Emperor Crocodile MTG Card
1999-06-07 - Number 105
2003-07-28 - Number 246
2003-07-28 - Number 246★
2005-07-29 - Number 241
2005-07-29 - Number 241★
2016-06-10 - Number 165
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Crocodile |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
When you control no other creatures, sacrifice Emperor Crocodile.
The king of Yavimaya's waters pays constant attention to his subjects . . . and thrives on their adulation.
Cards like Emperor Crocodile
In the vibrant world of Magic: The Gathering, Emperor Crocodile is known for its sheer size as a 5/5 green creature for just four mana. It shares similar attributes with other beefy creatures such as Leatherback Baloth, which also provides significant stats for low-cost investment. Leatherback Baloth, however, offers a stable board presence without conditional drawbacks.
When considering creatures with formidable power and toughness per mana cost, Phyrexian Dreadnought pops up as well. It boasts a whopping 12/12 for a single mana, yet it comes with a steep sacrifice requirement to remain in play. By contrast, Emperor Crocodile at least guarantees a sizable creature unless you have no other creatures on the battlefield which activates its downside.
Garruk’s Companion is another green creature card that enters the discussion. While not as large as Emperor Crocodile, the Companion costs less mana and offers trample as an additional advantage. Each of these creatures offers substantial benefits for its cost, but Emperor Crocodile stands out for those who can sustain a creature-rich board to support its presence.
Cards similar to Emperor Crocodile by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Emperor Crocodile in itself does not offer direct card draw, its inherent strength lies in commanding board presence. This can indirectly lead to card advantage by pressuring your opponent to use more resources to deal with it.
Resource Acceleration: Emperor Crocodile doesn’t provide traditional mana acceleration, but its modest casting cost of four mana for a substantial 5/5 body allows for a swift uptick in the tempo of creature-based strategies, often outpacing the development of your opponent’s board.
Instant Speed: While Emperor Crocodile is a creature card and not cast at instant speed, it’s important in MTG to consider how well cards work with your instant speed interactions. Due to its size, Emperor Crocodile can act as a deterrence, holding the fort while you manage your resources to play instants and flash spells more effectively.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Emperor Crocodile doesn’t force you to discard cards, its presence relies on you controlling no other creatures. If you can’t maintain this condition, it becomes a major drawback as you’ll have to sacrifice the crocodile.
Specific Mana Cost: Emperor Crocodile demands a precise mana setup of three generic and one green mana. This specificity can hinder deck flexibility, especially if you’re struggling with your mana base or playing a multi-color deck.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost totaling four mana for a 5/5 body, Emperor Crocodile might seem like a solid deal. However, its board requirement can be a steep price to pay, making it less favorable compared to other four-mana creatures that don’t compromise board presence or come with significant upside.
Reasons to Include Emperor Crocodile in Your Collection
Versatility: Emperor Crocodile excels in decks that can maintain a strong board presence. As a 5/5 for four mana, it offers an efficient body that’s hard to match in terms of power and toughness.
Combo Potential: In decks crafted around creature counts and synergies, Emperor Crocodile can be a formidable force, as keeping other creatures on the board to sustain its presence encourages numerous creature-based interactions and strategies.
Meta-Relevance: This card’s sheer size for its cost makes it relevant in many game states, particularly when the meta is filled with aggro decks that lack removal. Emperor Crocodile can serve as a deterrent or a powerful attacker, keeping pace with the competitive scene.
How to beat
Emperor Crocodile presents a challenge on the battlefield with its formidable 5/5 stats. However, one key vulnerability lies in its dependency on other creatures you control. If you have no other creatures on the battlefield, Emperor Crocodile must be sacrificed, leaving your opponent exposed. To capitalize on this weakness, focus on removal spells that can efficiently clear the board of other creatures. Spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can sweep the battlefield clean, triggering the downfall of the otherwise mighty crocodile.
Another strategy is to utilize control elements that limit your opponent’s creature plays. Counterspells or hand disruption tactics can prevent them from establishing the necessary board presence to keep Emperor Crocodile in play. By controlling the pace and composition of the battlefield, you maintain leverage over this threat. Taking into account these strategies, Emperor Crocodile can be turned from a threatening force to a liability for an unprepared opponent.
Playing against Emperor Crocodile requires foresight and the preparedness to create an unfavorable situation for this powerful creature. With the right approach, what once appeared as an intimidating presence on the MTG battlefield can be reduced to an Achilles’ heel.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Emperor Crocodile MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and Eighth Edition, 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 Emperor Crocodile and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Emperor Crocodile Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2016-06-10. Illustrated by Kev Walker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-06-07 | Urza's Destiny | UDS | 105 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 246 | 2003 | Normal | White | Kev Walker | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 246★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 4 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 241 | 2003 | Normal | White | Kev Walker | |
| 5 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 241★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 6 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 165 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Emperor Crocodile has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Emperor Crocodile card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-06-08 | Emperor Crocodile’s ability will trigger if you don’t control another creature, even if it’s only for a brief moment during the resolution of another spell or ability (such as that of Brago, King Eternal). |
| 2016-06-08 | The ability only checks if you control no other creatures at the time it triggers. It does not check again on resolution, so gaining control of a creature before then will not save Emperor Crocodile. |