Barkhide Troll MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Troll
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	165
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Grzegorz Rutkowski

Key Takeaways

Provides implicit card advantage through its ability to protect itself at the cost of a +1/+1 counter.
Fits well in fast-paced decks due to its low casting cost and instant-speed defensive capability.
Demands green mana focus, potentially limiting its utility in multi-colored deck strategies.

Text of card

Barkhide Troll enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. , Remove a +1/+1 counter from Barkhide Troll: Barkhide Troll gains hexproof until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Barkhide Troll may not draw you additional cards, its resilience adds implicit card advantage. Its ability to protect itself from a targeted spell by removing a +1/+1 counter can potentially negate an opponent’s card, effectively saving your resources while depleting theirs.

Resource Acceleration: By requiring only two mana to cast, one of which is green, Barkhide Troll fits seamlessly into decks aiming for a rapid buildup. Its cost-efficiency allows you to deploy threats earlier or preserve mana for other critical plays in the early game.

Instant Speed: The capability to activate Barkhide Troll’s protective ability at instant speed provides a significant strategic advantage. This flexible defense mechanism can be utilized in response to an opponent’s actions, catching them off guard and ensuring your Troll remains a formidable presence on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Barkhide Troll’s ability to put a +1/+1 counter on itself at the cost of discarding a card may not always be beneficial, particularly in late-game scenarios where card advantage can determine the winner.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two green mana, Barkhide Troll’s mana cost demands a commitment to green mana sources, which could limit deck flexibility and hinder its inclusion in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although it offers a sturdy body for the mana invested, the cost of two mana for a 2/2 creature is higher when compared to other options in the MTG universe that could provide additional abilities or synergies for the same or lower cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Barkhide Troll offers a sturdy presence for any green-based deck. With the ability to come into play quickly and the option to gain hexproof, it can adapt to a variety of situations, from aggressive starts to defensive stands.

Combo Potential: This creature synergizes well with +1/+1 counter strategies, enhancing its survivability and threat level. It can be pivotal in decks that capitalize on counter manipulation for consistent board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where removal spells are prevalent, Barkhide Troll stands out for its resilience. Its hexproof ability can protect it from common targeted removal, making it a reliable choice for current metagames that favor interaction.

How to beat

Barkhide Troll presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, with its ability to gain hexproof until end of turn. The creature demands immediate attention, as its built-in protection mechanism can become quite the roadblock. To effectively counter this card, timing is critical. The key is to act during the window in which its hexproof can’t be activated, which usually means responding in the same phase in which it’s cast or before the opponent has available mana.

Moreover, board wipes like Shatter the Sky or Wrath of God are an excellent way to circumvent individual protections like Barkhide Troll’s. These types of cards don’t target and therefore ignore hexproof entirely, leveling the playing field by removing all creatures from the board, including the armored troll.

Leveraging these strategies, players can manage the challenges posed by Barkhide Troll. Considering your moves and maintaining awareness of mana availability becomes the winning approach to holding dominance over creatures who might otherwise seem indefatigable.

Cards like Barkhide Troll

Barkhide Troll stands out in the collection of green creatures in MTG for its resilience and versatility. It’s often compared to the likes of Scavenging Ooze, which shares the ability to manipulate +1/+1 counters. However, Barkhide Troll offers an accessible shield against removal via its ability to remove a +1/+1 counter for hexproof. Scavenging Ooze, while not offering hexproof, excels in graveyard interaction and can grow larger over time.

Growth-Chamber Guardian is another card echoing similarities with our troll friend. This card can also accumulate +1/+1 counters, but it focuses on tutoring additional copies of itself from your library, creating a different angle of repetitive value over the hexproof protection Barkhide Troll provides.

Comparing these options, Barkhide Troll is appreciated for its combination of early board presence and defensive utility. While other creatures may offer different kinds of value, Barkhide Troll is reliably cost-effective for its protective features, making it a favored choice in decks that prioritize enduring creature strategies.

Growth-Chamber Guardian - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Barkhide Troll MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Barkhide Troll and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Barkhide Troll 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 Barkhide Troll card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2019-07-12	Because damage remains marked on a creature until it’s removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to Barkhide Troll may become lethal if you activate its last ability during that turn.