Garruk's Companion MTG Card
2010-07-16 - Number 176
2011-07-15 - Number 175
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Trample (If this creature would assign enough damage to its blockers to destroy them, you may have it assign the rest of its damage to defending player or planeswalker.)
Cards like Garruk's Companion
Garruk’s Companion holds a noteworthy spot in the lineup of efficient creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to creatures such as Kalonian Tusker, sharing the same mana cost and total of power and toughness. Yet, Garruk’s Companion edges out with its trample ability, giving it the capacity to deal excess damage to a player if it’s blocked by a creature with lesser toughness.
Treading along similar design, we find Leatherback Baloth, a beast with imposing stats that outmuscles Garruk’s Companion by boasting a solid 4/5 body for the same amount of green mana. Although lacking trample, its sheer size often compensates. Then there’s Avatar of the Resolute, which might start smaller but can grow significantly in games that focus on +1/+1 counters, and it also carries reach along with trample, presenting a more versatile threat.
Contrasting these creatures allows us to understand the nuanced choices available to players who seek substantial green creatures for their decks. While each has its particular strengths and scenarios where it might outshine the others, Garruk’s Companion’s combination of efficiency and trample ensures it’s a reliable pick, especially in aggressive decks that value the ability to push through damage.
Cards similar to Garruk's Companion by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Garruk's Companion. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | MonoG Aggro | Pauper | Lega Pauper Canavese - 6a Tappa Paupergeddon Winter Edition 2023 - 22 Players |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Garruk’s Companion itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its strong presence on the board can often lead your opponent to use more resources to deal with it than you spent to play it, potentially providing indirect card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Garruk’s Companion doesn’t provide direct mana acceleration, but the efficiency of its cost to power and toughness ratio can free up mana for other spells in the early game. This two-mana 3/2 creature allows for a more aggressive board development, enabling you to apply pressure while still having resources available for other strategies.
Instant Speed: Although Garruk’s Companion isn’t an instant, its relevance comes from how it complements a deck with instant-speed spells. A strong early board presence can force your opponent to play on their turn, leaving them open to your instant-speed interactions and tricks during their end phase or your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Garruk’s Companion doesn’t directly mandate discarding cards, managing it along cards with discard effects can deplete your hand, hindering its potential synergy with these strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires two green mana, which might not be consistently available in multi-colored decks, especially during the early turns when you’d like to deploy this creature efficiently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its solid stats, two mana for a 3/2 creature may not always be the most cost-effective choice. As the game evolves, options like these can become less impactful when compared to other creatures or spells available at a similar cost bracket.
Reasons to Include Garruk’s Companion in Your Collection
Versatility: Garruk’s Companion boasts a straightforward yet flexible design that enables it to adapt easily to various green decks. This creature’s efficient cost-to-stat ratio makes it a strong play in both aggressive and creature-focused decks.
Combo Potential: With the creature’s trample ability, Garruk’s Companion can be an integral part of combos that amplify damage or utilize creature synergies. Its ability to deal excess damage to players can be leveraged in decks that capitalize on combat tricks and power boosts.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Garruk’s Companion can be particularly formidable. As a 3/2 trampler for two mana, it can hold its own against the common early threats, offering enduring relevance as a steadfast combatant on the battlefield.
How to beat
Garruk’s Companion is known for its trample ability and efficiency as a two-mana cost creature in Magic: The Gathering, but facing it can be straightforward if you know the right strategies. Against this hearty 3/2, removal spells are your best bet – a Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push can send it packing before it has a chance to flex its muscles on the battlefield. If you prefer to keep your hands clean of direct spells, chump blocking with smaller creatures can whittle Garruk’s Companion down, reminding your opponent that even the mightiest beasts can fall to a well-coordinated team.
Countering it early is also a viable tactic. As a creature that comes out swinging quickly, delaying its entry or negating it with a Counterspell can give you the upper hand, preventing that early trample damage. Lastly, keeping a higher-power creature or an indestructible blocker at the ready ensures that Garruk’s Companion runs into a wall it can’t trample over, preserving the integrity of your life total and board presence.
In essence, Garruk’s Companion may be a solid creature card, but it’s not invincible. Knowing your deck and having the right answers at the right time can mitigate the impact of this trampling threat, maintaining control over the game and guiding you towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Garruk's Companion MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2011 and Magic 2012, 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 Garruk's Companion and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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Printings
The Garruk's Companion Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-07-16 and 2011-07-15. Illustrated by Efrem Palacios.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 176 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Efrem Palacios | |
| 2 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 175 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Efrem Palacios |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Garruk's Companion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |