Crafty Octopus MTG Card
Text of card
When this creature enters the battlefield, this creature assembles a Contraption. (Put the top card of your Contraption deck face up onto one of your sprockets.)
Cards like Crafty Octopus
When delving into the depths of blue’s creature pool in Magic: The Gathering, Crafty Octopus makes a splash with its synergistic potential. It aligns with fellow creatures like Merfolk Looter for its ability to draw and discard, honing deck efficiency. The Looter, with its straightforward draw-discard mechanic, offers consistent deck filtration without the frills.
Glint-Nest Crane serves as another interesting comparison, providing a peek into the top cards of your deck while potentially adding an artifact into your hand. On one tentacle, Crafty Octopus lacks the targeted artifact search, but on the other, it boasts a broader draw-discard option for any type of card, giving it a more flexible user experience. Moreover, cards like Augur of Bolas dredge up instant and sorcery treasures from the library, yet they can’t match the Octopus’s capacity for hand sculpting turn after turn.
Assessing the capabilities and utility of these creatures, it’s clear that Crafty Octopus has tentacles in several pots—whether improving card quality, triggering draw-discards, or engaging with other facets of the game, it ensnares a respectable position among blue’s tactical fauna.
Cards similar to Crafty Octopus by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: If Crafty Octopus is in your deck, you’re looking at a creature that offers more than just its presence on the battlefield. With abilities that can potentially draw you extra cards, it ensures that your hand remains full, giving you the upper hand in outmaneuvering your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: This tentacled tactician is not just about the sneak attacks. It could enable you to ramp up your resources at a much quicker pace. With synergies that untap lands or other permanents, you can experience a surge in mana availability, propelling you ahead in the race for dominance.
Instant Speed: Much like the sudden ink cloud escape of its real-world counterpart, Crafty Octopus can operate at instant speed. This feature allows you to adapt to the ever-changing battlefield, react to your opponent’s moves, and make pivotal plays that can turn the tide of the game without telegraphing your strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the key drawbacks to playing Crafty Octopus is the discard requirement. Having to give up another card from your hand can be a strategic setback, especially when your hand size is dwindling and each card’s value is at a premium. This cost can hamper your ability to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Crafty Octopus calls for a precise blend of mana, including blue mana. This necessity means it fits primarily into blue-centric or blue-inclusive decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the broad spectrum of Magic decks. Players who do not frequently use blue may find Crafty Octopus challenging to assimilate into their strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to spending mana, Crafty Octopus demands a significant investment. The mana cost associated with it is substantial when compared to other creatures with similar abilities or power levels. Savvy players might seek alternatives that provide more impactful board presence or synergy with the rest of the deck at a lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include Crafty Octopus in Your Collection
Versatility: Crafty Octopus is not just a creature; it’s a tool that adapts to various deck themes. Whether you need to shore up your defenses or you’re looking for a reliable blocker with a twist, this card adds value on multiple levels.
Combo Potential: This eight-limbed wonder excels at working with others. Crafty Octopus can easily become a linchpin in strategies aiming to capitalize on tapping or untapping creatures. Its unique abilities can open up creative avenues for synergy with other cards.
Meta-Relevance: In a fluid environment where adaptability is key, having a card like Crafty Octopus can help you stay ahead of the curve. Its ability to slip into numerous roles makes it an asset against a range of decks and strategies currently in favor.
How to beat
When facing the cunning of Crafty Octopus in Magic: The Gathering, it’s key to understand its ability to potentially control the board. This crafty creature often comes with abilities that can ensnare or frustrate opponents through tricks and deceit. A solid strategy is to employ spells that neutralize its powers or remove the pesky cephalopod before it can establish dominance on the battlefield.
Spell removal options like Murder or Rapid Hybridization can dispatch the octopus swiftly, ensuring it doesn’t have the chance to complicate your game plan. Alternatively, enchantments such as Pacifism restrict the creature’s abilities, rendering it harmless. Board wipes also serve as an effective reset against decks that rely on creatures like Crafty Octopus to maintain control.
Understanding the ins and outs of your opponent’s strategies is paramount. Ensure you’re well-equipped with instant-speed responses or plan for a high-impact play that can turn the tables. Your deck should include versatile answers that can address a variety of threats, ensuring the Crafty Octopus and its kin won’t get the upper hand.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crafty Octopus MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Crafty Octopus 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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Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crafty Octopus card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | Host creatures each have an ability that triggers when it enters the battlefield. It functions like any other creature. |