Gorehorn Minotaurs MTG Card

Magic 2012 (M12)
2011-07-15 - Number 144

Gorehorn Minotaurs - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)

Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
2013-09-06 - Number 52

Gorehorn Minotaurs - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)

Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
2015-05-22 - Number 116

Gorehorn Minotaurs - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)

Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
2017-03-31 - Number 38

Gorehorn Minotaurs - Archenemy: Nicol Bolas (E01)

Archenemy: Nicol Bolas (E01)
2017-06-16 - Number 49

Gorehorn Minotaurs - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 963

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number E01-49

Card sets	Released in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Minotaur Warrior
Abilities	Bloodthirst
Power	3
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

Bloodthirst enhances Minotaurs’ power, imposing pressure and demanding opponent’s immediate attention.
Opponents may need to allocate resources to address the Gorehorn Minotaurs, indirectly aiding your strategy.
Despite operating at sorcery speed, their impact on the game can be felt immediately post-combat.

Text of card

Bloodthirst 2 (If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it.)

Some of the eleven minotaur clans of Mirtiin are expert crafters and learned philosophers. Others just like to hit stuff.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Gorehorn Minotaurs enter the battlefield, they present a formidable threat. With the Bloodthirst ability, if an opponent was dealt damage this turn, the Minotaurs come in with not two but four +1/+1 counters, effectively doubling their power when the condition is met. This puts opponents on a tight clock, forcing them to deal with the creature or face overwhelming power, often putting you ahead in terms of board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Gorehorn Minotaurs themselves don’t directly provide mana ramp, their mere presence can often tie up the opponent’s resources. Keeping mana open to deal with the Minotaurs, especially if they’re buffed with Bloodthirst, diverts resources that could be used for development, indirectly aiding in your resource acceleration as your threats require significant attention from your opponent.

Instant Speed: In the world of MTG, speed can make or break a game. Though Gorehorn Minotaurs operate at sorcery speed, their impact is instant in terms of the pressure they apply. Dropping these creatures post-combat, after ensuring an opponent has taken damage, turns the tide instantly, often giving you a hefty creature that your opponent must answer immediately, thus taking full advantage of the momentum shift.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gorehorn Minotaurs demands you to have certain cards in hand to fully capitalize on its potential. Without the discard synergy in your strategy, it becomes merely a simple creature card, potentially sapping your hand with no added benefit.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a blend of both generic and red mana, Gorehorn Minotaurs can be challenging to cast on curve outside mono-red or two-color decks focused on red mana production. This restricts the card’s flexibility across a broader range of deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The four mana cost to summon Gorehorn Minotaurs is quite steep when considering the competitive landscape of creatures within the same mana range. There are creatures that bring more immediate board impact or synergy value without the prerequirement of discarding to empower them, which puts Gorehorn Minotaurs at a disadvantage in many scenarios.

Reasons to Include Gorehorn Minotaurs in Your Collection

Versatility: Gorehorn Minotaurs bring quite a bit of adaptability to the table. Its mighty stature stands well in aggressive red deck builds that look to overpower opponents with sheer force. Plus, with a mana cost that’s not too steep, it can be a solid mid-game play in a variety of decks, from limited draft picks to casual constructed decks focusing on the red archetype.

Combo Potential: For those who enjoy building synergistic builds, this Minotaur card can be a linchpin in strategies revolving around +1/+1 counters and creature buffs. It thrives in environments where spells and abilities can enhance its strengths, truly showcasing the potential for devastating combo plays when the battlefield is set up to its advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that leans towards aggressive playstyles, Gorehorn Minotaurs can be a game-changer. Against slower decks, it can apply pressure before they establish control, and when faced with other aggressive opponents, it can serve as a formidable blocker or attacker that requires a response, thus shaping the pace of the match.

How to beat

Gorehorn Minotaurs from Magic: The Gathering presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield with its formidable power that increases under certain conditions. Typically played in red-deck strategies known for aggression and quick wins, this creature card shines in games where maintaining a fast tempo is key.

Defeating Gorehorn Minotaurs requires a strategic approach that involves early board control. Effective methods can include using removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile before your opponent meets the bloodthirst conditions to strengthen their Minotaurs. Additionally, leveraging creatures with deathtouch can deter attacks and lead to favorable trades. Cards with exile effects, such as Swords to Plowshares, also bypass its potential size increase, providing a permanent solution.

Keep in mind, it’s crucial to manage your resources efficiently and maintain a presence on the board to prevent the Minotaurs from overwhelming you. Capitalizing on their single-color limitation with protection or color-specific counterspells like Negate can also help to mitigate the Minotaurs’ impact. Ultimately, staying prepared for their powered-up state and employing a varied set of tactics will help secure your victory against these intimidating creatures.

Cards like Gorehorn Minotaurs

The Gorehorn Minotaurs are a noteworthy inclusion in the vast roster of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. They share the battlefield with other impactful four-mana creatures such as Flametongue Kavu, which also brings an immediate effect to the game, albeit through direct removal of opponents’ creatures. However, Gorehorn Minotaurs offer a unique advantage with their bloodthirst ability, potentially entering the game as a sizeable 5/5 that can quickly sway combat in your favor.

In the realm of red creatures, Chandra’s Phoenix stands out as well. It’s a resilient threat with flying that can return from the graveyard to your hand, ensuring a recurring presence. Though the phoenix begins as a smaller 2/2, it compensates with evasion and longevity, contrasting the one-time growth burst of the Minotaurs. Then let’s consider Ember Hauler; while it might not grow in size, this creature provides utility in its capacity to deal direct damage, offering tactical flexibility compared to the potentially larger but single-minded Gorehorn Minotaurs.

Ultimately, the Gorehorn Minotaurs card highlights the value of creature growth potential in MTG, making them a solid choice for players looking to press an advantage through sheer power in creature-based strategies.

Cards similar to Gorehorn Minotaurs by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gorehorn Minotaurs MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters, 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 Gorehorn Minotaurs and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gorehorn Minotaurs Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-07-15	Magic 2012	M12	144	2003	Normal	Black	Wayne Reynolds
2	2013-09-06	Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters	DDL	52	2003	Normal	Black	Wayne Reynolds
3	2015-05-22	Modern Masters 2015	MM2	116	2015	Normal	Black	Wayne Reynolds
4	2017-03-31	Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might	DDS	38	2015	Normal	Black	Wayne Reynolds
5	2017-06-16	Archenemy: Nicol Bolas	E01	49	2015	Normal	Black	Wayne Reynolds
6	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	963	2015	Normal	Black	Wayne Reynolds
7	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	E01-49	2015	Normal	Black	Wayne Reynolds