Baloth Gorger MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 156
2019-11-07 - Number 1129
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-156
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Kicker |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Baloth Gorger offers indirect card advantage, compelling opponents to use multiple resources.
- Early or late in the game, its kicker cost adapts well to your mana curve.
- Its mere presence pressures opponents, potentially leading to their suboptimal plays.
Text of card
Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) If Baloth Gorger was kicked, it enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it.
A baloth only cares about the many things it eats and the few things that eat it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Baloth Gorger may not directly provide card drawing capabilities, it does present a significant board presence with its formidable size. This forces opponents to deal with it, potentially using more than one card to overcome it. Hence, it indirectly contributes to card advantage by demanding multiple resources from your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Baloth Gorger’s versatility comes from its ability to fit into your mana curve efficiently. Early game, it’s a solid creature, but if you draw it late, it becomes a larger threat thanks to its kicker cost, giving you the flexibility to make the most of your available resources.
Instant Speed: While Baloth Gorger itself isn’t an instant, its sheer existence in a deck can pressure opponents into considering the possibility of instant-speed removal. This can lead to suboptimal plays from them, keeping mana open in case the Gorger hits the board, which can be a strategic advantage.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Baloth Gorger requires a specific type of mana (green) to cast, which ties it to green-focused decks that can generate enough of this mana type, potentially reducing its versatility in multi-colored deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of four, including two green, Baloth Gorger is a significant investment in the early to mid-game phases. While its power and toughness stats are sturdy, there are other creatures at a similar cost that may offer additional abilities or lower summoning conditions.
Discard Requirement: Although Baloth Gorger itself does not have a discard requirement, its higher placement on the mana curve means that it could compete for a spot with other high-impact cards that do involve discarding, which may not align with the player’s strategy regarding hand size and resource retention.
Reasons to Include Baloth Gorger in Your Collection
Versatility: Baloth Gorger is a flexible creature that can play a significant role in green decks that thrive on high-powered creatures. Its scaling mana cost provides early to mid-game pressure, and it becomes an even greater threat later on.
Combo Potential: With its kicker ability, Baloth Gorger pairs well with strategies that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or those that require large creatures for various synergies and combos in the game.
Meta-Relevance: Against a backdrop of creature-centric games, this card can become a key player. It’s a force to be reckoned with in formats where larger creatures dominate and where its ability to grow makes it a consistent threat on the board.
How to beat Baloth Gorger
Baloth Gorger stands out in the green creature lineup of Magic: The Gathering with its formidable presence on the battlefield, especially when it’s kicked for its added growth. This beast becomes a significant threat with its potential to expand beyond its initial 4/4 offering. However, there are efficient methods to handle this green behemoth. Control decks, for example, have access to a suite of removal spells capable of containing the Baloth Gorger before it becomes too large to manage. Cards like Murder, Fatal Push, and even bounce spells such as Unsummon allow players to manage or temporarily stall this creature’s assault.
Tactically, it’s essential to prevent the Baloth Gorger from leveraging its kick-started potential. Timing your removal effectively or utilizing counter magic when it’s cast can nip the threat in the bud. Consider also the advantage of board wipes such as Wrath of God or Doomskar for a clean reset should the battlefield become overwhelmed by the beast and its possible supporting creatures. In the struggle for control, successfully countering a Baloth Gorger can often swing the momentum in your favor.
It’s also worth exploring options in your sideboard specifically tailored to large creatures. Cards like Lignify or Deep Sleep can be very impactful, rendering the creature ineffective and thereby preserving your board state whilst you build towards your win condition. Ultimately, being prepared and understanding the pivotal moment to disrupt your opponent’s Baloth Gorger strategy will be key to mastering the tactics needed to emerge victorious in your duels.
Cards like Baloth Gorger
In the lush landscape of Magic: The Gathering, the Baloth Gorger finds its niche among creatures prized for their formidable size and potential growth. The Baloth Gorger invites comparison with other green creatures like the Scaled Behemoth. The Scaled Behemoth, though lacking the kicker mechanic, garners attention with its hexproof ability and a consistently strong 6/7 body. This sets up a contrast between the guaranteed resilience of the Behemoth and the situational power boost of the Gorger.
Another relative from the verdant realms of MTG is the Verdurous Gearhulk. It offers not just a sizeable body but also the flexibility to distribute +1/+1 counters among any number of creatures as it enters the battlefield. Unlike Baloth Gorger which requires additional mana invested for its kicker effect, the Gearhulk immediately impacts the board with its modular strength.
Assessing the range of green creatures that could fulfill a similar role in a deck, Baloth Gorger stands out for the kicker option, providing a scalable threat for varied game stages. Its adaptability in both early game presence and late-game dominance makes it a versatile and robust choice for players looking to harness the power of green in their MTG decks.
Cards similar to Baloth Gorger by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Baloth Gorger MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria 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 Baloth Gorger and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Baloth Gorger Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Zezhou Chen.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 156 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zezhou Chen | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1129 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zezhou Chen | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DOM-156 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zezhou Chen |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Baloth Gorger 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 |
