Countryside Crusher MTG Card
2008-02-01 - Number 89
2013-06-07 - Number 108
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Giant Warrior |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library. If it's a land card, put it into your graveyard and repeat this process. Whenever a land card is put into your graveyard from anywhere, put a +1/+1 counter on Countryside Crusher.
Cards like Countryside Crusher
Countryside Crusher has cemented its place within the pantheon of exciting red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often contrasted with other monster-sized beaters, such as Terravore, which feasts on lands in graveyards to bulk up. Though both cards grow in power via the graveyard, Countryside Crusher distinguishes itself by also offering deck manipulation, as it mills your deck with each draw and grows stronger with every land card sent to the graveyard.
Molten Vortex shares thematic elements with Countryside Crusher, utilizing land cards for a different advantage—dealing direct damage instead of creature growth. While Vortex demands lands to be hand-held, the Crusher automates land cycling through its ability. Another comparable giant, Knight of the Reliquary, gains power and toughness through a similar graveyard interaction with lands. However, it relies on a distinct strategy, fetching lands by sacrificing others, permitting more controlled deck thinning.
In equating the trio, Countryside Crusher offers a unique blend of deck milling and beatstick capabilities. Its ability to effectively convert potential dead draws into muscle makes it a standout choice for decks that capitalize on lands in the graveyard and desire a self-sufficient power boost.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Countryside Crusher. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Assault Loam | Modern | Assault Loam | Modern Challenge 64 2024-02-03 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Countryside Crusher has the potential to significantly improve your draw quality. Each time a land card is drawn, it fuels the Crusher’s power, and with enough lands hitting the graveyard, your draws become more potent as you dig deeper for non-land spells that can impact the board.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly generating mana, Countryside Crusher can indirectly accelerate your resource availability. With each land card milled from your library, the Crusher grows stronger, converting those otherwise stagnant cards into a growing threat that must be answered.
Instant Speed: Though the Crusher itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability to interact with cards drawn at any point in the game amplifies its synergy with instant-speed deck manipulation. This can enable strategic planning and responding to the ever-changing landscape of a match, ensuring that every draw step has the potential to bolster your position.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Countryside Crusher is its reliance on discarding cards to fuel its ability. This need can place players in a precarious position if their hand is already depleted, as forgoing potential plays can stall the momentum of their game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires both generic and red mana, Countryside Crusher demands a deck heavily skewed towards or fully dedicated to red mana. This requirement can restrict deck-building options and makes it less versatile in multi-color decks that might not generate red mana consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, which includes two red, Countryside Crusher’s activation cost can be seen as steep, especially considering that there are other more economical creatures or spells that could potentially occupy the three-mana slot and provide immediate impact or more resilient board presence.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Countryside Crusher can be a dynamic addition to myriad MTG deck formats, notably those built around land mechanics and deck thinning strategies. Its ability to grow stronger with each land card drawn makes it a powerful force in the right setting.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that manipulate the top of the deck or graveyard, Countryside Crusher maximizes its power level, turning into a formidable threat that can dominate the board. This leads to intriguing synergies and unforeseen combinations that can swing the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: With the shift towards graveyard gameplay and land-focused strategies in various MTG metas, including Countryside Crusher could give players an edge. Its enduring presence assures that it remains a relevant choice in a landscape where adaptability can determine the outcome of matches.
How to beat
Countryside Crusher is a formidable force in MTG, boasting a unique ability that can quickly escalate the power on the board. Each turn, it has the potential to become a greater threat by growing stronger with every land card that finds its way into the graveyard. This constant growth mechanic makes it an important target to tackle quickly in the game.
Defeating Countryside Crusher requires a strategy that disrupts its growth or removes it from play before it becomes too large to handle. Utilizing removal spells such as Path to Exile or Unmake can eliminate the Crusher outright. Alternatively, controlling the battlefield with counterspells like Mana Leak when the Crusher is cast can prevent it from ever impacting the board. Ensnaring it with control enchantments such as Pacifism also effectively neuters the threat.
Playing around Countryside Crusher involves foresight, setting up your plays to either sidestep its power or to remove it before it gains momentum. The key is to anticipate the threat and have a solution ready. Taking this approach can help ensure that this mighty creature won’t be crushing your countryside or your chances of victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Countryside Crusher MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide and Modern Masters, 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 Countryside Crusher and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Countryside Crusher Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2008-02-01 and 2013-06-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008-02-01 | Morningtide | MOR | 89 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 2 | 2013-06-07 | Modern Masters | MMA | 108 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Countryside Crusher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Countryside Crusher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-04-01 | Each time you put a land card into your graveyard with the first ability, the second ability will trigger. Those triggers wait to be put onto the stack until the first ability has completely finished resolving. |
| 2008-04-01 | The first ability will keep putting cards from the top of your library into your graveyard until you reveal a nonland card. That nonland card remains on top of your library. |