Workhorse MTG Card

Exodus (EXO)
1998-06-15 - Number 142

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number EXO-142

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact Creature — Horse
Power	0
Toughness	0

Key Takeaways

Workhorse cards excel in offering consistent card advantage and utility in gameplay.
They’re pivotal for mana acceleration, often enabling quicker deployment of high-impact spells.
Their versatility shines with instant speed plays, empowering players to stay flexible.

Text of card

Workhorse comes into play with four +1/+1 counters on it. Remove a +1/+1 counter from Workhorse: Add one colorless mana to your mana pool. Play this ability as a mana source.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: A workhorse MTG card typically offers multiple utilities or repeated effects, ensuring ongoing card advantage by keeping your hand replenished or by drawing you extra cards during play.

Resource Acceleration: Such cards are often key in ramping up your resources, either by providing additional lands or by offering alternative means to generate mana, significantly speeding up your ability to play high-impact spells.

Instant Speed: The ability to play a workhorse card at instant speed adds a layer of versatility, allowing you to react to an opponent’s actions or optimize your own strategy during their turn. This can keep your adversaries on their toes while you maximize the potential of each turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A potential drawback of some workhorse cards in MTG is a discard condition tacked onto their abilities. This can create a dilemma for players who may not be able to afford the loss of valuable cards from their hand, particularly in critical moments when card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Another aspect to consider is that workhorse cards often come with a very specific mana cost which can restrict their compatibility with a variety of decks. This inherent feature might make them less versatile and can pose a challenge in creating a flexible and adaptable mana base within your deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the investment versus return of such cards, it’s observed that they sometimes possess a higher mana cost relative to other options available within the format. This increased cost can lead to less efficient turns, making it harder to maintain tempo and momentum against opponents who might be using more cost-effective counterparts.

Reasons to Include Workhorse Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: A workhorse card in MTG can adapt to a variety of decks, seamlessly integrating into strategies focused on consistency and reliability, making it a must-have for your collection.

Combo Potential: As a backbone in combo decks, workhorse cards often unlock the synergy between other cards, enhancing overall performance and giving players an edge during crucial gameplay moments.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-evolving game like MTG, having workhorse cards ready means you’re equipped to tailor your deck to the current competitive landscape, ensuring you’re always in the running at any level of play.

How to beat

The strategic depth of Magic: The Gathering is showcased when players are tasked with overcoming resilient and versatile cards like Workhorse. This artifact creature is often lauded for its ability to store and distribute energy in the form of +1/+1 counters, which can be removed to generate colorless mana. The key to dismantling the utility of Workhorse is to disrupt its synergy within an opponent’s deck setup.

Removal spells, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, are straightforward solutions for dismantling artifacts like Workhorse. Implementing countermeasures, such as graveyard disruption through cards like Tormod’s Crypt, can prevent the resourceful recovery of Workhorse, ensuring it stays out of play after being dealt with. Additionally, applying pressure with aggressive tactics can divert your opponent’s strategy, forcing them to use Workhorse’s resources defensively rather than as part of a strategic combo, thereby reducing its efficiency.

Given its nature as a potentially renewable resource, it’s essential for players to leverage timing and precision to maximize the impact of their disruptive plays against a card like Workhorse. Successful management of this card can significantly tilt the game in your favor, showcasing MTG’s intricate balance of power and strategy.

Cards like Workhorse

A true cornerstone for many decks, the workhorse card has carved out its place in Magic: The Gathering. These reliable cards are the backbone of any strategy, often overshadowed by flashier choices yet always delivering consistent performance. When evaluating similar cards, one might consider Llanowar Elves or Birds of Paradise. Both serve a fundamental role in rapidly accelerating mana much like a workhorse card. However, while Llanowar Elves focuses solely on green mana, Birds of Paradise provides a wider spectrum of mana versatility, which can be critical for multi-colored decks.

Exploration is another analogue that grants an additional land play on each turn. Although it can’t match the immediate boost provided by a creature-based mana accelerator, over time, it can provide a significant advantage in resource development. Then we might look to something like Elvish Mystic, which, like our workhorse card, offers consistency and simplicity in mana generation. It doesn’t bring extra abilities to the table, but it’s that dependable, single-purpose utility that often makes these cards essential.

In the realm of MTG, while the allure of complex and multifaceted cards is strong, it is often the steadfast, unassuming workhorse card that carries the day, offering a sturdy and predictable foundation upon which to build a winning strategy.

Cards similar to Workhorse by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Workhorse MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and The List, 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 Workhorse and other MTG cards: