Crashing Boars MTG Card
1998-06-15 - Number 108
2000-10-01 - Number 52
2015-05-06 - Number 168
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Boar |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Crashing Boars can generate card advantage, potentially refreshing your hand if you meet its activation conditions.
- Its Echo ability allows strategic use of mana, saving resources for instant-speed plays on crucial turns.
- The card’s drawbacks include a discard requirement and specific mana needs, potentially impacting its versatility.
Text of card
If Crashing Boars attacks, defending player chooses an untapped creature he or she controls. That creature blocks Crashing Boars this turn if able.
Bores ruin a party. Boars are party to ruin.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crashing Boars enables you to potentially draw extra cards if certain conditions are met in the game, like controlling creatures with the highest power, thus boosting your hand and giving you more options for subsequent plays.
Resource Acceleration: While Crashing Boars itself does not directly produce mana or tokens, its relatively low cost for a creature of its power might enable faster and more efficient board development, indirectly leading to acceleration in your resource deployment.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant, the Echo ability on Crashing Boars can be used as a tactical advantage, allowing you to delay payment and keep mana available for other instant-speed interactions on your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One potential drawback to Crashing Boars is the need to discard another card when you activate its ability. This can deplete your hand, leaving you with fewer options later in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Crashing Boars’ casting cost requires both green mana and colorless mana, which can sometimes be challenging to generate consistently outside of mono-green or two-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s on the higher end of the spectrum for its stats and effects, this card might not be as mana-efficient as other creatures in the same cost bracket. This could deter players from including it in decks where mana curve optimization is crucial.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Crashing Boars offers flexibility in creature-focused decks, excelling in environments that reward high attack power and evasion abilities. Its inherent ‘cannot be blocked by more than one creature’ gives it a significant edge in aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: This card’s unique trait can be leveraged in tandem with effects that limit the number of blockers an opponent can declare, ensuring it often connects with the opponent. Moreover, its synergy with effects that buff trampling creatures can lead to devastating combat phases.
Meta-Relevance: As the game shifts and adapts to creature-heavy strategies, Crashing Boars keeps up by providing a reliable threat that can apply consistent pressure on opponents. It thrives against decks that rely on creating a wall of creatures, as its attack can often bypass traditional defensive setups.
How to beat
Overcoming the Crashing Boars card in your MTG strategies can be a real game-changer. This forceful creature brings its ‘haste’ feature to the battlefield, meaning it can attack without the usual wait. Taking down such an aggressive opponent requires quick thinking and smart plays. Its other ability to avoid being blocked by fewer than two creatures adds to the dilemma, emphasizing the importance of having a solid defense in place.
One viable strategy is to use removal spells that can deal with the Crashing Boars before their speed becomes a threat. Instant speed removals like Doom Blade or Path to Exile enable you to take control and eliminate the boars before they can land a hit. Another tactic involves creature cards with ‘reach’ or ‘flying’, positioning you to block attacks efficiently, even if it’s just to buy time. Cards like Giant Spider prove their worth by being able to block the boars, potentially leading to their downfall.
Understanding your deck’s mechanisms and keeping removals or chump blockers ready, are key to navigating against the swift might of Crashing Boars. Waiting for the right moment and effectively managing your resources can turn the tide in your favor.
Cards like Crashing Boars
Crashing Boars is a unique creature card in MTG, captivating players with its robust offensive power. Analyzing creatures with a similar role, we find Gorehorn Minotaurs, which also boasts a formidable presence on the battlefield. What distinguishes Crashing Boars is its Echo ability, providing a surge of power albeit temporarily. Gorehorn Minotaurs does not share this feature, but does have the Bloodthirst mechanic, potentially entering the battlefield with additional +1/+1 counters if an opponent was dealt damage that turn.
Another contender is the Battering Krasis, a comparable combatant in terms of cost and trample attributes. Battering Krasis offers evolutionary potential through its Evolve ability, gaining counters as other creatures enter the battlefield under your control. This gradual power increase contrasts with the immediate impact of Crashing Boars’ Echo ability. Finally, we consider the Stampeding Rhino, which shares the Trample ability and has a consistent power level without the temporary boost of Echo.
While there are certainly alternatives in MTG, Crashing Boars holds its own. Its capacity to deliver immediate and potentially overwhelming force makes it an interesting option for players seeking short-term but high-impact strategies on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Crashing Boars by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crashing Boars MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Beatdown Box Set, 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 Crashing Boars 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 Magic products
Printings
The Crashing Boars Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-06-15 | Exodus | EXO | 108 | 1997 | normal | black | Ron Spencer | |
| 2 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 52 | 1997 | normal | white | Ron Spencer | |
| 3 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 168 | 2015 | normal | black | Ron Spencer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crashing Boars has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crashing Boars card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If the chosen creature is not still untapped at the time blockers are declared, it does not have to block. |
| 2004-10-04 | The ability is not optional. If there are no untapped creatures to choose, then the ability does nothing. |
