Crested Herdcaller MTG Card
2018-01-19 - Number 126
2019-11-15 - Number 46
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Dinosaur |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Trample When Crested Herdcaller enters the battlefield, create a 3/3 green Dinosaur creature token with trample.
"Our survival, like theirs, depends on our ability to work together." —Huatli, to Tishana
Cards like Crested Herdcaller
Players looking to expand their deck strategies with creature cards that offer value beyond their basic stats often compare Crested Herdcaller with other similar cards. One such card is Broodmate Dragon, which, like Crested Herdcaller, provides additional creature tokens upon entering the battlefield. However, while Crested Herdcaller offers a Trample ability and creates a token with the same stats, Broodmate Dragon generates a 4/4 flying Dragon token, potentially offering more aerial control.
Another card worth considering is Rampaging Baloths. It lacks the immediate board presence of Crested Herdcaller since it doesn’t create a token on cast, but its Landfall ability continuously offers the potential for multiple 4/4 Beast tokens, given the right land drops. Comparatively, Crested Herdcaller gives a one-time effect but guarantees an extra body when it’s played.
In essence, while there’s an array of creatures capable of populating the board with tokens, Crested Herdcaller stands out for its ease of use and immediate impact, making it a solid inclusion in decks favoring a quick and effective boost in creature presence.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crested Herdcaller shines in the card advantage department. When it enters the battlefield, due to its Dinosaur synergistic ability, it creates a copy of itself. This essentially means you get two creatures for the price of one card, providing an immediate advantage on the board which can overwhelm your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: While Crested Herdcaller doesn’t directly accelerate your mana resources, its presence quickly escalates your board state, demanding more resources from your opponent. By forcing your opponent to deal with multiple threats at once, you indirectly strain their resources, potentially leading to a quicker victory.
Instant Speed: Although Crested Herdcaller is not an instant, it synergizes well with flash enablers or cards that allow you to play creatures as though they had flash. This can catch opponents off guard, allowing you to make strategic plays during their turn and keeping your mana open for responses until it is most advantageous to deploy your Herdcaller.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Crested Herdcaller doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, but it does force you to consider your hand management. If your hand is already full of high-cost cards, adding another five mana creature may hamper your ability to play multiple spells per turn.
Specific Mana Cost: This Dinosaur demands a specific split of mana, requiring three generic and two green. This can sometimes be restrictive, especially in multi-colored decks that may struggle to have the necessary green sources available when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With similar five mana creatures in the game, Crested Herdcaller’s cost is on the higher end. Ensuring you have five mana by turn five can be tough without the right ramp, especially given its specific green mana requirements which can be a stretch for a deck’s mana base.
Reasons to Include Crested Herdcaller in Your Collection
Versatility: Crested Herdcaller shows its flexibility by fitting into a variety of green-oriented decks. Its Trample ability ensures it can consistently deal damage, while its 3/3 token creation adds considerable board presence in a single move.
Combo Potential: This dinosaur synergizes well with decks that capitalize on entering the battlefield effects or those that need to populate the field quickly. Its ability to produce a token creature also opens up avenues for token doubling strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-heavy strategies are prevalent, Crested Herdcaller can become a formidable asset. It provides significant value and plays into green’s strengths by enhancing creature-based tactics and overwhelming opponents with multiple threats.
How to beat
The Crested Herdcaller brings a unique twist to creature spells in MTG, rewarding players with not just a solid body on the board but also an additional trampling dino thanks to its enrage trigger. This card, often finding a home in ramp or dinosaur tribal decks, can generate substantial value if left unanswered.
Nevertheless, players can adopt several strategies to stave off the momentum that Crested Herdcaller provides. Spot removal before the creature’s enrage ability triggers is one such tactic. Removal spells that exile, such as Path to Exile or the conditional Swords to Plowshares, can efficiently handle the Herdcaller without triggering its ability. Another approach is countering the spell outright, preventing the dinosaur duo from ever setting foot on the battlefield. Cards like Counterspell or Essence Scatter are exemplary tools for this method.
Moreover, board wipes continue to be an effective answer to creatures that generate additional bodies. Supreme Verdict or Damnation can clear the field of both the Herdcaller and its created token, resetting the board state. By preemptively managing threats or reacting swiftly to their presence, players can mitigate the potential advantage gained by the Crested Herdcaller and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crested Herdcaller MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Game Night 2019, 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 Crested Herdcaller 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Crested Herdcaller Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2019-11-15. Illustrated by Lucas Graciano.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-01-19 | Rivals of Ixalan | RIX | 126 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lucas Graciano | |
| 2 | 2019-11-15 | Game Night 2019 | GN2 | 46 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lucas Graciano |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crested Herdcaller has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |