Frontier Mastodon MTG Card
2015-01-23 - Number 130
2019-11-07 - Number 1215
2022-12-02 - Number 663
2020-09-26 - Number FRF-130
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elephant |
| Abilities | Ferocious |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Ferocious — Frontier Mastodon enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it if you control a creature with power 4 or greater.
Each bronze disk on its harness is an offering from a young Temur hunter, a sign of respect to the spirits of the wild.
Cards like Frontier Mastodon
Frontier Mastodon brings its unique presence to the field of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. This green Elephant shares a kinship with other formidable beasts like Stampeding Rhino, which also tramples over opposing lines with comparable strength. However, Frontier Mastodon edges ahead with its ferocious ability to potentially boost its power through the use of a mechanic known as Ferocious, provided you control another creature with power 4 or greater.
Leafcrown Dryad stands out as well in the vein of green creatures. Its claim to fame is its versatility, being able to bolster another creature as an Aura or serving as a standalone creature. Though it lacks the specific power increase that Frontier Mastodon may gain, it brings adaptability to your deck’s strategy. Next in line for comparison could be Nessian Courser, another green creature that offers a solid body for a fair mana cost without any additional stipulations.
Assessing the characteristics and strategic value of each card, Frontier Mastodon carves out a niche for itself among green creatures in MTG. It has the potential to be a game-changer, especially in decks that are built around the Ferocious mechanic.
Cards similar to Frontier Mastodon by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Frontier Mastodon can bolster your field presence, effectively becoming a more substantial threat with its formidable ability. Once you satisfy the conditions for formidable, this creature can help maintain or even tip the balance of power in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, Frontier Mastodon’s cost-effective stats provide a solid body on the board early in the game. This allows you to allocate resources to other spells and strategies more freely, knowing you have a dependable creature ready for combat.
Instant Speed: Although Frontier Mastodon operates at sorcery speed, its synergy with instant speed tricks and boosts can be a game-changer. By holding back mana for combat tricks that increase your creature count or power, you enable Frontier Mastodon to reach formidable status unexpectedly, turning the tide during crucial moments of gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While playing Frontier Mastodon, no discard action is needed; thus, this characteristic does not apply to this card’s analysis. Players should consider other factors that might impact gameplay when evaluating this creature’s role in their deck.
Specific Mana Cost: Frontier Mastodon requires a blend of generic and green mana to cast. This specific mana cost necessitates green mana sources, which may not always fit smoothly into decks that aren’t heavily green or that struggle with color fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost set at three, including one green, Frontier Mastodon may be seen as having a high cost for its base stats. In a game where board presence and mana efficiency are vital, other creatures may provide more impact for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Frontier Mastodon can be an adaptive addition to Green decks that look for creatures with solid stats relative to their mana cost. As a 3/2 that can become a 4/3 with Ferocious, it fits well in decks focused on power and toughness.
Combo Potential: This card has synergy in decks that utilize the Ferocious ability, enabling it to become a stronger presence on the battlefield when paired with other high-power creatures. It’s a great enabler in counter-based strategies too.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where smaller creatures dominate, Frontier Mastodon can serve as an efficient blocker or an aggressive creature that can exert early pressure on opponents, making it a sensible choice in diverse game scenarios.
How to beat Frontier Mastodon
Frontier Mastodon brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature card catches the eye with its ferocious form and the potential to grow stronger with the formidable ferocious ability. It’s a creature that can become a threat if left unchecked, especially if you meet the conditions to grant it that extra +1/+1 counter.
Combatting Frontier Mastodon requires strategic measures. Spot removal spells are a straightforward solution; they can clear the creature off the board before the ferocious ability triggers. Consider cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile for an expedient response. Should the Mastodon receive its bonus, strategies that force sacrifice, like Crackling Doom, bypass the size issue altogether, ensuring that even the mightiest Mastodon can be brought down.
Control decks have an advantage here, with a suite of countermeasures to nip potential threats in the bud. Whether it’s via direct removal or through more subtle manipulations of the game state, you can ensure this prehistoric powerhouse doesn’t stampede over your carefully laid plans.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Frontier Mastodon 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 Frontier Mastodon and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Frontier Mastodon Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Nils Hamm.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged | FRF | 130 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1215 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | FRF-130 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | ||
| 4 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 663 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Frontier Mastodon 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 Frontier Mastodon 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 | Frontier Mastodon’s ferocious ability checks if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as Frontier Mastodon enters the battlefield. Because Frontier Mastodon isn’t on the battlefield at this time, it won’t count itself. |