Kheru Dreadmaw MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Crocodile |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Released | 2014-09-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Khans of Tarkir |
| Set code | KTK |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 76 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ryan Yee |
Text of card
Defender , Sacrifice another creature: You gain life equal to the sacrificed creature's toughness.
Its hunting instincts have long since rotted away. Its hunger, however, remains.
Cards like Kheru Dreadmaw
Kheru Dreadmaw enters the lineup of formidable creatures in Magic: The Gathering with a unique twist to mana generation and life gain. This creature shares some characteristics with cards such as Wall of Limbs, which also provides a life-focused benefit. Kheru Dreadmaw distinguishes itself by offering the ability to sacrifice another creature to add to your mana pool and grant you life, making it a dynamic resource in battle.
Looking elsewhere, we find Undertaker, a creature card that allows for the return of creatures from your graveyard to your hand. Although it lacks the direct mana generation, it synergizes well with decks that focus on creature recycling. Kheru Dreadmaw can be seen as more of a frontline option, providing immediate benefits in terms of mana and life points as opposed to Undertaker’s potential for longer-term strategy. Then, there is Vampire Nighthawk, another creature with lifelink. Unlike Kheru Dreadmaw, the Nighthawk brings combat capabilities with deathtouch and flying, offering a different type of value on the battlefield.
Ultimately, while investigating these comparisons, Kheru Dreadmaw emerges as a versatile card, adept for decks that capitalize on sacrifice mechanics for mana acceleration and sustaining player life, enhancing its position in the Magic: The Gathering creature roster.
Cards similar to Kheru Dreadmaw by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Kheru Dreadmaw enables you to derive extra value from creatures you control by converting them into new cards and life points. This aspect of trading creatures can pivot the course of a match by ensuring you’re rarely falling behind in terms of card resources.
Resource Acceleration: This creature’s ability to sacrifice another creature not only fuels your card advantage but also provides a mana boost by untapping your lands. This can encourage a more aggressive strategy or allow you to cast high-cost spells earlier than usual, accelerating your overall resource development.
Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice a creature at instant speed grants considerable flexibility. You can wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn before deciding to use Kheru Dreadmaw’s ability, making it a versatile tool for navigating complex board states and combat scenarios.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Kheru Dreadmaw necessitates parting with another creature card in your hand which can be detrimental, especially in games where maintaining hand advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires one black and one green mana, making it somewhat restrictive as it can only fit seamlessly into decks that can reliably produce both types of mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of five for a 4/4 creature, Kheru Dreadmaw could be considered costly compared to other creatures with similar or more powerful abilities at this mana curve.
Reasons to Include Kheru Dreadmaw in Your Collection
Versatility: Kheru Dreadmaw serves as a flexible choice for various decks, especially those that need a reliable way to convert creatures into card advantage and life gain. Its ability to fit seamlessly into black or green strategies adds to its adaptability.
Combo Potential: This card works well with strategies focused on creature sacrifice, acting as an engine to fuel synergies or recurring effects within graveyard-based decks, making it a valuable combo piece.
Meta-Relevance: As graveyard mechanics and creature strategies persist in the game, Kheru Dreadmaw gains relevance. Its capacity to sustain longer games and leverage creature death makes it a sound inclusion against several popular archetypes.
How to beat
Kheru Dreadmaw offers unique dynamics to the game table, acting as a formidable presence within the limited environment. Its ability to tap, sacrifice another creature, and gain life while doing so, presents a challenge to opponents. By offering a consistent means of gaining life, it can be a recurring obstacle in the path of more aggressive decks attempting to reduce your life total swiftly.
To effectively quiet the Dreadmaw threat, pinpoint removal like Murder, which bypasses the creature’s ability to regenerate or exile mechanisms such as Path to Exile, can be pivotal. Moreover, countering it before it hits the battlefield with spells like Cancel is a straight path to keeping the board Dreadmaw-free. Ensnaring it in a Pacifism also works well, rendering its abilities useless while it’s under this spell’s effect.
Oust Crushing, the creature with a board sweep such as Wrath of God, is another strategic option, especially before you are overwhelmed by repeated life-gain and the subsequent board advantage. Ultimately, the key is to nullify Kheru Dreadmaw quickly and efficiently, be it through removal, counters, or incapacitating enchantments, turning the tide of battle in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kheru Dreadmaw 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 Kheru Dreadmaw and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kheru Dreadmaw 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 |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kheru Dreadmaw card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | Use the toughness of the creature as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how much life you gain. |