Karplusan Yeti MTG Card

Yeti can be a board-controlling tool by targeting and removing small creatures, providing a steady advantage. Its instant-speed ability offers flexibility and can potentially swing the game’s momentum. Despite its utility, the Yeti requires strategic hand management and red mana, limiting some decks.

Ice Age (ICE)
1995-06-03 - Number 197

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 198★

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 198

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Yeti
Power	3
Toughness	3

Text of card

oc T: Karplusan Yeti deals an amount of damage equal to its power to target creature. That creature deals an amount of damage equal to its power to Karplusan Yeti.

"What's that smell?" —Perena Deepcutter, Dwarven Armorer

Cards like Karplusan Yeti

The Karplusan Yeti presents a unique set of abilities that allow it to be a formidable creature in Magic: The Gathering. Within the realm of red creature cards, several have similar destructive capabilities. For instance, the Inferno Titan, much like the Yeti, can deal damage to a target upon entering the battlefield or attacking. While it distributes the damage across three instances, the Yeti focuses it on one creature. Additionally, the Titan brings with it the potential for more significant damage output as it grows stronger when red mana is invested.

Comparing the Yeti to the Dragon Mage offers an interesting contrast. Although the Dragon Mage doesn’t provide the targeted creature damage that is the hallmark of the Yeti, both creatures create substantial game-changing situations with their attack triggers. The Dragon Mage’s ability causes each player to discard their hand and draw seven cards, pivoting the game into a new phase. However, this effect is not as directly controllable as the Yeti’s pinpoint damage ability.

When assessing the tactical advantages of creature-based control tools in your MTG deck, the Karplusan Yeti stands out for its direct and immediate impact on the board, providing a reliable way to target and eliminate key threats.

Cards similar to Karplusan Yeti by color, type and mana cost

Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions

Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions

Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions

Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions

Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Karplusan Yeti offers a unique advantage in that it can repeatedly target and potentially eliminate enemy creatures. This consistent threat can deter opponents from playing smaller creatures and can gradually deplete their resources while maintaining your presence on the board.

Resource Acceleration: While the Yeti itself does not provide direct mana acceleration, its activation cost can be leveraged in decks with plentiful mana sources, turning excess land draws into potential board control. In long games, this translates to a form of resource acceleration as you utilize your available mana effectively.

Instant Speed: The Yeti’s ability function at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to threats or actions from your opponent during their turn. This can shift the tempo of the match in your favor by removing key creatures right before your opponent’s combat phase or disrupting their strategies at a critical moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Karplusan Yeti’s activated ability mandates discarding a card, a significant downside when your hand is already depleted or if you’re holding key pieces for your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: With an ability that requires one red mana, Karplusan Yeti is constrained to decks that can produce or have access to red mana sources, potentially limiting its deck-building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three colorless and one red mana, the Yeti’s cost is on the higher side. Players may find themselves weighing its utility against other creatures or spells that could offer greater impact and board presence for the same or lesser investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Karplusan Yeti is a dynamic card that can easily become a key component in decks that prize creature control. With its ability to deal damage directly to creatures, it offers a repeatable removal option that can adapt to a wide range of situations on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This creature thrives in synergistic environments. It can be paired with cards that untap creatures to unleash multiple activations in a single turn, or with decks designed around direct damage strategies. These combinations can swiftly tilt the game in your favor by managing the field or even chipping away at an opponent’s life total indirectly.

Meta-Relevance: While the meta continuously evolves, the Karplusan Yeti has a place in environments where creatures dominate the board. Its capability to selectively remove key creatures can dismantle an opponent’s strategy, making it a valuable asset in creature-heavy metas or in formats where board control is critical.

How to beat

The Karplusan Yeti is a creature that stands out in MTG due to its unique ability to target and damage creatures controlled by your opponents. Although it seems like a tough card to counter, its effectiveness can be significantly reduced with strategic plays. Utilizing creature spells with hexproof or shroud can render the Yeti’s targeting ability useless, preserving your board state and maintaining your defense.

Moreover, cards that grant protection from red can also be a solid line of defense against the Yeti’s burn ability. Interestingly, employing instant-speed removal spells when the Yeti’s ability is on the stack gives players an opportunity to eliminate the threat before it can deal its damage. This preemptive strategy can thwart an opponent’s plans and keep you ahead in the game.

In essence, while the Karplusan Yeti offers players a powerful tool for creature control, it can be overcome by employing protective measures, strategic removal, and keeping a sharp focus on the timing of your plays to turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Karplusan Yeti MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Ninth Edition, 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 Karplusan Yeti and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Karplusan Yeti Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1995-06-03	Ice Age	ICE	197	1993	Normal	Black	Quinton Hoover
2	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	198★	2003	Normal	Black	Wayne England
3	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	198	2003	Normal	White	Wayne England

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Karplusan Yeti has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Karplusan Yeti card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-10-04	Giving either creature first strike does not affect the ability.
2004-10-04	If this leaves the battlefield before its activated ability resolves, it will still deal damage to the targeted creature. On the other hand, if the targeted creature leaves the battlefield before the ability resolves, the ability won’t resolve and no damage will be dealt.