Cragplate Baloth MTG Card
2020-09-25 - Number 183p
2020-09-25 - Number 183
2020-09-25 - Number 183s
2020-09-25 - Number 359
2002-06-24 - Number 83756
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Haste,Hexproof,Kicker |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
Kicker This spell can't be countered. Hexproof, haste If Cragplate Baloth was kicked, it enters the battlefield with four +1/+1 counters on it.
Cards like Cragplate Baloth
Cragplate Baloth holds a special seat within the realm of beefy green creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its kinship with fellow heavyweight Leatherback Baloth is evident, both offering substantial power and toughness for their mana cost. Although Leatherback Baloth lacks any added abilities, it comes at a lower cost, which can be pivotal in fast-paced games.
Another comparable behemoth, Carnage Tyrant, brings to the table some similar features with its hexproof and can’t be countered, making it a formidable choice against control decks. Nevertheless, Cragplate Baloth distinguishes itself with its kicker ability which confers hexproof and haste, giving it immediate board impact if you have the extra mana.
Considering all aspects, Cragplate Baloth provides a degree of flexibility and resilience that can be critical in late-game scenarios. While its counterparts may offer benefits like lower cost or specific abilities, the Baloth’s adaptive nature through its kicker cost makes it a versatile contender among high-powered green creatures.
Cards similar to Cragplate Baloth by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Cragplate Baloth. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gruul Stompy | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 11 2024 | |
 | Soulflayer | Pioneer | Soulflayer | Pioneer League 2024-02-03 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Cragplate Baloth boasts an ability that can create card advantage by being practically uncounterable due to its hexproof trait. It ensures that once it hits the battlefield, your opponents will have a tough time removing it, effectively giving you a persistent threat.
Resource Acceleration: As a part of the green mana color, Cragplate Baloth synergizes well with ramp strategies. Playing this creature on turn four or five is not uncommon in decks focused on resource acceleration, making it a formidable early threat.
Instant Speed: Its kicker ability allows it to be dropped into play with haste, making it an immediate threat that your opponents must deal with. This instant speed aspect is critical for turning the tide of a game, especially during late-game scenarios where every move counts.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Cragplate Baloth doesn’t necessarily require a discard, but it’s key to mention that any card that needs a specific setup like having enough creatures in your graveyard to take full advantage of its features could pose similar resource challenges.
Specific Mana Cost: This beastly card comes with a specific demand on your mana pool, requiring a commitment of six green mana, which can potentially limit the types of decks it’s played in and restricts its flexibility in multi-color builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a steep cost of seven mana to hit the board, Cragplate Baloth demands a considerable investment. In some cases, players might opt for cards with lower mana costs that can affect the game state earlier or offer similar levels of impact without such a significant investment of resources.
Reasons to Include Cragplate Baloth in Your Collection
Versatility: Cragplate Baloth can be a key player in different deck builds. It’s a powerhouse for any player looking to add a robust creature that can make an immediate impact on the board. Its built-in hexproof ensures it evades many common removal spells, allowing it to stick around in games longer than the average creature.
Combo Potential: With its kicker ability, this Baloth offers synergy with decks that benefit from +1/+1 counters or those that utilize landfall triggers. Kicking this creature into play can turn the tides of a game, especially in formats like Commander where powerful, singular threats are valued.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-heavy strategies dominate, Cragplate Baloth holds its ground effectively. It’s particularly handy in the current meta, as it can create pressure without being easily disrupted. Plus, its formidable 6/6 stats for a 7 mana cost make it a competitive choice in games where establishing a resilient board presence is crucial.
How to beat
Cragplate Baloth presents a formidable challenge on the battlefield, with its bulk and strong keyword ability of Hexproof. This means direct removal spells can’t touch the creature, requiring MTG players to strategize differently to overcome it. One effective method is by using board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation, which sidestep Hexproof by not targeting the Baloth directly.
Another strategy involves forcing your opponent to sacrifice their creatures. Edict effects, such as Liliana of the Veil’s sacrifice ability, get around Hexproof by not singling out Cragplate Baloth specifically. Moreover, combat trickery can be key; utilizing creatures with Deathtouch or setting up scenarios where multiple creatures block and collectively overpower the Baloth can clear it from your adversary’s board.
Ultimately, to defeat a mighty Cragplate Baloth, players need to think outside the box of conventional targeting removal. Leveraging global effects or clever combat scenarios can provide a pathway to victory against this otherwise resilient creature, keeping any MTG player on their toes when facing such a heavy-hitter in green decks.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cragplate Baloth MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising Promos, 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 Cragplate Baloth and other MTG cards:
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- Card Market
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Printings
The Cragplate Baloth Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 83756 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | ||
| 2 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Promos | PZNR | 183p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising | ZNR | 183 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 4 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Promos | PZNR | 183s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 5 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising | ZNR | 359 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cragplate Baloth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| 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 Cragplate Baloth card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-09-25 | A spell or ability that counters spells can still target Cragplate Baloth. When that spell or ability resolves, Cragplate Baloth won’t be countered, but any additional effects of the countering spell or ability will still happen. |
| 2020-09-25 | An ability that triggers when a player casts a kicked spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger, but after targets have been chosen for that spell. It resolves even if that spell is countered. |
| 2020-09-25 | If you copy a kicked spell, the copy is also kicked. If a card or token enters the battlefield as a copy of a permanent that’s already on the battlefield, the new permanent isn’t kicked, even if the original was. |
| 2020-09-25 | If you put a permanent with a kicker ability onto the battlefield without casting it, you can’t kick it. |
| 2020-09-25 | Kicker represents an optional additional cost that you may choose to pay as you cast the spell. A spell cast with that additional cost paid is “kicked.” |
| 2020-09-25 | Some instant or sorcery spells require alternative or additional targets if they’re kicked. You ignore these targeting requirements if those spells aren’t kicked, and you can’t kick those spells unless you can choose the appropriate targets. On the other hand, you can kick a permanent spell even if you won’t be able to choose targets for an enters-the-battlefield ability of that permanent once the spell resolves. |
| 2020-09-25 | To determine a spell’s total cost, start with the mana cost (or an alternative cost if another card’s effect allows you to pay one instead), add any cost increases (such as kicker), then apply any cost reductions. The converted mana cost of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was. |
| 2020-09-25 | You can’t pay a kicker cost more than once. |