, graveyard disruption can hinder the retrieval of key combo pieces, disrupting your opponent’s strategy. The goal is to tackle the Cateran Overlord by limiting its impact and proactively managing the board state.
Remember that the game’s pace can dramatically shift once this card is played. Your response should be swift and decisive, focusing on either preventing the Overlord’s deployment or mitigating its effects post-summoning. In summary, overcoming the Cateran Overlord involves careful planning, reactive measures, and leveraging control elements inherent to your deck’s build.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cateran Overlord MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Cateran Overlord 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cateran Overlord has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cateran Overlord card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Because the “search” requires you to find a card with certain characteristics, you don’t have to find the card if you don’t want to. |