Rampaging Cyclops MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 139
2019-11-07 - Number 1033
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-139
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Cyclops |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage manifests in avoiding Rampaging Cyclops’ drawback while maintaining board pressure.
- It shines in red-focused decks, despite competing with similarly costed creatures.
- Versatile and with combo potential, it demands strategic creature combat manipulation.
Text of card
Rampaging Cyclops gets -2/-0 as long as two or more creatures are blocking it.
Keldon warriors take advantage of the cyclops's inability to focus on more than one thing at a time.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rampaging Cyclops presents passive card advantage in specific board states. If you control the number of creatures blocking it, you can avoid its drawback and leverage its substantial body to apply pressure or defend effectively.
Resource Acceleration: While the Rampaging Cyclops does not directly accelerate resources, it offers a solid creature for its mana cost. Its formidable presence on the board can act as a deterrent, preserving your other resources and indirectly contributing to acceleration by requiring fewer spells to maintain board control.
Instant Speed: Rampaging Cyclops excels in decks that can manipulate blockers and attackers at instant speed. Swift tricks can turn the Cyclops into a potent combatant, as its negative ability may never come into play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Rampaging Cyclops necessitates a certain board state to be effective. With its drawback of getting -2/-0 while blocking two or more creatures, it often places you in a dilemma whether to assign it as a blocker, risking its effectiveness.
Specific Mana Cost: Having a mana cost of 3R, Rampaging Cyclops requires a dedicated red mana source. This can restrict deck-building options, making it challenging to cast in multi-color decks that are not heavily red-focused.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a casting cost of four mana, Rampaging Cyclops competes with other impactful four-mana creatures in the red color pie. Considering its power reduction when blocking multiple creatures, other options may provide more robust battlefield presence or versatility for the same investment.
Reasons to Include Rampaging Cyclops in Your Collection
Versatility: Rampaging Cyclops offers a solid body for its cost, filling the role of a reliable blocker or an aggressive creature on the battlefield. This flexibility makes it a valuable addition to various red deck archetypes that prioritize strength and dominance in creature combat.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Rampaging Cyclops can be a key piece in strategies focusing on manipulating the number of blockers your opponent has. Cards that force singular blocks or remove multiple blockers can turn the Cyclops into an unstoppable force, capable of dealing considerable damage.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where players run decks with numerous creature-based strategies, Rampaging Cyclops can be a robust inclusion. Its presence on the board can deter attacks or break through opponent lines, making it a card that can adapt to and influence the flow of the game in your favor.
How to beat
Rampaging Cyclops is an intriguing creature card that presents a challenge to opponents in Magic: The Gathering. This red card may appear intimidating with its reduced cost and decent stats for a four mana 4/4. But it’s the Cyclops’ drawback that savvy players can exploit. It gets -2/-0 when blocking two or more creatures, which opens strategic avenues for opponents.
To outmaneuver the Rampaging Cyclops, consider going wide by summoning multiple creatures to enable advantageous attacks. Using spells or abilities that force the Cyclops to block more than one creature can significantly diminish its potency. It’s effective to overwhelm it with a swarm strategy, where the Cyclops’ weakening ability becomes a liability instead of a strength.
Additionally, bear in mind that the Rampaging Cyclops’ setback only triggers when blocking. Therefore, controlling the combat phase by deciding when and how to attack or use abilities enables a player to sidestep the Cyclops’ power and turn the tides. In sum, to best the Rampaging Cyclops, it’s about generating numerous threats and skillfully dictating combat engagements.
Cards like Rampaging Cyclops
Rampaging Cyclops is a red creature card that includes a potential downside in its combat abilities. When compared to other creatures like Hill Giant, we observe a standard body of a 3/3 creature for four mana. Rampaging Cyclops offers a larger 4/4 body but is reduced to a 2/4 when blocked by two or more creatures. This contrasts with the always predictable Hill Giant.
Turning to another comparison, we see the Shivan Dragon, a classic powerhouse creature card. Although at a much higher mana value, Shivan Dragon provides flying and the flexibility to increase its power at will, something the Rampaging Cyclops lacks. In terms of cost efficiency, however, Rampaging Cyclops provides a notably larger creature for less mana investment upfront, poised to make an immediate impact if unblocked.
Analyzing these cards and their roles in the red creature lineup, Rampaging Cyclops stands out as a solid middle-ground option. It’s not as potentially overwhelming as the iconic Shivan Dragon, yet it brings more to the field than the straightforward Hill Giant, offering players a strategic component to manage during combat scenarios.
Cards similar to Rampaging Cyclops by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rampaging Cyclops 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 Rampaging Cyclops 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 Rampaging Cyclops Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 139 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1033 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DOM-139 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rampaging Cyclops 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 Rampaging Cyclops card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-04-27 | If all but one of Rampaging Cyclops’s blockers are removed from combat, Rampaging Cyclops’s effect immediately stops reducing its power. |
