Cresting Mosasaurus MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 8 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Dinosaur |
Abilities | Emerge |
Power | 4 |
Toughness | 8 |
Text of card
Emerge (You may cast this spell by sacrificing a creature and paying the emerge cost reduced by that creature's mana value.) When Cresting Mosasaurus enters the battlefield, if you cast it, return each non-Dinosaur creature to its owner's hand.
It preyed on anything it could sink its teeth into.
Cards like Cresting Mosasaurus
Within the deep waters of MTG, Cresting Mosasaurus makes a splash among creature cards with its unique abilities. This particular dinosaur is reminiscent of Wavebreak Hippocamp, sharing the theme of rewarding players during their opponent’s turn. Cresting Mosasaurus gets larger with each card drawn on the opponent’s turn, much like how Wavebreak Hippocamp provides the card draw itself. While Hippocamp requires a mana investment to harness its ability, the Mosasaurus capitalizes naturally on the flow of the game.
Another nautical giant, Serpent of Yawning Depths, also works in the ebb and flow of card play, though it focuses on enabling sea creatures to attack unchallenged rather than growing in power. The Mosasaurus plays nicely with others of its kind — it thrives in a deck that manipulates card draw while Serpent of Yawning Depths leads a legion of untouchable minions. Lastly, if you appreciate the tide-turning presence of Mosasaurus, you might consider Aethersquall Ancient for its board impact. While the Ancient affects the whole battlefield, the Mosasaurus is a crescendo of threat focused on one powerful body.
Cresting Mosasaurus stands out in blue’s creature lineup for its scaling threat, meshing well in strategies where drawing on the opponent’s turn is prevalent, making it a potent force in decks designed around such mechanics.
Cards similar to Cresting Mosasaurus by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Cresting Mosasaurus offers consistent card draw, meaning every time you land a hit with it, you’re not just dealing damage but also refilling your hand. This is a significant edge as it keeps options flowing and applies pressure with sustained resources.
Resource Acceleration: If you couple the Cresting Mosasaurus with cards that synergize with sea creatures or benefit from card draw, you can experience a boost in resource acceleration. This acceleration helps advance your board state more quickly than your opponent, leading to a dominant position in the match.
Instant Speed: The ability to flash in the Cresting Mosasaurus provides a tactical advantage. You can surprise opponents by bringing it onto the battlefield at instant speed, potentially during their turn, which adds a layer of strategy and unpredictability to your game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Similar to other high-impact cards, Cresting Mosasaurus may require you to discard one or more cards to unleash its full potential. This can be a drawback, especially when your hand is already running low and every card counts for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Cresting Mosasaurus comes with a mana cost that is particular to its color identity, which may not always align seamlessly with multicolored decks. This specificity could limit its playability to mainly mono or dual color decks that can consistently provide the needed mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Due to its substantial abilities, this creature comes at a higher mana cost. In the early game, when mana resources are critical, it might not be the most efficient creature to play. Other cards with lower mana costs may provide value sooner, helping to establish board presence or defend against early threats effectively.
Reasons to Include Cresting Mosasaurus in Your Collection
Versatility: Cresting Mosasaurus serves as a powerful adaptable creature, capable of slotting into an array of blue and green decks. Its ability to manipulate the flow of the game through its effects can be a game-changer, whether in casual play or more competitive environments.
Combo Potential: The natural synergy of Cresting Mosasaurus with cards that manipulate +1/+1 counters or benefit from creatures entering the battlefield can lead to devastating combo plays, making it a force to be reckoned with in both local game nights and larger tournaments.
Meta-Relevance: In the ever-evolving MTG metagame, Cresting Mosasaurus can be a vital addition, particularly in formats where creature-based strategies are prevalent. Its ability to contend with a variety of threats makes it a strategic pick for players aiming to stay ahead of the curve.
How to beat
Cresting Mosasaurus offers a unique challenge with its formidable presence on the battlefield. Diving into the aquatic depths of Magic: The Gathering, this creature card makes a splash with its ability to become unblockable under certain conditions. This feature can turn the tide of a game, particularly when the card’s controller has a full hand. The key to overpowering Cresting Mosasaurus lies in preventing it from slipping through your defenses. Strategies should focus on removal spells that can target it regardless of its unblockable status, such as board wipes or targeted exile effects.
It’s also crucial to keep the player’s hand size in check, as a full grip of cards turns Cresting Mosasaurus into a stealthy threat. Hand disruption tools can effectively mitigate this, further deterring its unblockable capability. Additionally, classic combat tricks or spells that negate its abilities for a turn will provide openings to tackle this prehistoric predator directly. The art of the game shifts with adaptable tactics, so being prepared for the unexpected maneuvers of Cresting Mosasaurus ensures that players can successfully navigate these treacherous waters.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cresting Mosasaurus MTG card by a specific set like Jurassic World Collection and Jurassic World Collection, 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 Cresting Mosasaurus 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 Cresting Mosasaurus Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-11-17 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Chris Rallis.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2023-11-17 | Jurassic World Collection | REX | 2 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Chris Rallis | |
2 | 2023-11-17 | Jurassic World Collection | REX | 28 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Chris Rallis |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cresting Mosasaurus has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cresting Mosasaurus card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2023-11-10 | A creature's mana value is determined solely by the mana symbols printed in its upper right corner (unless that creature is the back face of a double-faced card, is a melded permanent, or is copying something else; see below). If the mana cost includes , X is 0. If it's a single-faced card with no mana symbols in its upper right corner (because it's an animated land, for example), its mana value is 0. Ignore any alternative costs or additional costs (such as kicker) that were paid as the creature was cast. |
2023-11-10 | Colored mana components of emerge costs can't be reduced with emerge. |
2023-11-10 | Cresting Mosasaurus's last ability triggers if you cast it from any zone. It doesn't trigger if you put Cresting Mosasaurus onto the battlefield without casting it. |
2023-11-10 | If you sacrifice a creature with in its mana cost, that X is 0. |
2023-11-10 | Once you begin to cast a spell with emerge, no player may take actions until you're done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the creature you wish to sacrifice. |
2023-11-10 | The creature chosen to be sacrificed is still on the battlefield up through the time that you activate mana abilities. Its abilities may affect the spell's cost, be activated to generate mana, and so on. However, if it has an ability that triggers when a spell is cast, it will have been sacrificed before that ability can trigger. |
2023-11-10 | The mana value of a creature spell with emerge isn't affected by whether its emerge cost is paid. For example, if you cast Cresting Mosasaurus for its emerge cost and sacrifice a creature whose mana value is 3, Cresting Mosasaurus's mana value remains 8. |
2023-11-10 | The mana value of the back face of a double-faced card is the mana value of its front face. The mana value of a melded permanent is the sum of the mana values of its front faces. A creature that's a copy of either has a mana value of 0. |
2023-11-10 | You may sacrifice a creature with a mana value of 0, such as a token creature that's not a copy of another permanent, to cast a spell for its emerge cost. You'll just pay the full emerge cost with no reduction. |
2023-11-10 | You may sacrifice a creature with mana value greater than or equal to the emerge cost. If you do, you'll pay only the colored mana component of the emerge cost. |