Phyrexian Snowcrusher MTG Card

Coldsnap (CSP)
2006-07-21 - Number 140

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number CSP-140

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Snow Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Juggernaut
Power	6
Toughness	5

Key Takeaways

Adept at converting snow lands into ongoing threats, Phyrexian Snowcrusher dominates the board as the game unfolds.
Snowcrusher ensures you’re ahead of the curve by accelerating your resource development through snow mana synergy.
Instant speed tricks enhance Phyrexian Snowcrusher’s power, allowing reactive plays against opponents’ strategies.

Text of card

Phyrexian Snowcrusher attacks each turn if able. {S}: Phyrexian Snowcrusher gets +1/+0 until end of turn. ({S} can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)

Its plow wasn't designed for snow, but to carve a path through shrieking armies.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Phyrexian Snowcrusher offers a significant edge as it turns every snow land into a potential threat, increasing the utility of each land drawn. Its ability to become consistently more potent as the game progresses can result in overwhelming card quality advantage.

Resource Acceleration: With its ability to utilize snow mana, the Phyrexian Snowcrusher synergizes with cards that search for snow lands, effectively accelerating your resource development. This ensures that you’re able to deploy threats ahead of curve and maximize your mana efficiency.

Instant Speed: Although the Snowcrusher itself is a creature, its synergy with instant speed interactions shouldn’t be underestimated. It can immediately benefit from buffs or other tricks at instant speed that you can play reactively, in response to your opponent’s moves.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Phyrexian Snowcrusher can be a powerful addition to any deck, players must be wary of the discard requirement attached to its become monstrous ability. Discarding a precious card can sometimes backfire, especially during rounds where every card in hand is crucial for victory.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s activation leans heavily on snow mana, a specific type of resource that not all decks can consistently generate. This requirement can sometimes pigeonhole the card into snow-centric decks, thereby reducing its versatility across the broader array of deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a necessary investment of six mana to cast, Phyrexian Snowcrusher asks for a sizeable chunk of resources that might otherwise be used for developing the board or responding to threats. This high cost can slow down a player’s game tempo, which might give opponents the upper hand in the early to mid-game stages.

Reasons to Include Phyrexian Snowcrusher in Your Collection

Versatility: Phyrexian Snowcrusher is a useful addition to any deck that thrives on mana efficiency and the adaptability of artifact creatures. Its ability to operate as both an attacker and a mana sink in the late game allows it to serve multiple roles within a deck’s strategy.

Combo Potential: Because Phyrexian Snowcrusher can get bigger with every snow mana spent, it works well with decks that can generate substantial amounts of snow mana, synergizing with other snow permanents to create potent combinations on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where board presence and larger creatures are crucial, Phyrexian Snowcrusher can become a formidable force. It matches up well against decks that are unprepared to deal with its growing power, especially when equipped with ways to protect it or to make it unblockable.

How to Overcome Phyrexian Snowcrusher

The Phyrexian Snowcrusher, an imposing artifact creature in Magic: The Gathering, demands a strategic approach to counter. Its ability to become mammoth on snow-covered terrain makes it a formidable opponent, especially when combined with the snow mana mechanic that bolsters its presence on the field. When facing this juggernaut, having artifact removal in your deck proves essential. Cards like Shatter or Naturalize allow you to dismantle the Snowcrusher before it overwhelms you with its escalating power.

Furthermore, controlling the battlefield with early defense can prevent the Snowcrusher from becoming an unstoppable force. Playing creatures that can block effectively, or spells that can bounce or exile it, are critical strategies. Remember, delaying the Snowcrusher is not enough; you must have a concrete plan to remove it permanently or render it ineffectual. Lastly, playing around the snow mechanic itself limits the Snowcrusher’s power. Not relying heavily on snow lands or keeping the board clear of snow permanents can inhibit its growth and keep the game in your favor.

Ultimately, understanding how to dismantle or disable the unique advantages of cards like Phyrexian Snowcrusher can mean the difference between victory and defeat in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Phyrexian Snowcrusher

The Phyrexian Snowcrusher stands as a unique artifact creature in the icy realm of MTG’s frost-themed cards. While sharing the characteristic snow focus with cards such as Frostwalla, which also gains strength from snow, Snowcrusher takes advantage of its affinity to snow lands differently. Unlike Frostwalla that temporarily boosts its power, Snowcrusher utilizes snow mana to consistently bolster its attacking capability without reverting.

Another card to consider when looking at similar mechanics is Rimehorn Aurochs, which also thrives amongst snow. Rimehorn Aurochs lets you manipulate the battlefield, allowing for selective creature combat engagements by targeting and doing so at instant speed. In contrast, Snowcrusher focuses on overwhelming force, steadily growing its attack potential to bulldoze through defensive lines, given enough snow mana to fuel its ability.

Comparatively, when analyzing the assets each creature brings to a snow-enhanced deck, Phyrexian Snowcrusher’s built-in capacity for repeated power increases makes it a noteworthy inclusion and a formidable threat that pairs well with ongoing snow land plays. The card’s relentless attacking edge carves a niche in MTG strategies valuing persistent offensive pressure.

Cards similar to Phyrexian Snowcrusher by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phyrexian Snowcrusher MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and The List, 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 Phyrexian Snowcrusher and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Phyrexian Snowcrusher Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2006-07-21. Illustrated by Dave Allsop.