Kraul Harpooner MTG Card


The Harpooner’s undergrowth counts graveyard creatures to tackle flying threats upon entry. Acts as a rapid blocker or removal, offering tactical surprise at quasi-instant speed. A valuable addition to green decks, Kraul Harpooner scales and counters flyers effectively.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Insect Warrior
Abilities Fight,Reach,Undergrowth
Power 3
Toughness 2

Text of card

Reach Undergrowth — When Kraul Harpooner enters the battlefield, choose up to one target creature with flying you don't control. Kraul Harpooner gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of creature cards in your graveyard, then you may have Kraul Harpooner fight that creature.


Cards like Kraul Harpooner

Kraul Harpooner is an intriguing creature card within Magic: The Gathering, resonating with players who enjoy utilizing cards that offer immediate board impact. Its ability to deal damage to a flyer equivalent to the number of creature cards in the graveyard on entry mirrors the mechanics of cards like Mardu Heart-Piercer. Mardu Heart-Piercer also deals damage upon entering the battlefield, although it is directed to any target and requires raid to activate.

Another card that comes close in comparison is Plummet. Plummet is a targeted removal for flying creatures, but unlike Kraul Harpooner, it doesn’t provide a creature body on the field. It focuses purely on removal without the added benefit of contributing to board presence. On the other hand, Kraul Harpooner offers both a relevant creature body and a means to interact with the opponent’s flying creatures, giving it more versatility in gameplay.

Overall, Kraul Harpooner stands out in its category with its undergrowth ability, which not only disrupts opponents with flying strategies but also increases in potency throughout the game as your graveyard grows. This unique blend of combat-ready stats and graveyard synergy solidifies its place as a valuable card especially in decks that capitalize on a full graveyard.

Mardu Heart-Piercer - MTG Card versions
Plummet - MTG Card versions
Mardu Heart-Piercer - MTG Card versions
Plummet - MTG Card versions

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Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Kraul Harpooner. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WGWG PioneerPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-29
Selesnya CompanySelesnya Company PioneerSelesnya CompanyPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-08
Selesnya HumansSelesnya Humans PioneerSelesnya HumansPioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-13
Mono-Green StompyMono-Green Stompy GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kraul Harpooner has an undergrowth ability, granting you the advantage of utilizing creatures in your graveyard. By counting the number of creature cards in your graveyard, the Harpooner can potentially gain a significant amount of power, potentially removing a key flying creature your opponent controls when it enters the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While Kraul Harpooner doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in terms of mana, it allows you to manage your resources effectively. It serves as both an early game blocker and a removal for flying creatures, potentially saving the mana and cards that would otherwise be spent on removal spells.

Instant Speed: Kraul Harpooner operates at quasi-instant speed through its ability to trigger when it enters the battlefield during your turn. It can act as a surprise blocker or immediately deal with an opponent’s flying threat, adding a level of tactical surprise to your game plan without having to wait for sorcery speed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Some may find Kraul Harpooner’s need to discard a card for added benefits a drawback, especially when card advantage is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Kraul Harpooner demands green mana, potentially restricting it to green-centered or two-color decks, affecting its versatility in deck building.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its mana cost is on the higher end for its stats and immediate impact, making it less attractive compared to other low-cost creatures with similar or better effects.


Reasons to Include Kraul Harpooner in Your Collection

Versatility: Kraul Harpooner is a flexible addition to any green-based deck that appreciates creature control. Its ability to leverage both a powerful enter-the-battlefield effect and function as an aggressive early game creature make it suited for a range of strategies.

Combo Potential: With its undergrowth ability, the power of Kraul Harpooner scales with the number of creature cards in your graveyard. This presents opportunities to craft synergies with self-mill decks or strategies that fill the graveyard for added benefits.

Meta-Relevance: In environments dominated by flyers, Kraul Harpooner secures its place by effectively countering popular flying threats. Due to its natural fit in the current game dynamics, having it in your repertoire makes for a prudent strategic choice.


How to beat

The Kraul Harpooner is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that poses a significant threat to flying creatures. When this undergrowth-powered insect warrior enters the battlefield, it gains a crucial attack boost for each creature card in the graveyard, hitching its might to your graveyard’s stockpile of fallen comrades. While it’s an agile threat, direct removal spells are a reliable method to clear the path. Cards like Fatal Push or Cast Down can efficiently dispatch the Harpooner, irrespective of the ground-swell of power it holds.

Focusing on prevention is equally effective—denying your opponent the chance to build a substantial graveyard limits the Harpooner’s impact. Graveyard-hosing spells such as Relic of Progenitus keep graveyards in check, thus anchoring the Harpooner’s potential. Then, there’s always the option of side-stepping the main confrontation; if flying creatures are essential to your strategy, enchantments such as Spider Umbra can provide a buffer by bestowing reach, letting you take down the Harpooner without sacrificing board presence.

In essence, mastering the matchup against Kraul Harpooner hinges on managing the battlefield and graveyard, ensuring that this potent insect doesn’t escalate into an overwhelming force on the green-hued fields of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering your MTG collection means seeking out the diamonds in the rough like Kraul Harpooner. This card’s unique undergrowth ability enriches green-centric decks with a tactical edge against the airborne threats that dominate many game boards. If you’re in pursuit of an adaptable card that thrives on your graveyard’s depth and offers a concrete body to bolster your line-up, Kraul Harpooner is worth considering. Its capacity to turn the tide in your favor should not be underestimated. Dive deeper into deck-building strategies, and discover how Kraul Harpooner can be the keystone for your next powerful green deck. Tap into its potential and explore further with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kraul Harpooner MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Kraul Harpooner and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kraul Harpooner Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 1362015NormalBlackKev Walker
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 6832015NormalBlackKev Walker
32024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 1672015NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kraul Harpooner has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-10-05 Because tokens aren’t cards, they never count for undergrowth abilities.
2018-10-05 Creature cards with other types, such as artifact creature cards, count for undergrowth abilities.
2018-10-05 If you choose a target and the target creature is an illegal target when Kraul Harpooner’s ability tries to resolve, the ability doesn’t resolve and Kraul Harpooner doesn’t get +X/+0. If the target creature is legal but Kraul Harpooner is no longer on the battlefield, the target creature won’t deal or be dealt damage.
2018-10-05 If you don’t choose a target creature, Kraul Harpooner simply gets +X/+0 until end of turn.
2018-10-05 The value of X is determined only as the undergrowth ability resolves. If the number of creature cards in your graveyard changes later in the turn, Kraul Harpooner is unaffected.
2018-10-05 You choose the target of the triggered ability (or that it has no target) as it goes on the stack, but you choose whether the creatures fight as that ability resolves.