Crater's Claws MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 106s
2014-09-26 - Number 106y
2014-09-26 - Number 106
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Ferocious |
Text of card
Crater's Claws deals X damage to any target. Ferocious — Crater's Claws deals X plus 2 damage instead if you control a creature with power 4 or greater.
Cards like Crater's Claws
Crater’s Claws makes a powerful impression in the pantheon of direct damage spells in MTG. The card finds its kin in the likes of Fireball, a classic spell capable of dealing a scalable amount of damage to any target. However, Crater’s Claws presents an advantageous twist with its Ferocious ability, potentially delivering additional damage if you control a creature with power 4 or greater. Fireball, while versatile, lacks this potential damage increase based on creatures you control.
Moving to another relative, we see Banefire as a member of this family, exhibiting a similar ability to scale damage based on mana investment. It differs from Crater’s Claws with a critical trait: if cast with enough mana, it becomes uncounterable, ensuring its effect even against decks heavy with counter spells. On the contrary, Crater’s Claws does not offer this spell protection, but can still outpace Banefire in terms of raw damage if ferocious conditions are met.
Combined, these spells cater to strategies centered around high impact plays. When selecting the right tool for your deck, Crater’s Claws is formidable for its potential to exploit creature strength, carving its own niche within the red spell roster of Magic: The Gathering for players who favor an aggressive and creature-focused playstyle.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Crater's Claws. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gruul Bard Class | Pioneer | Gruul Bard Class | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-01-06 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crater’s Claws provides a significant advantage by allowing you to deal direct damage to a target creature or player, thus potentially removing key threats on your opponent’s board or closing out the game when the opponent’s life total is within reach.
Resource Acceleration: With the Ferocious mechanic, if you control a creature with power 4 or greater, Crater’s Claws deals an additional 2 damage. This synergizes well with decks that have creatures that can easily meet this requirement, effectively accelerating the impact of your resources on the game state.
Instant Speed: While Crater’s Claws is a sorcery and does not benefit from being played at instant speed, its scalable damage potential means that it can be timed for maximum impact during your turn, such as after attackers are declared or when your opponent is tapped out, to avoid counterplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Crater’s Claws does not have a discard requirement in its mana cost, it does require a significant amount of resources to maximize its potential damage output. Players need to carefully manage their hand and the field for ferocious enablement.
Specific Mana Cost: Crater’s Claws has a specific mana cost that includes at least one red mana. This requirement can restrict its integration in multi-colored decks that may have a more complex mana base and not always have the necessary red mana available when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For Crater’s Claws to be most effective, a substantial investment of mana is required. This can be particularly challenging in the early game or in fast-paced matches where such a large allocation of resources could put you at a disadvantage. Additionally, when comparing it to other removal or direct damage spells, Crater’s Claws might not always be the most mana-efficient choice available.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Crater’s Claws serves as a flexible removal tool or a game-ending spell, adjusting to meet your needs at any stage of the game. It’s equally useful in dealing with early threats or delivering a final blow to your opponents.
Combo Potential: With the ferocious mechanic, Crater’s Claws can deal significant damage when paired with creatures that have power 4 or greater. This synergy makes for powerful combos in decks designed around big creatures.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where finishers are crucial, Crater’s Claws shines as a reliable option. Its scalability allows it to stay relevant whether you’re up against aggro decks requiring early interaction or control decks where a large burst of damage can be decisive.
How to Beat Crater’s Claws
Crater’s Claws carves its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a powerful X spell capable of dealing significant damage. The ferocious bonus presents a real threat, allowing it to hit for potentially game-ending damage. Facing this formidable spell requires a strategic approach to mitigate its impact. Defensive measures such as life gain, counterspells, or damage prevention can effectively neutralize the threat.
For instance, using counter magic like ‘Negate’ or ‘Dissolve’ can outright cancel a Crater’s Claws before it unleashes its might, making them invaluable in such confrontations. Additionally, damage prevention effects or cards that increase your life total can offset the damage dealt by Crater’s Claws, reducing its overall lethality. Cards like ‘Feed the Clan’ that offer a rapid life boost can be particularly useful when facing a deck that relies on the explosive power of Crater’s Claws.
In summary, while Crater’s Claws poses a formidable challenge with its potential to deal massive damage, efficient use of counter strategies can turn the tides. Having the right cards in hand to anticipate and diminish the impact of Crater’s Claws will greatly enhance your chances of outmaneuvering an opponent relying on this fiery spell.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crater's Claws MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir Promos and Khans of Tarkir, 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 Crater's Claws and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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Printings
The Crater's Claws Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2014-09-26. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir Promos | PKTK | 106s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley | |
| 2 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 106y | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nathaniel Himawan | |
| 3 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 106 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crater's Claws 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 Crater's Claws card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | Ferocious abilities of instants and sorceries that don’t use the word “instead” will provide an additional effect if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as they resolve. |
| 2014-09-20 | If you control a creature with power 4 or greater, Crater’s Claws with X equals 0 will deal 2 damage, with X equals 1 will deal 3 damage, and so on. |
| 2014-09-20 | Some ferocious abilities that appear on instants and sorceries use the word “instead.” These spells have an upgraded effect if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as they resolve. For these, you only get the upgraded effect, not both effects. |