Fortress Cyclops MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Cyclops Soldier
Released	2013-02-01
Set symbol
Set name	Gatecrash
Set code	GTC
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	164
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Maciej Kuciara

Key Takeaways

Attacking with Fortress Cyclops offers card advantage, boosting your hand while threatening opponents.
Defensive use accelerates resources, letting you cast spells sooner and gain momentum.
While not instant, its imposing presence maximizes strategic play for savvy MTG gamers.

Text of card

Whenever Fortress Cyclops attacks, it gets +3/+0 until end of turn. Whenever Fortress Cyclops blocks, it gets +0/+3 until end of turn.

"They think they tamed him, but he will always be a wild titan, a force of nature." —Nedja, Gruul shaman

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fortress Cyclops brings a nuanced twist to gaining card advantage by potentially swinging as a significant threat that must be answered. Successfully attacking can lead to substantial card draw, especially in decks that synergize with combat effects, enabling you to pull ahead in resource competition.

Resource Acceleration: When defending, Fortress Cyclops can be an impressive ramp asset. It enhances your mana resource pool, allowing you to deploy your hand more efficiently and cast high-cost spells earlier than usual, shifting the game’s momentum in your favor.

Instant Speed: Although Fortress Cyclops itself isn’t an instant, incorporating it within a strategy that includes instant-speed interactions can capitalize on its imposing presence. This behemoth rewards smart defensive play or threatens at a moment’s notice, providing strategic depth in timing your moves on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fortress Cyclops demands a card discard to activate a key ability, which pulls from your hand and potentially diminishes advantage during a tight match.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature comes with a red and white mana requirement that might not seamlessly fit into decks without those colors, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-color strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its abilities can be impactful, the initial five mana investment to get Fortress Cyclops on the board is significant, potentially slowing you down compared to other options available at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fortress Cyclops is a card that can adapt to various gameplay situations. As a 3/3 that can switch to 6/3, it gives you the flexibility to deal significant damage or hold back as a sturdy blocker based on the flow of the game.

Combo Potential: With its ability to alter its power and toughness upon attacking or blocking, Fortress Cyclops can synergize well with mechanics like battalion, where its increased power can activate other battalion abilities, making it a solid inclusion in your tactics.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the state of the game and popular strategies, Fortress Cyclops can be particularly effective. It challenges the opponent to consider their blocking decisions carefully and makes combat math more complex, which can be advantageous in matches that involve creature-based combat.

How to Beat

Fortress Cyclops is a unique creature in the Magic: The Gathering realm, recognized for its ability to switch between offense and defense. When facing this formidable card, it’s vital to have strategies in place to overcome its alternating strengths. One effective tactic is to employ removal spells that can target Fortress Cyclops regardless of its current mode. Instant-speed removal such as Murder or Path to Exile can be particularly useful, letting you react swiftly during the combat phase if the cyclops is attacking or blocking.

Enchantment-based control tools are also efficient against Fortress Cyclops. Cards like Pacifism or Arrest can neutralize its abilities without having to remove it from the battlefield, curbing its threat considerably. These strategies hinder its flexibility, rendering it less of a dual-threat. Additionally, utilizing board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, giving you an opportunity to rebuild without the cyclops looming over the game state.

Overall, dealing with Fortress Cyclops necessitates adaptability and a keen sense of timing. By keeping these counterstrategies in your arsenal, you can diminish the impact of Fortress Cyclops on the game, steering the match towards your favor with calculated precision.

Understanding the Fortress Cyclops Card

Fortress Cyclops from MTG stands out among creature cards for its dynamic role in gameplay. This multifaceted card brings both offensive and defensive versatility to the board. In the world of creature cards, decisions on whether to attack or defend can be pivotal, and Fortress Cyclops excels in this strategy.

Cards like Fortress Cyclops

When considering Fortress Cyclops’s place in the realm of Magic: The Gathering creatures, it’s worthwhile to compare it to its counterparts like Sunhome Enforcer. Both cards have the capability to strengthen your game plan when attacking or blocking. Still, Fortress Cyclops offers an extra layer of strategy by allowing a choice between attack and defense power boosts each turn. This mirrors the mechanics of cards like Boros Reckoner, which can be formidable in both attack and defense but does not allow flexibility between the two within the same turn.

Moving to the multicolored giant Soldier tokens from Assemble the Legion also offers a comparison point. These tokens incrementally increase your battlefield presence, providing attackers and blockers but don’t switch strategies mid-game like the adaptable Fortress Cyclops.

Through this lens, Fortress Cyclops can be seen as a valuable asset in decks that emphasize strategic flexibility and adaptability in mid to late-game scenarios.

Cards similar to Fortress Cyclops by color, type and mana cost

Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran - MTG Card versions

Basandra, Battle Seraph - MTG Card versions

Towering Thunderfist - MTG Card versions

Anya, Merciless Angel - MTG Card versions

Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier - MTG Card versions

Adriana, Captain of the Guard - MTG Card versions

Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer - MTG Card versions

Tiana, Ship's Caretaker - MTG Card versions

Quintorius, Field Historian - MTG Card versions

Commander Liara Portyr - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fortress Cyclops MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Fortress Cyclops and other MTG cards: