Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human |
| Abilities | Mill,Transform |
| Released | 2016-07-22 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Eldritch Moon |
| Set code | EMN |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 63 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Transform |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Kev Walker |
Text of card
: Put the top two cards of your library into your graveyard. Then if there is a colorless creature card in your graveyard, transform Grizzled Angler.
"There's no question that these waters are treacherous, but if there's one thing I've learned in all my years of sailing . . ."
Cards like Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish
Grizzled Angler is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, evocative of cards like Ludevic’s Test Subject which also transform under specific conditions. Both cards begin as seemingly innocuous creatures that evolve into threats under the right circumstances. Grizzled Angler turns into the formidable Grisly Anglerfish after a player’s deck has been stocked with the top two cards. In contrast, Ludevic’s Test Subject hatches into Ludevic’s Abomination with sufficient mana investment.
Another card worth mentioning is Delver of Secrets, which also transforms, in this case into Insectile Aberration. While Delver of Secrets offers a quicker transformation, hinging on revealing an instant or sorcery card on your upkeep, Grizzled Angler requires the careful setup of a deck to ensure its transformation. Then there’s Thing in the Ice, which demands the casting of spells for its transformation into the Awoken Horror. It serves as a board wipe as well unlike the Grizzled Angler, providing a substantial swing in the game state.
Comparing these transformational creatures, Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish holds its own with a distinct angle of deck manipulation and a potent enemy deterrent in its transformed state, making it a curious card for players looking to tailor their gameplay strategically around its capabilities.
Cards similar to Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The transformation of Grizzled Angler into Grisly Anglerfish can generate card advantage by potentially exiling the top cards of an opponent’s library, leading to a reduction in their resources over time.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resources, the Grisly Anglerfish side offers a tap ability that can potentially clear the board of smaller creatures, indirectly accelerating your control of the game’s resources.
Instant Speed: While Grizzled Angler itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it can transform into Grisly Anglerfish at the end of your turn, thus being ready to use its tap ability as a surprise during your opponent’s turn which can disrupt their strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the characteristics that may deter players from including Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish in their decks is the potential downside of its transform ability. To activate the transform condition, you must discard a creature card. If you’re struggling to maintain card advantage or holding on to vital creatures, this requirement could prove costly.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish dictates a need for both blue and generic mana, making it a less flexible choice in mana base planning. Players running multicolored decks will have to ensure they have the right mana at the right time, which isn’t always a guarantee, potentially causing delays or disruptions in their game plan.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its utility, the mana cost for Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish is on the higher end for the effects offered. Other cards in the same mana range might present more impactful abilities or board presence, leading deck builders to opt for alternatives that align with a more efficient resource-to-impact ratio.
Reasons to Include Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish in Your Collection
Versatility: Grizzled Angler fits into a variety of decks, particularly those oriented around self-mill and transformation mechanics. The ability to flip into Grisly Anglerfish adds a layer of adaptability to gameplay, serving both as an early game creature and a late game threat.
Combo Potential: The card has innate synergy with graveyard strategies, enabling intricate combos with cards that capitalize on large graveyards or creature transformations. Plus, Grisly Anglerfish can unexpectedly clear the way for a finishing swarm by tapping potential blockers.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where games tend to stretch into longer battles, the transformation into Grisly Anglerfish offers a significant power increase, capable of breaking stalemates or defending against larger threats. Its unique mechanics can give you an edge by providing multifaceted utility and surprise factor against unprepared opponents.
How to beat
The Grizzled Angler card, alongside its transformed side, Grisly Anglerfish, brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Despite its transformative ability and potential as a game-changer, there’s a strategy to overpower this particular challenge. Handling the Angler lies in striking swiftly before it can transform into the larger Anglerfish threat or managing it assertively on the flip side.
One approach includes employing instant-speed removal spells to target the Grizzled Angler before your opponent’s next untap step when the transformation could occur. In other scenarios, board clear spells prove to be advantageous, capable of eliminating the Grisly Anglerfish after it has become a menace. For those who prefer a more nuanced tactic, leveraging creature abilities or spells that tap down or otherwise incapacitate the Angler denies it the chance to transform, maintaining control over the pace of the game.
Strategic planning and timely interventions are key; whether it’s through disruption or direct removal, managing the Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish effectively ensures that this sea monster doesn’t turn the tide of battle against you.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon, 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 Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- MTG Mint Card
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-07-13 | For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics). |
| 2016-07-13 | If a creature affected by Grisly Anglerfish’s effect hasn’t been under its controller’s control since the turn began, is tapped, or is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, then it doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having that creature attack, its controller isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t have to attack in that case either. |
| 2016-07-13 | If you have a colorless creature card in your graveyard while you control Grizzled Angler, it won’t transform yet. It only transforms while its activated ability is resolving. |