Dinosaur Hunter MTG Card

The card excels in creature removal without sacrificing hand resources, a key advantage in prolonged games. Its ability to influence board state dynamics mirrors the impact of instant speed spells, enhancing strategic play. Dinosaur Hunter is highly effective in meta games where dinosaur decks are prevalent, making it a valuable inclusion.

Dinosaur Hunter - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)

Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
2018-01-19 - Number 67

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 627

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number RIX-67

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Pirate
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

Whenever Dinosaur Hunter deals damage to a Dinosaur, destroy that creature.

"Aye, the foul beast chomped me, but I got away. You'd best believe when I find it again, it won't get away so easy."

Cards like Dinosaur Hunter

Dinosaur Hunter entered the Magic: The Gathering realm offering a niche creature-elimination ability. This card bears resemblance to the efficient Orzhov Enforcer, which also thrives in taking down specific creature types. However, Dinosaur Hunter has the unique advantage of being particularly lethal to all dinosaur-type creatures, outright destroying them upon dealing damage. Orzhov Enforcer lacks this prehistoric precision but compensates with afterlife, creating tokens even after it falls in battle.

Likewise, there’s the additional comparison with Vampire Nighthawk, a card celebrated for its versatility. Although the Nighthawk doesn’t share the dinosaur-focused ability, its deathtouch and lifelink qualities position it as a formidable flying threat. Dinosaur Hunter, meanwhile, offers no such aerial defense or health replenishment. Fiendslayer Paladin is another creature to take into account. While it doesn’t expressly target dinosuars, its protection from black and from red gives it a type of defense that Dinosaur Hunter lacks.

In an analysis of utility and specialization, Dinosaur Hunter has its moments, particularly in formats or games teeming with dinosaur opposition. The card carves out a role where it can be exceptionally potent, despite the broader applicability of similar cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When considering the strategic benefits of Dinosaur Hunter, one must note that its ability to take down Dinosaurs can potentially remove key threats from the board without sacrificing card economy. Engaging in creature trades that don’t deplete your hand is a fundamental tactic for outlasting opponents in longer matches.

Resource Acceleration: The Dinosaur Hunter doesn’t inherently provide mana ramp, but its cost-efficient creature removal ensures that your resources are focused on progressing your game state rather than dealing with large threats. This indirect form of acceleration allows for more consistent deployment of your own threats each turn.

Instant Speed: While Dinosaur Hunter itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it encourages decks to play flexibly around it. Its ability triggers upon combat, meaning you can craft the board state to your advantage during your turn and force opponents to make difficult decisions in theirs. The threat of the Hunter’s dinosaur removal can influence the pace and plays of the game, similar to how instant speed spells would.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dinosaur Hunter requires no discard, which is beneficial for maintaining hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: With its casting requirement of one colorless and one black mana, this card fits well in black-inclusive decks, but might not be flexible for decks outside of those colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given the cost of two mana, the Dinosaur Hunter may be considered reasonable. However, players might expect a stronger ability or higher toughness to offset the limits of being a creature-specific removal card.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dinosaur Hunter is a unique creature that can be a game-changer in decks that focus on tribal synergies. Its ability to destroy any Dinosaur it deals damage to can turn the tides in creature-heavy matchups.

Combo Potential: Pairing Dinosaur Hunter with ways to deal damage across the board or increase its power means you can remove multiple Dinosaur threats in one swoop, setting up for game-winning board states.

Meta-Relevance: With Dinosaurs becoming more prevalent in certain formats, having Dinosaur Hunter in your collection means you’re ready to counter these decks. It’s an efficient answer to a rising strategy in the MTG arena.

How to beat

Dinosaur Hunter shines in a matchup where dinosaur creatures loom large, allowing a player to effortlessly dispatch these massive prehistoric threats from the game. When facing this unique creature, remember that its strength lies in directly countering dinosaur-themed decks. If your deck is not reliant on dinosaurs, Dinosaur Hunter’s impact is significantly lessened, making it an average combatant at best.

To outplay an opponent using Dinosaur Hunter, consider using creature removal spells that can eliminate it before it becomes a menace. Instant speed removal like Fatal Push or Shock offer quick solutions to remove Dinosaur Hunter before it can capitalize on its dinosaur-slaying ability. Additionally, employing non-dinosaur creatures with strong enters-the-battlefield effects can help maintain board presence while negating the Hunter’s main advantage. Ensuring that your strategy doesn’t hinge on dinosaur creatures is also advisable, as it renders Dinosaur Hunter a simple obstacle rather than a game-ending threat.

Overall, adapting your gameplay and maintaining a diverse array of threats will diminish Dinosaur Hunter’s effectiveness, keeping you in control of the match without having to drastically alter your deck composition in anticipation of this specific threat.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dinosaur Hunter MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Mystery Booster, 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 Dinosaur Hunter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dinosaur Hunter Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Tianhua X.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2018-01-19	Rivals of Ixalan	RIX	67	2015	Normal	Black	Tianhua X
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	627	2015	Normal	Black	Tianhua X
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	RIX-67	2015	Normal	Black	Tianhua X

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dinosaur Hunter has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dinosaur Hunter 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	If an opponent’s Dinosaur has an enrage ability and your Dinosaur Hunter deals damage to it during your turn, that ability resolves before Dinosaur Hunter’s ability destroys the Dinosaur. If it’s that opponent’s turn, the Dinosaur is destroyed first, but its enrage ability still resolves afterwards.