Drowsing Tyrannodon MTG Card
2020-07-03 - Number 178
2022-12-02 - Number 648
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dinosaur |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Drowsing Tyrannodon excels as an early blocker, aiding in maintaining a resource advantage.
- Its activation condition promotes faster gameplay, pressuring opponents early on.
- Complementing instant-speed plays, it offers flexibility in deck strategies.
Text of card
Defender (This creature can't attack.) As long as you control a creature with power 4 or greater, Drowsing Tyrannodon can attack as though it didn't have defender.
What the rangers thought were warning growls turned out to be nothing but monstrous snoring.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Drowsing Tyrannodon itself may not draw cards, its sheer presence as a strong early blocker can protect your more valuable creatures and your life total. This can lead to a card advantage over time as it deters opponents from attacking and allows you to establish a more dominant board without losing resources.
Resource Acceleration: In a deck built around larger creatures, Drowsing Tyrannodon can contribute to resource acceleration by fulfilling the requirement of having a creature with power 4 or greater. This enables it to swing early in the game, which can be utilized to exert pressure or to enable effects that require a creature to deal combat damage to a player.
Instant Speed: While Drowsing Tyrannodon operates at sorcery speed, it can still complement instant speed strategies. Its low casting cost means it can be played early, keeping mana open for instant speed interaction on your opponent’s turns. Partnered with the right instant spells, Drowsing Tyrannodon can be a formidable deterrent, making opponents think twice about their moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Drowsing Tyrannodon may occasionally mandate a player’s choice to hold or play creatures with power 4 or more to activate its ability to block, which can sway the tactical aspect and lead to unwanted discards or delayed plays.
Specific Mana Cost: While Drowsing Tyrannodon comes with a low and specific mana cost of one green, it demands a particular deck build geared towards green mana resources, potentially limiting its seamless integration into multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its affordability, when evaluating the mana-to-utility ratio, Drowsing Tyrannodon’s inability to block unless you control a creature with power 4 or greater makes it less mana-efficient compared to other two-mana cost creatures that can block independently of other conditions.
Reasons to Include Drowsing Tyrannodon in Your Collection
Versatility: Drowsing Tyrannodon is a dynamic addition to creature-based decks, fitting beautifully in green ramp or dinosaur-centric builds. Its low casting cost combined with a significant power allows it to be a formidable blocker early in the game.
Combo Potential: This hefty herbivore has great synergy with cards that enable it to attack regardless of power restrictions, such as those that give it trample or increase its power. These enhance its potential to serve as both an early defender and mid-game aggressor.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with aggressive creature decks, Drowsing Tyrannodon serves as an effective deterrent. The ability to stop early onslaughts from smaller creatures can prove invaluable while setting up for game-changing plays in later rounds.
How to beat
Drowsing Tyrannodon may appear unassuming, but it can quickly become a thorn in your side if left unchecked on the battlefield. This hefty creature from Magic: The Gathering boasts formidable defensive capabilities, making it a reliable guardian against early onslaughts. It requires a little creative strategy to overcome its defensive stance and two power threshold for attack.
To bypass the Drowsing Tyrannodon’s strength, consider exploiting its conditional offensive capabilities. Utilize flying creatures to soar over its massive frame, as flying is a keyword ability the Tyrannodon can’t counter. Enchantment removal spells or those that can neutralize abilities also provide a tactical edge. A clever player might choose to reduce the Tyrannodon’s power, rendering it unable to block or divert attacks to other creatures, strategically dismantling your opponent’s defenses.
Overpowering the battlefield with superior creatures or utilizing direct damage spells can serve as an effective equalizer against Drowsing Tyrannodon, ensuring it becomes a non-issue as you strive for victory in the game. Understanding and employing these tactics will help you keep this prehistoric powerhouse in a deep slumber rather than reigning supreme on the board.
Cards like Drowsing Tyrannodon
Drowsing Tyrannodon, a resilient creature card in MTG, strikes a resemblance to other low-cost defensive cards such as Arboreal Grazer. Both creatures provide early board presence, with the Tyrannodon boasting a stout 3/3 body that’s active as long as you control a creature with power 4 or greater. Arboreal Grazer, contrarily, presents an alternative by allowing you to put an additional land into play, yet only offers a 0/3 body in return.
Wall of Blossoms is another card that shares functionality by presenting a barrier to early aggression. While it doesn’t match Drowsing Tyrannodon’s strength, it compensates with an immediate card draw upon entering the battlefield. Looking to more aggressive yet similar mana-value creatures, we encounter Lovestruck Beast. This card unveils a befitting 5/5 body conditional upon a 1/1 creature to attack. It delivers an offensive edge while Drowsing Tyrannodon remains inherently defensive.
Evaluating these options, Drowsing Tyrannodon holds its ground as a cost-effective and sturdy defensive option that becomes a significant threat when a higher power creature accompanies it, illustrating its place among MTG’s vast array of value creature cards.
Cards similar to Drowsing Tyrannodon by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Drowsing Tyrannodon MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Drowsing Tyrannodon and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
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Printings
The Drowsing Tyrannodon Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Simon Dominic.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 178 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 648 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Drowsing Tyrannodon 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 |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Drowsing Tyrannodon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-06-23 | If Drowsing Tyrannodon's power is raised to 4 or greater, it will allow itself to attack. |
| 2020-06-23 | Once Drowsing Tyrannodon has attacked, it will remain an attacking creature even if you no longer control a creature with power 4 or greater. |