Rotting Mastodon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie Elephant
Released	2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set name	Khans of Tarkir
Set code	KTK
Power	2
Toughness	8
Number	87
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Nils Hamm

Key Takeaways

Rotting Mastodon’s ample toughness can act as a robust deterrent, providing potential indirect card advantage.
Its ability to enable graveyard strategies makes it a unique addition to zombie-themed decks in MTG.
Despite high mana costs, the Mastodon’s defensive prowess can be pivotal in certain metagame scenarios.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Rotting Mastodon may not directly offer card advantage in the traditional sense, its presence on the battlefield can lead to indirect card advantage. By serving as a deterrent with its sizable toughness, it can discourage attacks, effectively nullifying multiple cards from your opponent’s arsenal.

Resource Acceleration: Rotting Mastodon itself doesn’t provide resource acceleration, but it can be a beneficial addition in decks that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield. Its five mana cost makes it an adequate enabler for such interactions, allowing you to trigger various effects that might ramp your resources in the larger game plan.

Instant Speed: As a creature card, Rotting Mastodon isn’t cast at instant speed, but its defensive capabilities can be pivotal at crucial moments. When paired with instant-speed tricks or removal spells, this card becomes part of a strategic defensive line that can withstand swift assaults and protect your life total efficiently.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides when including Rotting Mastodon in your deck is the need to carefully consider what you discard. Every card counts, and when you’re strategizing for the long game, removing key pieces could significantly handicap your performance.

Specific Mana Cost: Rotting Mastodon’s casting cost requires both specific and generic mana, with a focus on black mana. This can be limiting as it necessitates a certain type of mana generation, thus hindering its inclusion in multi-colored or colorless decks that might struggle to meet this requirement consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at the higher spectrum for creature cards, the Mastodon competes with others that may bring more impactful abilities or power to the battlefield. This can deter players from including it in decks where efficiency and speed are essential.

Reasons to Include Rotting Mastodon in Your Collection

Versatility: Rotting Mastodon serves as a powerful blocker in decks. Its substantial toughness makes it a great defensive asset against aggressive strategies, helping to stabilize the board until you can deploy your game-winning tactics.

Combo Potential: With its zombie typing, Rotting Mastodon can synergize with various zombie-themed cards and strategies, enhancing the value of each creature you play. It can be a crucial piece in graveyard-centric decks, often enabling larger and more impactful plays as part of a bigger combo.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where combat damage can determine the pace of the game, having a formidable creature like Rotting Mastodon can deter opponents’ attacks. Its strong presence on the battlefield acts as an effective counter to decks that rely on swarming smaller creatures, making it a solid choice in specific metagame scenarios.

How to beat

The Rotting Mastodon is a card that flies under the radar for many MTG players, but it shouldn’t be underestimated due to how it can affect the board. A creature with a solid 2/8 body, it presents a considerable defensive presence. As it primarily serves as a blocker, overcoming this card in a game is about changing the angle of your strategy.

One effective tactic involves flying or other evasion abilities, as the Mastodon lacks reach and can’t block creatures that aren’t on the ground. Additionally, leverage removal spells that can bypass its sizable toughness, such as those inflicting damage based on the number of cards in hand, like Erratic Explosion, or using effects that diminish its toughness, such as Languish. Enchantment based removal that doesn’t rely on combat, like Pacifism, can also neutralize its board impact without having to deal with its toughness.

In essence, while Rotting Mastodon can be a tough obstacle, a thoughtful shift in game plan can help you navigate past this potential hindrance. Understanding how to manage such cards is what separates good players from great ones in MTG, ensuring you’re always prepared for what your opponent plays.

Cards like Rotting Mastodon

Rotting Mastodon joins the ranks of vanilla creatures within Magic: The Gathering. This creature is easily compared to cards like Gray Ogre in terms of simplicity in abilities but differs significantly in size. Weighing in at a colossal five toughness, it overshadows Gray Ogre’s modest stature.

In terms of commonality, the Mastodon shares the battlefield with creatures like Vastwood Gorger. Both lack abilities, but the Mastodon stands out due to its lower mana cost, making it a slightly more attainable option for players looking to plant early defense. The Gorger offers more in terms of attack but at a higher mana cost, which can affect its playability early on in the game.

Considering utility, the Mastodon’s sheer size for its cost offers a distinct advantage in the early blocking game. Cards like Walking Corpse provide a similar cost-to-stat ratio, yet the Mastodon offers more in the way of damage absorption. This kind of comparison helps players evaluate their deck’s needs, whether it’s about stalling the game with a sturdy blocker or deploying creatures for a potential offensive thrust.

Cards similar to Rotting Mastodon by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Plaguelord - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rotting Mastodon MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Rotting Mastodon and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rotting Mastodon has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal