Madrush Cyclops MTG Card


Its ability to grant haste encourages aggressive strategies and rapid board state advancement. Strategic deck building is required to maximize the cyclops’s potential and overcome its mana cost. Combos effectively with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects or attack synergies.
Madrush Cyclops - Alara Reborn
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Cyclops Warrior
Released2009-04-30
Set symbol
Set nameAlara Reborn
Set codeARB
Power 3
Toughness 4
Number119
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byWayne Reynolds

Text of card

Creatures you control have haste.

Death comes in the blink of an eye.


Cards like Madrush Cyclops

Madrush Cyclops is an intriguing creature amongst MTG’s array of offensive support cards. When evaluating its role in red-based aggro decks, it draws comparison to Ogre Battledriver. Both allow creatures to swing in without the usual summoning sickness delay, with the Battledriver offering an additional power boost to newly summoned creatures. However, Madrush Cyclops offers this haste ability to all your creatures without discrimination, which can be particularly overwhelming when commanding a wide board.

Some may also align Madrush Cyclops with Fires of Yavimaya, as both grant your creatures haste. Though the Fires enchantment may be less vulnerable to spot removal compared to a creature like Madrush Cyclops, it lacks the intimidation factor of a 3/4 body on the battlefield. On the flip side, the Cyclops is more susceptible to creature removal spells, which is an important strategic consideration when building your deck.

Considering these elements, Madrush Cyclops can be a game-changer in the right deck, especially when the strategy revolves around overwhelming your opponent with an army of creatures ready to attack without a moment’s delay.

Ogre Battledriver - MTG Card versions
Fires of Yavimaya - MTG Card versions
Ogre Battledriver - MTG Card versions
Fires of Yavimaya - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Madrush Cyclops doesn’t directly let you draw cards, but its ability to grant all your creatures haste could enable swift attacks leading to drawing extra cards from other card effects or simply by overwhelming your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Although this card doesn’t produce mana or tokens, its haste-enablement means you can utilize your creatures and their abilities the turn they come onto the battlefield, potentially ramping up your board state much quicker.

Instant Speed: While Madrush Cyclops itself is not an instant, it affects creatures that might have instant-speed interactions or flash, hence optimizing your tempo and letting you use creatures’ abilities as soon as they hit the field.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Madrush Cyclops might force you to strategize around the discard aspect, ensuring you have expendable cards to maintain an advantageous board state.

Specific Mana Cost: This Cyclops demands a dedicated color commitment with one red mana, possibly restricting it to red-inclusive decks or necessitating a well-tuned mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana in total, including one red, can be demanding when quicker options are available that might summon creatures with haste or provide immediate board impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Madrush Cyclops offers a unique ability to give all your creatures haste, which can be a game-changer across multiple deck archetypes. This ability allows for aggressive play strategies and lets you catch your opponents off-guard.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with creatures that have powerful enter-the-battlefield effects or creatures that grow stronger each time they attack. It can also act as a key piece in strategies aimed at overwhelming the opponent with a sudden swarm of creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where speed can often tip the scales in a player’s favor, Madrush Cyclops provides a significant advantage by ensuring that your creatures can impact the board immediately.


How to Beat

Madrush Cyclops is a potent force on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Known for its ability to grant creatures you control haste, it enables an aggressive strategy that can catch opponents off guard. To counter this, it’s crucial to manage the board state effectively. Removal spells like Murder or Path to Exile can take this card out before it can impact a game significantly. Board wipes like Wrath of God can clear the field of all creatures, including those suddenly imbued with haste.

Control decks leveraging counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent Madrush Cyclops from ever hitting the board. Furthermore, keeping instant-speed removal up can mitigate the advantage given by the Cyclops’s ability. Ensnaring creatures with enchantments that negate their abilities or prevent them from attacking, like Pacifism or Ice Over, can also reduce the threat level and keep the hasty onslaught at bay.

To summarize, overcoming the advantage Madrush Cyclops provides to an opponent’s creatures hinges on preparedness and timely removal. Having the right answers in your hand and managing your resources to anticipate such threats is key to maintaining control and emerging victorious.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of MTG requires more than just powerful cards; it demands a deep understanding of the strategies that turn a card like Madrush Cyclops into a true game-changer. Bearing its advantages and possible constraints in mind helps refine your deckbuilding and gameplay. Remember, every card decision counts, and even a Cyclops can open up paths to triumph with its fast-paced abilities. Dive deeper into strategic discussions, deck techs, and gameplay tips with us. We’re dedicated to enhancing your MTG prowess, helping you to not just play, but outplay. Ready to harness the might of haste? Learn more and let each match reveal the cunning tactician in you.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Madrush Cyclops MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Madrush Cyclops and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Madrush Cyclops has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-05-01 Madrush Cyclops gives itself haste.