Centaur Battlemaster MTG Card

Heroic ability provides cumulative advantage, enhancing power with targeted spells. Limited to green-based decks due to specific mana requirements. A strategic inclusion for decks utilizing +1/+1 counters and combat tricks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Centaur Warrior
Abilities Heroic
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Centaur Battlemaster, put three +1/+1 counters on Centaur Battlemaster.

"A herd is only as strong as its weakest. Our weakest just killed his third minotaur raider—today." —Braulios of Pheres Band

Cards like Centaur Battlemaster

Centaur Battlemaster stands out in the realm of creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering with its potent Heroic ability. Comparable to the likes of Crowned Ceratok, which also provides a form of a power boost, Centaur Battlemaster takes it a step further by permanently bolstering itself whenever you cast a spell that targets it. Crowned Ceratok, meanwhile, lacks this escalating ability but does give trample to itself and other creatures by default.

Examining Lagonna-Band Trailblazer, another card with the Heroic ability, reveals a lower-cost creature that can also grow but with a defensive focus as a one-mana 0/4. This makes Centaur Battlemaster a higher investment for a potentially greater payoff. Then consider the likes of Setessan Oathsworn, another heroic creature that gains counters but requires a double mana investment for each heroic trigger, which contrasts with the single-target spell requirement of Centaur Battlemaster.

Through comparing these cards, Centaur Battlemaster emerges as a robust choice for decks capitalizing on targeted spells, offering a substantial power and toughness gain which can quickly turn it into a formidable threat on the battlefield.

Crowned Ceratok - MTG Card versions
Lagonna-Band Trailblazer - MTG Card versions
Setessan Oathsworn - MTG Card versions
Crowned Ceratok - MTG Card versions
Lagonna-Band Trailblazer - MTG Card versions
Setessan Oathsworn - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brings a potential avalanche of card advantage by increasing its own power and toughness with each aura or enchantment you play, giving you more value from cards you’re already using.

Resource Acceleration: Not a direct source of resource acceleration, the Centaur Battlemaster incentivizes building a board state that can quickly become overwhelming, indirectly discouraging resource investment from your opponents as they need to handle the growing threat.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the Centaur Battlemaster synergizes well with instant speed spells that target creatures. This allows you to bolster its power during combat or in response to an opponent’s actions, catching them off guard and maximizing combat tricks or protection spells.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although the Centaur Battlemaster comes without a discard necessity, this lack of an immediate drawback masks the risk of relying on one card to carry a game.

Specific Mana Cost: Needing both green mana and a substantial total investment might restrict its integration primarily to green or two-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of five, including three green, the Centaur Battlemaster might be outpaced by lower-cost options that provide faster board presence or more immediate impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Centaur Battlemaster is a flexible card that can be incorporated into numerous deck builds, thriving in strategies that emphasize +1/+1 counters and creature buffs. Its ability to grow larger with each spell cast makes it a formidable threat in any game stage.

Combo Potential: This card becomes a powerhouse when paired with spells that target multiple creatures or can be cast repeatedly. In decks that focus on heroic triggers or enchantments, Centaur Battlemaster can quickly become an overwhelming force on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where aggressive decks are prevalent, the Centaur Battlemaster can serve as both a defensive bulwark and a potent offensive option, adjusting to the evolving dynamics of your local game environment and posing a significant challenge for opponents to handle.

How to beat

The Centaur Battlemaster is a strong force in any MTG deck focused on the Heroic ability. Every time you target it with a spell, it grows stronger, which can quickly spin the game out of control. To counter this, removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes, become invaluable. Consider using Supreme Verdict or Wrath of God, which can clear the board irrespective of how large the Centaur Battlemaster has grown.

Another strategy involves countering the spells before they even reach the Battlemaster. Spells like Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto can intercept the auras and instants intended to buff this creature, keeping it manageable. If the Centaur Battlemaster has already become a threat on the board, consider edict effects like Diabolic Edict that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature – this way, you avoid targeting the Battlemaster directly and bypass its Heroic trigger.

Lastly, if your deck aligns with the colors, a powerful enchantment like Pacifism can neutralize the Centaur Battlemaster without having to resort to destruction, which can be equally effective in making sure this heavy hitter never lands a blow on your life total.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Centaur Battlemaster MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Double Masters 2022, 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 Centaur Battlemaster and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Centaur Battlemaster Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-09-27TherosTHS 1542003NormalBlackKev Walker
22022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 1402015NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Centaur Battlemaster has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-09-15 Heroic abilities will resolve before the spell that caused them to trigger.
2013-09-15 Heroic abilities will trigger only once per spell, even if that spell targets the creature with the heroic ability multiple times.
2013-09-15 Heroic abilities won't trigger when a copy of a spell is created on the stack or when a spell's targets are changed to include a creature with a heroic ability.