Gristle Grinner MTG Card


Draw a card when creatures die, turning losses into a resourceful advantage for continuous play. Instant-speed ability offers strategic response options during opponent’s actions for unexpected tactics. Demands careful hand management due to discard requirement, influencing deck strategies and card choices.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from play, Gristle Grinner gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

"There it was, clawing the ice as it chittered and clicked its teeth. We fled in horror before it unearthed its grisly meal." —Aevar Borg, northern guide, journal entry


Cards like Gristle Grinner

Gristle Grinner stands out in a niche of MTG creature cards that benefit from graveyard interactions. It shares a thematic playground with cards like Scavenging Ooze, which also thrives on consuming creatures from graveyards to grow stronger. However, Gristle Grinner carves its own path with the unique twist of granting card draw whenever a creature dies, unlike Scavenging Ooze which focuses purely on stat growth and life gain.

Delving further, we find Mortivore as another creature dwelling in the realm of graveyard synergy. Mortivore’s power and toughness are directly tied to the number of creature cards in all graveyards, similar to how Gristle Grinner’s ability activates. Yet, what distinguishes Gristle Grinner is the additional card draw payoff, offering card advantage alongside an ever-present threat.

Evaluating these comparisons, Gristle Grinner proves to have an impactful presence. Its unique card draw mechanic fused with graveyard synergy places it as an intriguing choice for players looking to capitalize on death-triggered effects, hitting a sweet spot between board influence and card advantage within MTG.

Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Mortivore - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Mortivore - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gristle Grinner by color, type and mana cost

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Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Sengir Vampire - MTG Card versions
Coffin Puppets - MTG Card versions
Hollow Dogs - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When it comes to Gristle Grinner, this card ensures you stay ahead by utilizing death triggers. Each time a creature dies, you draw a card, thus replenishing your hand and outmaneuvering your opponents through superior card quantity and quality.

Resource Acceleration: Gristle Grinner enables a unique form of resource acceleration by converting creature deaths into new cards for your hand. This could potentially translate into more land plays or spell casts, keeping the momentum squarely on your side of the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Its activated ability can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn. This allows strategic planning and surprise factor, as you can alter the course of combat or end-of-turn scenarios to your advantage without disrupting your own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gristle Grinner compels players to discard another card to activate its ability. This stipulation can backfire in situations where your hand is already depleted, leaving you struggling to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands specific mana types, potentially restricting its inclusion to only certain deck archetypes. Players not involved in these colors might find the card impractical for their game plan.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher side relative to its effect, it’s worth considering other options. More affordable creatures or spells could provide similar or better utility, making Gristle Grinner a less optimal choice in a tightly curated deck list.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gristle Grinner can seamlessly adapt to varying gameplay strategies. Whether it’s a cornerstone in a graveyard-centric deck or providing a solid body for midrange strategies, this card’s utility is unquestionable.

Combo Potential: With its ability to capitalize on death triggers, Gristle Grinner fuels combos in decks aiming to recycle creatures or extract continual value from creatures entering and leaving play.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature interactions are key, Gristle Grinner’s presence can influence board states and disrupt opponent strategies that rely on creature permanence.


How to Beat Gristle Grinner

Overcoming the Gristle Grinner in your MTG battles requires strategic planning. This formidable card can turn the tide of a game by harnessing the power of graveyards. Its ability to grow stronger as creatures meet their demise makes it a significant threat on the board. To counter this gruesome grinner, consider incorporating graveyard hate cards within your deck. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Relic of Progenitus can effectively neutralize the advantage Gristle Grinner gains from the graveyard. Additionally, instant-speed removal spells ensure that you can respond quickly and prevent the Gristle Grinner from gaining momentum. It is crucial to manage the board state and control the graveyard to mitigate the Gristle Grinner’s influence in the game.

Direct damage spells and unconditional removal like Path to Exile can eliminate the grinner before its powers can be fully utilized. Also, remember that its strength is directly correlated to the number of creature cards in graveyards. Therefore, playing cards that exile creatures rather than sending them to graveyards can be a viable strategy as well. In summary, key to defeating the Gristle Grinner lies in preemptively managing your opponent’s resources and being ready to exile or remove it the moment it poses a threat.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gristle Grinner MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Jumpstart, 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 Gristle Grinner and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gristle Grinner Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Dave Allsop.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-07-21ColdsnapCSP 592003NormalBlackDave Allsop
22020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2422015NormalBlackDave Allsop

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gristle Grinner has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal