Vivien's Crocodile MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Crocodile Spirit
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	301
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Bayard Wu

Key Takeaways

Offers strong defense to conserve hand resources while enabling +1/+1 counter synergies.
Lacks instant speed but pairs well with flash, strengthening board presence unexpectedly.
Balances power with drawbacks like specific mana needs and a higher resource investment.

Text of card

Vivien's Crocodile gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Vivien planeswalker.

"Regardless of where they come from, crocs are usually able to find their way home. For this one, home is me." —Vivien Reid

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Vivien’s Crocodile itself does not directly provide card draw, it stands as a sturdy creature that can defend against opponents’ threats, effectively preserving the cards in your hand by not having to play additional creatures for defense.

Resource Acceleration: This creature could potentially fit into a deck that leverages a +1/+1 counter theme, working in tandem with mechanics like proliferate to quickly scale your board presence and accelerate your resources beyond mere land drops.

Instant Speed: As a creature, Vivien’s Crocodile does not have instant speed; however, it could synergize with decks that have flash enablers, allowing you to surprise your opponent by bringing it onto the battlefield unexpectedly during their turn or the end step before yours, maintaining pressure and tempo.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vivien’s Crocodile comes with the obligation of discarding another card which can be detrimental when your hand is already running low on cards, diminishing your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: This reptilian creature requires a precise combination of green mana, which could be restrictive and not as versatile for multi-color decks seeking a more fluid mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its abilities and stats, Vivien’s Crocodile’s mana cost is on the higher side, meaning you may find other creatures that give a better power-to-mana ratio, providing more bang for your resources.

Reasons to Include Vivein’s Crocodile in Your Collection

Versatility: Vivien’s Crocodile is an adaptable creature card that can seamlessly slot into various green decks. Its solid stats make it an early-game threat on the board, while also contributing to your overall creature synergy.

Combo Potential: This creature offers potential for combos with cards that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or beast-related synergies, amplifying both its presence and strategic value in a match.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the ever-evolving game meta, Vivien’s Crocodile serves as a robust inclusion in a world where green creatures can dominate the battlefield. It performs well against an array of common strategies, bolstering your defensive line while posing an offensive threat.

How to beat

Vivien’s Crocodile is a creature card that Magic: The Gathering players should approach with strategy. This beast boasts a potent adaptability aspect, significantly increasing its power level once Vivien planeswalker is in play. To contain this reptilian threat, focus on removals or counterplays that neutralize the crocodile before it escalates. Board wipes are an effective way to clear the field, ensuring Vivien’s Crocodile doesn’t benefit from a bolstered stance once synergized with its Planeswalker counterpart.

Playing cards that restrict your opponent’s ability to cast noncreature spells can be a game-changer, as it hinders their capability to summon planeswalkers like Vivien in the first place. Timing is critical. Employing instant-speed removal spells enables you to react swiftly, mitigating the danger posed by an unchecked Vivien’s Crocodile. Lastly, include cards in your deck that limit the effectiveness of counter strategies, reducing the likelihood of your removal being negated and keeping the crocodile at bay.

Mitigating the impact of Vivien’s Crocodile requires preemptive tactics and readiness to counteract the synergistic threat it represents along with its accompanying planeswalker. Keep these considerations in mind, and you’ll be better equipped to triumph over this formidable foe.

Cards like Vivien's Crocodile

Vivien’s Crocodile is a creature card that makes waves in the MTG green creature pool with its unique attributes. It aligns closely with cards like Leatherback Baloth in terms of being an efficient green creature. Both cards offer substantial power and toughness for their mana cost, providing a robust presence on the battlefield early in the game.

Silhana Ledgewalker is another card that shares some similarities with Vivien’s Crocodile, offering a form of protection with its hexproof ability. However, Vivien’s Crocodile differentiates itself by being a larger creature, potentially winning combat more frequently. Then there’s Barkhide Troll, standing out in this grouping with its combination of low casting cost and the option to obtain hexproof by removing a +1/+1 counter.

Assessing them together, Vivien’s Crocodile holds its ground as an appealing choice for decks looking to assert dominance with high stats-for-cost creatures, carving out its niche in the MTG ecosystem through its balance of size and precautionary abilities against targeted spells.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vivien's Crocodile 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 Vivien's Crocodile and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vivien's Crocodile has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vivien's Crocodile 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 Vivien’s Crocodile may become lethal if your Vivien planeswalker leaves the battlefield during that turn.