Coastal Hornclaw MTG Card
2000-06-05 - Number 31
2003-07-28 - Number 66
2003-07-28 - Number 66★
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Bird |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Sacrifice a land: Coastal Hornclaw gains flying until end of turn.
Jamuraan farmers fear three things above all else: droughts, floods, and hornclaws.
Cards like Coastal Hornclaw
Coastal Hornclaw carves its niche in MTG as a Coastal creature with a peculiar ability: sacrificing a land for the sake of evasion, specifically islandwalk. While not as straightforward as some creatures, it holds a resemblance to cards like Glintwing Invoker which also offer a form of evasion in response to a mana payment. However, the Hornclaw’s requirement for the islandwalk ability centers on a one-time land sacrifice rather than a recurring mana cost.
Looking towards cards such as Skyshroud Condor, we find a creature that similarly conditions its playability by having lands played on the same turn — an echo of the Hornclaw’s necessity to interact with land. Yet, Condor’s flight ability is constant without additional costs. Hornclaw’s strategy differs, enabling surprise unblockability in decks that can afford the land sacrifice. Another creature to consider is Sealock Monster, who, like Hornclaw, can manipulate the battlefield to create unblockable situations but does so through a transformation mechanism rather than a sacrifice.
Each of these creatures presents unique interplays with lands to unlock their full potential, yet Coastal Hornclaw offers a blend of tactical sacrifice and potential for unanticipated attacks that can appeal especially to MTG players who enjoy strategic land management.
Cards similar to Coastal Hornclaw by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Though not straightforward, Coastal Hornclaw’s ability to return a land to your hand can be strategically used with landfall triggers or spells that benefit from playing additional lands.
Resource Acceleration: The ability to untap Coastal Hornclaw by returning a land you control to your hand can be repurposed as a resource acceleration tactic, essentially using the same land twice in a turn.
Instant Speed: While Coastal Hornclaw doesn’t directly operate at instant speed, its ability can be utilized in a similar vein; you can attack with it, then, before the end of the combat phase, return a land to your hand to untap Coastal Hornclaw, readying it for defense or future combos.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Coastal Hornclaw mandates a player discards a land card to enable its untap ability. This prerequisite can be particularly burdensome when your hand is empty or land-starved, hindering you from maximizing your plays each turn.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two Islands to cast, Coastal Hornclaw’s mana cost confines it to blue-centric or dual-color decks, potentially restricting its versatility across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of five mana, including two that must be blue, for a 3/3 flier seems overpriced when pitted against other creatures in the same mana range that may provide additional abilities or greater stats.
Reasons to Include Coastal Hornclaw in Your Collection
Versatility: The card Coastal Hornclaw serves as a flexible piece in various deck builds. Its ability to sacrifice a land to untap provides options for strategies that capitalize on land recursion or need to react swiftly during a game.
Combo Potential: Coastal Hornclaw’s untap mechanic can be cleverly paired with cards that profit from lands entering the battlefield or from creatures that tap and untap for beneficial effects.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment that values tempo and the ability to outmaneuver opponents, Coastal Hornclaw offers a tactical advantage. It can be particularly useful in formats where land manipulation plays a key role in securing victory.
How to beat
Coastal Hornclaw presents itself as a unique creature in the blue roster of Magic the Gathering, requiring strategic finesse to effectively incorporate into a match. With an ability that allows it to be untapped by sacrificing a land, it offers a repetitive block utility that can be hard to bypass. The key to overcoming Coastal Hornclaw lies in preemptive control and removal.
Employing instant speed removal spells when the Hornclaw is tapped for an attack can efficiently neutralize it, effectively negating its block potential. Cards with ‘destroy target creature’ or ‘deal damage’ work well, as the Hornclaw’s 3 toughness is manageable. Enchantment-based removal, such as those that can exile or render the creature unable to untap, can sidestep the untap ability altogether. Also, counter strategies that hit the player’s land base can halt the Hornclaw’s engine, creating an opening for attack.
In conclusion, versatility in removal and adaptation to land threats becomes crucial when facing Coastal Hornclaw. Understanding when to time your removal spells and managing your resources will ensure that the Hornclaw doesn’t become an insurmountable obstacle in your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Coastal Hornclaw MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy and Eighth Edition, 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 Coastal Hornclaw 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Coastal Hornclaw Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-06-05 and 2003-07-28. Illustrated by DiTerlizzi.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-06-05 | Prophecy | PCY | 31 | 1997 | Normal | Black | DiTerlizzi | |
| 2 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 66 | 2003 | Normal | White | DiTerlizzi | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 66★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | DiTerlizzi |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Coastal Hornclaw has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |