Dodecapod MTG Card

Dodecapod can discourage discard strategies, indirectly fostering card advantage for its controller. Its efficient cost-to-power ratio provides a significant board presence and resource economy. Quick deployment during an opponent’s turn emulates the versatility commonly associated with instants.

Apocalypse (APC)
2001-06-04 - Number 134

Dodecapod - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
2006-10-06 - Number 108

Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
2023-01-13 - Number 220

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Golem
Power	3
Toughness	3

Text of card

If a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard Dodecapod from your hand, put it into play with two +1/+1 counters on it instead of putting it into your graveyard.

Understanding Dodecapod’s Place in Artifact Creature Dynamics

In the realm of artifact creatures, Dodecapod presents an interesting option for players seeking resilient and adaptable threats in their MTG decks. A creature with a blend of versatility and resistance to certain types of control, it’s often weighed against other artifact creatures like Phyrexian Revoker or Ethersworn Canonist for inclusion in a deck.

Cards like Dodecapod

Dodecapod stands out within its category of artifact creatures, offering a unique protection against discard strategies. In comparison to similar cards such as Myr Enforcer, which can also be cast for an alternative lower cost through affinity for artifacts, Dodecapod forgoes cost reduction for its ability to grow stronger when targeted by an opponent’s spell causing a player to discard it. Whereas Myr Enforcer thrives in artifact-heavy decks, Dodecapod can be a strategic inclusion in environments where discard effects are prevalent.

Additionally, cards like Bottle Gnomes share the two-colorless-and-two-generic-mana casting cost but serve a different purpose by providing life gain. Dodecapod’s capacity to become a threat when discarded gives it a more offensive edge over the defensive Bottle Gnomes. Despite this, both cards can shine in the right context, bolstering resilience against particular metagame strategies.

Ultimately, the appeal of Dodecapod lies in its transformation from a player’s disadvantage to a formidable presence on the battlefield, adding a layer of complexity to deck-building strategies in MTG.

Cards similar to Dodecapod by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Dodecapod itself may not explicitly allow card draw, its presence in a deck can deter opponents from leveraging discard strategies, potentially preserving your hand size and indirectly contributing to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Dodecapod doesn’t provide traditional mana acceleration, but its efficient 4 mana for a 3/3 body that becomes a 5/5 can represent a swift and significant presence on the board, potentially saving resources for other plays.

Instant Speed: Although Dodecapod is a creature and not an instant, its triggered ability can bring it into play during an opponent’s turn if they force you to discard, mimicking the surprise factor often associated with instant speed plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dodecapod presents a challenge in gameplay due to its specific requirement of being discarded by an opponent’s effect to reap the benefits. This can be a constraint, especially when you face decks that do not employ discard strategies, rendering the Dodecapod’s unique ability useless.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Dodecapod effectively, you need to allocate both colorless and green mana. This stipulation can hinder the fluidity of your mana base, particularly in multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary green mana available when it’s most needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, which includes two generic and two green, Dodecapod can be quite taxing on your mana resources in the early game. Additionally, for a creature card, its power and toughness might not always justify the mana investment, especially when placed against other cards at similar mana costs that offer immediate impact or have more valuable abilities.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dodecapod offers a unique presence in game play, easily sliding into decks that can capitalize on artifact interactions or require a resilient creature. Its ability to morph into a reliable creature under specific conditions makes it adaptable to various strategic plays.

Combo Potential: With its four generic mana casting cost and the resilience provided by its triggered ability, Dodecapod can synergize within combos that exploit creature casting, such as those involving sacrifice for profit or recursion-based tactics.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where discard effects are prevalent, Dodecapod becomes a valuable asset. Its automatic transformation in response to target opponent’s discard mechanism makes it a potent card to counteract such strategies, potentially tilting the game in your favor.

How to beat

Dodecapod presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This artifact creature becomes a formidable foe when conditional abilities trigger, transforming it into a 5/5 creature. Understanding what activates Dodecapod’s ability is key—when a spell or ability an opponent controls causes a player to discard it, Dodecapod morphs from a benign entity into a powerhouse on the field. To effectively tackle this card, it’s essential to skirt around its ability or be prepared with sufficient removal options in your deck.

Steer clear of using cards that force your opponent to discard as a strategy while Dodecapod is in play or pending in their hand. Instead, focus on removal spells that can directly deal with a 5/5 creature once it’s on the board. Efficient creature removal, counterspells, or board wipes are commonly used tools in a player’s arsenal to handle large threats like an active Dodecapod. Board control, strategic planning, and a clever blend of deck mechanics can ensure you remain ahead without inadvertently escalating the Dodecapod situation.

Beating a Dodecapod in Magic: The Gathering requires a thoughtful approach, sidestepping its strengths while employing a sound control strategy, ensuring that you can maintain an upper hand throughout the gameplay.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dodecapod MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse and Time Spiral Timeshifted, 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 Dodecapod and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dodecapod Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-06-04 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by John Howe.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2001-06-04	Apocalypse	APC	134	1997	Normal	Black	John Howe
2	2006-10-06	Time Spiral Timeshifted	TSB	108	1997	Normal	Black	John Howe
3	2023-01-13	Dominaria Remastered	DMR	220	2015	Normal	Black	John Howe

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dodecapod has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dodecapod card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2022-12-08	If a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to choose a card to discard and you discard Dodecapod, you’ll put it onto the battlefield.
2022-12-08	If the spell or ability that caused you to discard Dodecapod refers to “the discarded card” or similar, it refers to the Dodecapod on the battlefield.
2022-12-08	If you discard Dodecapod and put it onto the battlefield, you’ve still discarded it. Abilities that trigger whenever you discard a card will trigger.