Cherished Hatchling MTG Card

Cherished Hatchling enables dinosaurs to be cast instantly, creating strategic play opportunities and deck synergy. Its unique abilities add versatility and combo potential, making it a game-changer for dinosaur-themed decks. Countering this card requires timely removals or graveyard disruption to mitigate its powerful effect.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Dinosaur
Abilities	Fight
Released	2018-01-19
Set symbol
Set name	Rivals of Ixalan
Set code	RIX
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	124
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Sam Rowan

Text of card

When Cherished Hatchling dies, you may cast Dinosaur spells this turn as though they had flash, and whenever you cast a Dinosaur spell this turn, it gains "When this creature enters the battlefield, you may have it fight another target creature."

Despite its appearance, it's anything but defenseless.

Cards like Cherished Hatchling

Cherished Hatchling ushers in a unique dynamic among creature spells in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to allow dinosaur spells to be cast as though they had flash after it’s taken damage harkens to the abilities of cards like Allosaurus Rider. However, while Allosaurus Rider can provide a free-cast under specific conditions, Cherished Hatchling’s effect is selectively triggered and exclusively for a single tribe.

Another noteworthy comparison can be made with Emergence Zone, a land providing a similar ‘flash’ capability. Emergence Zone’s ability encompasses all spells at the cost of sacrificing the land, offering broader utility than Cherished Hatchling’s narrow focus. Both cards offer strategic surprise elements yet differ substantially in their application and potential impact.

Nestled amongst these alternatives, Cherished Hatchling provides a fascinating tactical advantage for dinosaur enthusiasts. It promises swift, unforeseen plays that can turn the tide of combat in favor of behemoth-sized creatures. Although this little dinosaur operates within a niche, it carves out a special place in a dino-lover’s deck, fostering a level of anticipation and excitement for what might hatch next on the battlefield.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Triggering when Cherished Hatchling dies, you immediately have the chance to play a Dinosaur card from your hand at instant speed, which could lead to unexpected plays and a shift in the board state that’s advantageous to you.

Resource Acceleration: Although Cherished Hatchling itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the typical way of producing mana, it facilitates a cost reduction in terms of timing. By allowing you to play Dinosaur spells as though they had flash, you can effectively save the mana you would have set aside for your main phase for other uses or reactions.

Instant Speed: Granting your Dinosaur spells instant speed posthumously introduces a strategic depth to your game. This ability enables you to play Dinosaur cards during your opponent’s turn or in response to their actions, catching them off guard and disrupting their plans. It’s a tactical advantage that can turn the tide of a match by offering surprise blockers or threats at critical moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cherished Hatchling doesn’t require a discard directly, playing it begs for a setup with other dinosaur cards, which could be a predicament if you’re holding key pieces you don’t want to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: Cherished Hatchling’s need for both green mana and another type of mana might restrict deck-building, especially in multicolored decks that require a diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two mana for a creature that doesn’t immediately impact the board and has to die to gain its advantage, some players may find this cost steep compared to other two-drops with more immediate effects on the game state.

Reasons to Include Cherished Hatchling in Your Collection

Versatility: Cherished Hatchling offers a unique twist to dinosaur decks, allowing you to play dinosaur spells as though they had flash after the hatchling dies. This can lead to surprising plays and advantageous board states, setting up for powerful turns.

Combo Potential: This card can enable powerful combos, opening the door for immediate impact plays with your heavyweight dinosaur creatures. It synergizes with cards that benefit from creatures dying or entering the battlefield, further enhancing its strategic utility.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where dinosaurs are gaining traction, or where instant-speed interactions are prized, Cherished Hatchling can give you an unexpected edge. Its ability to disrupt traditional play patterns makes it a valuable card in creature-heavy formats.

How to beat Cherished Hatchling

Cherished Hatchling is an intriguing creature card that offers players a unique advantage by allowing dinosaur spells to be cast as though they had flash after the hatchling dies. It’s akin to an enabler found in the MTG dinosaurs deck archetype, providing unexpected plays and swift board presence. Tackling this card effectively requires a strategic approach.

To counteract Cherished Hatchling’s ability, instant speed removal spells that can be cast outside of your main phase, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are key. This preempts the ability to cast dinosaurs with flash by removing the hatchling early. Additionally, graveyard disruption tactics, like Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace, are particularly potent. By targeting the hatchling’s trigger, these cards can prevent opponents from leveraging the flash ability, thereby quelling the potential dinosaur onslaught before it begins.

In essence, by anticipating the hatchling-triggered plays and employing timely removal or graveyard interaction, players can navigate the battlefield in a way that neutralizes the benefits that Cherished Hatchling provides within dinosaur-focused MTG strategies, which could otherwise erupt unpredictably following its demise.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cherished Hatchling MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan, 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 Cherished Hatchling and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cherished Hatchling has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2018-01-19	During the turn Cherished Hatchling dies, you may cast any number of Dinosaurs as though they had flash.
2018-01-19	For the triggered ability that the entering Dinosaur gains, if the target is illegal when it tries to resolve or if the Dinosaur that entered the battlefield has left the battlefield, no creature will deal or be dealt damage.
2018-01-19	For the triggered ability that the entering Dinosaur gains, you choose a target when the ability goes on the stack, but you don’t choose until that ability resolves whether those creatures fight.
2018-01-19	If an effect refers to a “ -ubtype] spell” or “ -ubtype] card,” it refers only to a spell or card that has that subtype. For example, March of the Drowned is a card that benefits Pirates and features Pirates in its illustration, but it isn’t a Pirate card.
2018-01-19	You must pay the costs for spells you cast this way. If there’s an alternative cost you can pay instead of the mana cost for a Dinosaur spell, you may pay that cost instead.