Centaur Vinecrasher MTG Card
2015-11-13 - Number 35
2015-11-18 - Number 74
2017-06-09 - Number 95
2018-08-09 - Number 135
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Plant Centaur |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
TrampleCentaur Vinecrasher enters the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the number of land cards in all graveyards. Whenever a land card is put into a graveyard from anywhere, you may pay . If you do, return Centaur Vinecrasher from your graveyard to your hand.
Cards like Centaur Vinecrasher
Centaur Vinecrasher is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, demonstrating its presence in any game involving graveyard tactics. With an ability to grow stronger for each land card in your graveyard, it not only embodies resilience, but also poses a constant threat that can rapidly escalate. A similar card is Splendid Reclamation, a spell that doesn’t pack a punch like the Vinecrasher but does return all land cards from your graveyard to the battlefield. This creates an interesting synergy — though Splendid Reclamation lacks the recurring aggression that the centaur possesses.
Looking at Vinelasher Kudzu, we identify another creature that thrives on land synergy. Like the Vinecrasher, it gets bigger every time a land enters the battlefield under your control, but it lacks the graveyard interaction and the built-in recursion that make Vinecrasher a comeback threat. Terravore, on the other hand, takes a different twist on land graveyard interaction by considering all land cards in all graveyards, though it does not have the same ability to return to the battlefield.
In analyzing these comparisons, it is evident that Centaur Vinecrasher offers a unique blend of offensive growth and tenacity, carving its own niche among MTG’s land-centric creatures, and proves to be an invaluable tool especially in decks that capitalize on land manipulation and graveyard strategies.
Cards similar to Centaur Vinecrasher by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Centaur Vinecrasher thrives in decks that play with their graveyard. Every time a land card hits your graveyard from anywhere, whether through fetch lands, milling, or discard, Vinecrasher grows. This results in potentially massive card advantage as it continually becomes a larger threat without requiring additional card investment.
Resource Acceleration: Escalated growth isn’t the only trick up this creature’s sleeves. When Centaur Vinecrasher is in your graveyard, you can bring it back to the battlefield by simply paying its mana cost and returning a basic land card from your graveyard to your hand. This ability not only recycles your resources but also accelerates your in-game momentum by persistently reviving a formidable creature.
Instant Speed: Although Centaur Vinecrasher itself isn’t an instant, it indirectly promotes instant speed interactions. Lands hitting the graveyard can occur on either player’s turn through various instant speed effects, allowing Vinecrasher to bulk up unpredictably during opponents’ turns. Moreover, its return from the graveyard to the battlefield can be executed as a response to end-of-turn triggers, catching adversaries off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the nuances when playing Centaur Vinecrasher is its reliance on cards being discarded from your graveyard to make it grow. Since this effect is pivotal to maximizing its potential, it suffers when you are not stocked with enough cards in the graveyard to bolster its strength.
Specific Mana Cost: Centaur Vinecrasher’s effectiveness is intrinsically tied to its green mana dependence, with a casting cost that asks for both green and generic mana. This can restrict the card’s playability, confining it typically to green-centric or two-color decks where securing the right mana is less of an issue.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its ability to return from the graveyard to the hand is a notable feature, the four mana required (especially with two being green) for its initial casting may deter players. This is particularly pertinent in faster-paced games where lower-costing creatures could establish a presence on the battlefield more quickly.
Reasons to Include Centaur Vinecrasher in Your Collection
Versatility: Centaur Vinecrasher excels in ramp and graveyard-centric decks. Its ability to return from the graveyard makes it a persistent threat in long games and a resilient option in environments hostile to creatures.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in land recursion strategies, syncing with effects that sacrifice lands for greater benefits, then bring them back to further boost its power.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where land destruction or self-mill are prominent, Centaur Vinecrasher can be unexpectedly formidable, turning seemingly detrimental plays into advantages.
How to beat
Centaur Vinecrasher is a unique creature in MTG that thrives in decks revolving around land management. Its ability to grow by leveraging lands in graveyards can swiftly turn it into a formidable threat. To effectively counter this, one of the strategies includes graveyard disruption. Cards like Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus effectively clear graveyards, nullifying Vinecrasher’s growth potential.
Another tactic is managing the creature directly. Spells like Path to Exile or Murderous Cut can efficiently handle Vinecrasher regardless of its size. Additionally, since Centaur Vinecrasher has the capacity to return from the graveyard, consistent removal or exile effects are crucial in ensuring it doesn’t re-enter the battlefield.
Denying the opponent the ability to churn lands in and out of the graveyard is also key. By limiting fetch lands and land sacrifice mechanics, the opportunity for boosting Centaur Vinecrasher is reduced. It’s often the synergy with other cards, such as Life from the Loam or The Gitrog Monster, that makes Vinecrasher exceedingly challenging to overcome. By disrupting these synergies and focusing on graveyard control, players can effectively mitigate the impact of Centaur Vinecrasher on the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Centaur Vinecrasher MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2015 and Legendary Cube Prize Pack, 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 Vinecrasher and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Centaur Vinecrasher Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-11-13 and 2018-08-09. Illustrated by Robbie Trevino.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 35 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robbie Trevino | |
| 2 | 2015-11-18 | Legendary Cube Prize Pack | PZ1 | 74 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robbie Trevino | |
| 3 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 95 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robbie Trevino | |
| 4 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 135 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robbie Trevino |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Centaur Vinecrasher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Centaur Vinecrasher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-11-04 | If Centaur Vinecrasher and a land card are put into your graveyard at the same time, Centaur Vinecrasher’s last ability will trigger. It doesn’t matter what zone Centaur Vinecrasher was previously in. |