Core Prowler MTG Card


Core Prowler enables powerful combos by proliferating counters on death, impacting various in-game mechanics. Its infect ability accelerates win conditions, making it a linchpin in dedicated infect or proliferate decks. Though resource-heavy for a 2/2 creature, its death-triggered ability potentates significant game swings.
Core Prowler - Mirrodin Besieged
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Phyrexian Horror
Abilities Infect,Proliferate
Released2011-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameMirrodin Besieged
Set codeMBS
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number103
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDave Allsop

Text of card

Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.) When Core Prowler is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, proliferate. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there.)


Cards like Core Prowler

Core Prowler offers a unique blend of features for players in Magic the Gathering. Within its category, it shows similarities to cards like Plague Myr, also providing infect as a keyword ability. Both lay the foundation for steadily accumulating poison counters towards a win condition. Core Prowler distinguishes itself with its higher cost and the additional benefit of proliferating upon death, potentially escalating the spread of counters across the battlefield.

Another comparable card is Ichorclaw Myr, which although has a lower casting cost and an ability that increases its power when blocked, does not offer the same proliferation impact that Core Prowler guarantees. Core Prowler’s death-triggered ability can therefore be a game-changer in infect strategies, adding value even after it leaves the field.

Understanding the strategic trade-offs between Core Prowler and similar cards is crucial. While others may come at a lower cost or with alternate advantages, Core Prowler’s proliferate mechanic emphatically supports the infect archetype, making it a key asset for players seeking to maximize the effectiveness of their poison-based decks in Magic the Gathering.

Plague Myr - MTG Card versions
Ichorclaw Myr - MTG Card versions
Plague Myr - MTG Card versions
Ichorclaw Myr - MTG Card versions

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Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Core Prowler’s death triggers proliferate, letting you add additional counters, be they +1/+1, loyalty, or poison, to players or permanents. This can swiftly tip the scales in your favor and is particularly beneficial in counter-centric decks, increasing your in-game resources without the need for extra card draws.

Resource Acceleration: By increasing the number of poison counters through its proliferate mechanic, Core Prowler can accelerate your strategy towards an infect victory. The proliferation ability works in tandem with other pieces on the board, effectively enhancing your overall board state and hastening the pace of the game to your advantage without requiring additional mana investment.

Instant Speed: While Core Prowler itself may not operate at instant speed, its death-triggered ability can add considerable value during any phase of the game. Should it perish during an opponent’s turn, you can then instantly proliferate, catching an opponent off guard and shifting the momentum in your direction.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Core Prowler demands a precise combination of mana, including Phyrexian mana, to hit the board. For those not running a dedicated infect or proliferate deck, its infect ability might have compatibility issues, reducing its versatility.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost requiring both colorless and green mana, this card’s infect capability can be restrictive. It’s naturally a better fit for green-centric decks but can be a strain on multicolor decks not focused on the proliferate mechanic or lacking consistent mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Four mana for a 2/2 creature isn’t the pinnacle of efficiency, especially in faster, more aggressive metagames. Considering other creatures and spells available for a similar investment, Core Prowler can lag behind in terms of immediate board impact for its mana cost.


Reasons to Include Core Prowler in Your Collection

Versatility: Core Prowler can adapt to a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those revolving around +1/+1 counters or proliferate strategies. It serves as a creature that poses an immediate threat to opponents concerned about counters spreading across your battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card holds great potential for combo interactions, especially in decks that utilize infect mechanics or those that capitalize on increasing the number of counters on permanents. It can also trigger a myriad of abilities that rely on creatures dying or artifact synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where counters and modular mechanics are prevalent, Core Prowler finds its place by amplifying those strategies. Moreover, it’s a piece that fortifies your presence on the board and has the potential to swing games when combined with the right support cards.


Understanding Core Prowler

Core Prowler is a unique creature card that presents both a challenge and an opportunity for players in Magic: The Gathering. This Phyrexian creature not only offers poison counters through its infect ability, potentially leading to a swifter defeat of the opponent, but it also has the potential to proliferate those counters when it dies. This combination makes the Core Prowler a dual-threat on the battlefield.

Its moderate casting cost and combination of abilities make it a formidable card when strategizing within the infect deck archetype. Just as other infect creatures, it serves as a component of a strategy focused on dealing damage in the form of poison counters rather than traditional life total reduction. Meanwhile, its death trigger can be strategically pivotal, enhancing not just poison counters but any kind of counters on your permanents, accelerating the path to victory.

How to beat

Overcoming the challenge of Core Prowler in MTG revolves around preemptive and reactive strategies. Due to its infect ability, it’s crucial to control the battlefield to prevent proliferation. This can be achieved by utilizing removal spells that exile, negating the Prowler’s death trigger, or employing counter spells to prevent it from hitting the battlefield altogether. Essentially, swift removal is key. Should Core Prowler find its way to the field, it’s prudent to avoid killing it in combat and instead opt for effects that can bypass its last ability. Cards like Path to Exile or exile-based board wipes are prime examples of effective control tactics against it. Keeping the Prowler in check requires tight resource management and strategic recognition of when to let it through and when to take it down.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG takes finesse, especially when integrating niche cards like Core Prowler into your deck. With its valuable proliferate trigger upon death and the ability to spread poison counters, this card can be a linchpin in counter-centric strategies. If you’re vying to sharpen your game and exploit the synergies that Core Prowler presents, delving deeper into infect and proliferate mechanics is your next move. Intrigued by the strategic depth this card offers? Join our community to deepen your knowledge, uncover new deck-building strategies, and optimize your gameplay. Learn from veteran players how to leverage Core Prowler to its full potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Core Prowler MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, 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 Core Prowler and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Core Prowler has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal