Defiant Ogre MTG Card
2015-01-23 - Number 96
2019-11-07 - Number 900
2020-09-26 - Number FRF-96
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Ogre Warrior |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Defiant Ogre’s “dash” offers flexibility, presenting surprise attack opportunities or a steadfast board presence.
- Capable of accelerating resources, it allows players to manage card commitments and mana utilization efficiently.
- The Ogre synergizes with instant-speed decks, improving strategic options while keeping mana open for reactions.
Text of card
When Defiant Ogre enters the battlefield, choose one — • Put a +1/+1 counter on Defiant Ogre. • Destroy target artifact.
"I have no clan, but I still have purpose."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Defiant Ogre offers the potential for card advantage in a roundabout way. By bringing a modal aspect to the battlefield with its renowned “dash” mechanic, it presents choices that can impact card value long-term. This ogre can hit the field quickly for surprise damage or be played normally, ensuring its presence for consistent threat.
Resource Acceleration: Although Defiant Ogre doesn’t directly generate traditional mana or treasure tokens, it aids in resource acceleration by potentially diminishing the need to commit other cards early on. Its dual nature of being cast normally or dashed enables more efficient use of mana across turns.
Instant Speed: While Defiant Ogre itself isn’t an instant, it harmonizes well in a deck strategy built around instant-speed interactions. Casting it through its dash ability can occur during the main phases, complementing a game plan focused on keeping mana available for instant-speed reactions and adding an unexpected combatant when most advantageous.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Defiant Ogre often asks players to let go of a potential surprise element or valuable resource, as it requires discarding a card to harness its full potential. The discard could tilt the game unfavorably if used at an inopportune time or when your hand is already depleted.
Specific Mana Cost: Restricted by a need for red and colorless mana, this card can be a tricky fit outside of specific deck themes or mono-red builds. Players running multicolor decks may find the mana requirement an unnecessary constraint that complicates their mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of six mana with substantial color commitment, the Defiant Ogre may lag in performance compared to other creatures or spells within the same cost range. Versatile or powerful alternatives might deliver immediate board impact or value, potentially placing Defiant Ogre as a less favorable choice in a tightly curated deck.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Defiant Ogre brings flexibility to your deck with its ability to act as both a creature and a solution to troublesome artifacts. This makes it suitable for decks that need to deal with a variety of threats on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: With the renowned affinity in Magic the Gathering for artifact-focused strategies, Defiant Ogre can seamlessly integrate into combos that benefit from artifact manipulation, acting as a crucial player in orchestrating game-winning synergy.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame with a high incidence of artifact-reliant decks, having Defiant Ogre on hand gives you an edge. It’s not only a competent board presence but also a preemptive answer to popular artifact strategies, keeping you one step ahead of the competition.
How to beat Defiant Ogre
The dynamics of Defiant Ogre in Magic: The Gathering present a unique set of challenges sure to test any player. At the fundamental level, understanding the card’s strengths and weaknesses is key to developing a victory strategy. Defiant Ogre combines a moderate power/toughness ratio with a potential utility skill—target artifact removal—upon entering the battlefield. This duality means opponents must prepare for both direct creature confrontation and potential indirect value loss.
When facing this card, efficient removal spells or creatures with deathtouch are both effective methods. Cards like Doom Blade or Fatal Push quickly dispatch Defiant Ogre before its artifact destructibility becomes a problem. Alternatively, players might consider indirect methods, such as using enchantments like Pacifism to neutralize the Ogre’s battlefield presence without having to physically remove it, preserving board state and resources. Using such strategies, players can mitigate the impact of Defiant Ogre, ensuring that this formidable card won’t tip the scales against them.
Defiant Ogre adds a layer of strategic complexity, but like all MTG cards, with the right plan and resources, overcoming it is not only possible but could set the stage for a triumphant victory in the world of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards like Defiant Ogre
The Defiant Ogre card brings a unique blend to deck strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This creature shares certain characteristics with other cards like Foundry Street Denizen. Both thrive in a deck that revolves around a Red creature strategy, however, the Defiant Ogre introduces an element of versatility due to its renowned dash ability which allows for immediate impact on the battlefield, albeit at a temporary cost.
Goblin Heelcutter is another creature that possesses the dash dynamic, allowing for a rapid, aggressive playstyle. Although the Heelcutter might be more aggressive due to its ability to prevent a creature from blocking, Defiant Ogre offers a more substantial presence on the board with its higher toughness. Comparing it to the Bogardan Hellkite gives us a perspective on the various levels of power creatures can bring when they enter the battlefield. The Hellkite has a higher mana cost but also provides an immediate and powerful effect with its damage dealing ability when it enters the battlefield.
Overall, the Defiant Ogre stands as a solid choice in a deck that benefits from the flexibility of dash and the resilience of a creatures built to last in Magic: The Gathering, marking its own territory within the pantheon of Red creatures.
Cards similar to Defiant Ogre by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Defiant Ogre MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged 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 Defiant Ogre 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 Defiant Ogre Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Craig J Spearing.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged | FRF | 96 | 2015 | normal | black | Craig J Spearing | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 900 | 2015 | normal | black | Craig J Spearing | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | FRF-96 | 2015 | normal | black | Craig J Spearing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Defiant Ogre has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Defiant Ogre card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-11-24 | If a mode requires a target and there are no legal targets available, you must choose the mode that adds a +1/+1 counter. |
| 2014-11-24 | You choose which mode you’re using as you put the ability on the stack, after the creature has entered the battlefield. Once you’ve chosen a mode, you can’t change that mode even if the creature leaves the battlefield in response to that ability. |
