Crowned Ceratok MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Rhino
Abilities Trample
Power 4
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Crowned Ceratok empowers +1/+1 counter strategies, enabling creatures to evade blockers and apply consistent pressure.
  2. The card’s synergy with instant speed plays can create surprising combat advantages and turn the tide.
  3. While its mana cost is specific, the strategic benefits can substantively enhance creature performance and game outcomes.

Text of card

Trample Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it has trample.

The best way to calm a rampaging ceratok is to wait until it dies of natural causes.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Crowned Ceratok itself may not directly enable you to draw cards, it can be a valuable piece in strategies aiming for card advantage through creature synergy. By ensuring that creatures with +1/+1 counters on them are unblockable, it often secures that your key creatures can make a consistent impact on the game, connecting with the opponent and triggering various “whenever a creature deals combat damage” effects to potentially draw cards or gain other advantages.

Resource Acceleration: The Crowned Ceratok doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration like artifact ramp or land fetching does. However, its place within your deck can accelerate your board presence. It could raise the bar for your creatures’ performance by giving those with +1/+1 counters the edge they need to bypass blockers, effectively accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the Crowned Ceratok synergizes well in decks that operate at instant speed. Playing combat tricks to place +1/+1 counters on your creatures during combat, then following up with a main-phase Ceratok, can immediately impact the board and catch opponents off guard. In these cases, Crowned Ceratok becomes an efficient tool to capitalize on the power of instant-speed interactions within the combat phase.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Crowned Ceratok requires a specific combination of mana to cast, which includes green. This can restrict its inclusion to decks that run green mana sources, potentially limiting the card’s versatility in multi-color deck construction.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana to bring this creature to the battlefield, some players might find it a bit steep for a 4/3 creature. When considering other creatures available at this cost, one could argue that there may be other options with more impactful abilities or a better power-to-mana cost ratio.

Discard Requirement: While Crowned Ceratok does not have a discard requirement itself, it’s worth noting that, in a scenario where a player is compelled to discard due to another card’s effect, higher cost cards like this may become a liability if a player is looking to optimize their hand.


Reasons to Include Crowned Ceratok in Your Collection

Versatility: Crowned Ceratok provides a boost to any deck that focuses on +1/+1 counters. Its ability to give trample to each creature with a +1/+1 counter can be a game-changer, fitting into a variety of green decks that capitalize on counter synergies.

Combo Potential: This card works wonders in combinations with proliferate mechanics or any strategy that stacks counters quickly. Its presence on the board can swiftly transform an imposing but blockable creature into an unstoppable force.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based combat is prevalent, Crowned Ceratok shines by enabling smaller creatures to punch above their weight. It ensures your enhanced creatures are not easily chump-blocked, maintaining pressure on the opponent’s life total and providing a persistent threat.


How to beat

Crowned Ceratok is a creature that enjoys quite the reputation for enhancing the capabilities of creatures with +1/+1 counters on them. Its key feature is granting trample to any creature that’s been beefed up this way – a powerful skill in MTG that can tip the scales during combat. To rise above this four-legged threat, focus on tactics that neutralize this ability.

Spot removal spells are effective tools, efficiently dispatching Ceratok before its ability can be fully capitalized on. Board wipe spells also do a thorough job of clearing out Ceratok along with any bolstered comrades. Yet another strategy is preventing counters from amassing on creatures in the first place. Utilize counter-removal or creature-removal spells early and prevent your opponent’s creatures from becoming too large to handle. This disrupts their strategy and leaves Ceratok with far less impact on the game. By implementing these methods, you’ll ensure that the Crowned Ceratok’s trample granting ability does not overrun your defenses.


Cards like Crowned Ceratok

Crowned Ceratok is a noteworthy creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering the perk of trample to each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it. This synergizes with the counter strategy similar to Tuskguard Captain, which also grants trample to creatures you control with +1/+1 counters. However, the Ceratok holds an edge with its 4/3 stats, providing a stronger presence on the battlefield right off the bat compared to the Captain’s 2/3 stats.

Another creature to consider is the Prized Unicorn, which, albeit without the +1/+1 counter synergy, can dictate how your opponents block, potentially clearing the way for your heavy hitters. Where Prized Unicorn falls short with its 2/2 body, Crowned Ceratok shines, combining stat superiority with strategic trample allocation.

Examining the dynamics of MTG, Crowned Ceratok fits into decks looking to capitalize on counters and aggressive gameplay. Its ability to quickly turn any buffed creature into a significant threat makes it a powerful asset, showcasing its value in counter-centric decks compared to its peers.

Tuskguard Captain - MTG Card versions
Prized Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Tuskguard Captain - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Prized Unicorn - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Crowned Ceratok by color, type and mana cost

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
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War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Alligator - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Saber Ants - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Tenth Edition (10E)
Marsh Viper - The Dark (DRK)
Scarwood Bandits - The Dark (DRK)
Carnivorous Plant - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Erhnam Djinn - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
War Mammoth - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Aurochs - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Lhurgoyf - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Jackalope Herd - Exodus (EXO)
Rootwater Alligator - Exodus (EXO)
Golden Bear - Portal Second Age (P02)
Argothian Swine - Urza's Saga (USG)
Elvish Piper - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Erithizon - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Saber Ants - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Skyshroud Cutter - Nemesis (NEM)
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fungusaur - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Viridian Lorebearers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Monkey Monkey Monkey - Unhinged (UNH)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crowned Ceratok MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters, 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 Crowned Ceratok and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Crowned Ceratok Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 1172003normalblackSteve Prescott
22013-09-06Duel Decks: Heroes vs. MonstersDDL 512003normalblackSteve Prescott
32017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 1582015normalblackSteve Prescott
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 11742015normalblackSteve Prescott
52020-09-26The ListPLST IMA-1582015normalblackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crowned Ceratok has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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