Albino Troll MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 231
1999-08-04 - Number ml231
2014-12-05 - Number 3
2002-06-24 - Number 36122
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Troll |
| Abilities | Echo |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Albino Troll’s regenerate ability offers persistent board presence, outlasting many threats other creatures would succumb to.
- Its early game potential due to the Echo cost accelerates board dominance and pressures opponents from the outset.
- Instant speed regeneration allows tactical responses to threats, bolstering defensive capabilities and surprising opponents.
Text of card
Echo (During your next upkeep after this permanent comes under your control, pay its casting cost or sacrifice it.) o1oo G Regenerate Albino Troll.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The regenerate ability of Albino Troll provides resilience on the battlefield, allowing it to survive situations that would remove other creatures, effectively preserving your card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Albino Troll can be played early in the game thanks to its Echo cost, giving you a significant presence on the board and accelerating your resource advantage over the opponent.
Instant Speed: The ability to regenerate at instant speed makes Albino Troll a flexible defender during combat or in response to removal spells, allowing for strategic plays that can surprise an adversary and sustain your board state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Being on the battlefield, Albino Troll requires you to exert resources to keep it active. If it is targeted for removal, you may lose the card and the mana you invested, which can be particularly frustrating if your hand is already depleted.
Specific Mana Cost: Albino Troll’s reliance on green mana can restrict its integration into multicolored decks. While its summoning cost is not overly complex, being primarily green means it fits best in mono-green or decks where green mana is abundant.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two green mana, Albino Troll is not the most mana-efficient creature compared to others in the two-mana slot. In competitive play, where deck efficiency is key, this can be seen as a drawback, as there are other creatures that provide more value or versatility for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Albino Troll in Your Collection
Versatility: Albino Troll offers flexibility for green aggro or midrange decks, excelling in a role that craves resilient creatures. Its regeneration ability ensures it sticks around after most combat scenarios or removal attempts.
Combo Potential: This creature pairs well with cards that synergize with creatures entering the battlefield repeatedly, thanks to its Echo cost allowing for multiple castings in a game. It works well with cards that capitalize on creature survival as well.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors quick board development and the ability to bounce back after board wipes, Albino Troll’s ability to regenerate can prove invaluable. It ensures a consistent threat presence against control or tempo decks that rely on removing key creatures.
How to beat
The Albino Troll is a steadfast creature card famous for its robustness on the battlefield. Known for its regenerating ability, it’s a reliable force that can be a real thorn in your opponent’s side. However, this doesn’t make it unbeatable. Disrupting an Albino Troll’s presence hinges on strategy and suitable countermeasures.
One effective approach is to utilize cards that can bypass its regeneration, such as those inflicting ‘-1/-1’ counters or applying exile effects. Engaging in combat isn’t the only way to deal with it; spells capable of forcing a sacrifice or providing exile options can be pivotal in taking the Troll off the board for good. Furthermore, since regeneration requires mana, strategically timing your removal spells can exploit moments when your opponent is tapped out and unable to protect their creature.
In essence, defeating an Albino Troll is about smart play and having the right answers at the right time. Incorporating versatile removal into your deck can be the key to overcoming resilient creatures and maintaining control of the game.
Cards like Albino Troll
The Albino Troll stands out as an enduring creature card that Magic: The Gathering players recognize for its Echo and Regeneration abilities. If we delve into cards with a semblance to this formidable Troll, we notice Llanowar Elves, which is known for its mana acceleration, despite lacking the same staying power. Both cards are green and share an affinity with natural, creature-focused decks.
Moving on, Thrun, the Last Troll is another card that shares some lineage with Albino Troll. Thrun brings to the table an uncounterable ability as well as regeneration, allowing it to resist elimination. However, it’s positioned at a higher mana cost and complexity than the straightforwardly formidable Albino Troll.
Lastly, Leatherback Baloth can be mentioned for its sheer power as a creature for its cost, much like Albino Troll offers robustness for its mana investment. While Leatherback Baloth does not have the regenerative resilience, it does boast substantial toughness without the drawback of an Echo cost.
Albino Troll thereby secures a unique place among green creatures in MTG. Its combination of Echo and the potential for regeneration sets it apart in matches where constancy and resilience are pivotal to a player’s strategy.
Cards similar to Albino Troll by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Albino Troll MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and World Championship Decks 1999, 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 Albino Troll and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Albino Troll Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by Paolo Parente.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 231 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Paolo Parente | |
| 2 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | ml231 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Paolo Parente | |
| 3 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36122 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Paolo Parente | ||
| 4 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana | GVL | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Paolo Parente |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Albino Troll has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
