Magmasaur MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 188
2015-05-06 - Number 141
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elemental Dinosaur |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 0 |
Text of card
Magmasaur comes into play with five +1/+1 counters on it. During your upkeep, remove a +1/+1 counter from Magmasaur, or sacrifice Magmasaur and it deals 1 damage for each +1/+1 counter on it to each creature without flying and each player.
Cards like Magmasaur
In the passionate and strategic world of Magic: The Gathering, cards like Magmasaur bring unique mechanics to the game’s vibrant ecosystem of creatures. When exploring cards with a similar impact, one could look at Inferno Elemental for its hefty damage delivery upon attacking. Both cards possess the potential to drastically affect the board state, though Magmasaur requires a prerequisite of no cards in hand to survive maintenance.
Another creature that echoes Magmasaur’s fiery nature is Shard Phoenix, which can also be sacrificed for area damage. While Shard Phoenix offers a recurring advantage with its buyback ability, Magmasaur offers a larger base damage output upon death. Furthermore, comparing it to cards like Spark Elemental reveals differences in longevity and impact. Spark Elemental provides an immediate, one-time effect, whereas Magmasaur may stick around, posing a threat each turn its condition is met.
Assessing these fiery inhabitants of MTG, Magmasaur holds its ground, especially in decks designed to manipulate hand size. Its presence on the battlefield can be strategically pivotal, making it an intriguing choice for players who enjoy a high-risk, high-reward playstyle.
Cards similar to Magmasaur by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Magmasaur has the potential to clear the board of smaller creatures, allowing you to maintain a card advantage by effectively dealing with multiple threats with a single card. This can lead to a significant swing in board state and card economy in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While Magmasaur itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its mere presence can change how your opponent allocates their resources, possibly delaying their development to avoid losing creatures to Magmasaur’s ability. This can indirectly accelerate your game plan by giving you a tempo advantage.
Instant Speed: The key strength of Magmasaur lies in its ability to be sacrificed at instant speed. This enables strategic flexibility, allowing you to respond to your opponents’ moves by threatening a board wipe during their turn. It can serve as a powerful deterrent, keeping your opponents wary of overcommitting to the board.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Magmasaur necessitates discarding a card from your hand, a drawback that can diminish your strategic options, especially when your hand is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Summoning Magmasaur requires a precise combination of mana, including red, which can make it challenging to integrate into multicolored decks that may have mana flexibility issues.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its base casting cost, Magmasaur comes with a relatively steep price for its abilities. Other creatures or spells in the same mana range might provide greater utility or lower-cost alternatives for similar effects.
Reasons to Include Magmasaur in Your Collection
Versatility: Magmasaur is a flexible addition to decks that capitalize on sacrifice mechanics or need a recurring threat. Its ability to adjust to various board states makes it a helpful card in multiple situations.
Combo Potential: With the right set of cards, Magmasaur can become a part of powerful combos, particularly in decks that manipulate +1/+1 counters or require elements to sacrifice for greater effects.
Meta-Relevance: Magmasaur shines in environments where creatures are key components of the meta. Its ability to wipe out smaller creatures each turn can disrupt opponent strategies and maintain board control.
How to beat
The Magmasaur is a formidable card, capable of shaking up the battlefield with its explosive ability. To successfully navigate a game against this particular card, it’s crucial to understand its strengths and play around them. With a high mana cost and its dependence on no lands being in hand, countering it requires a precise strategy.
Control decks have an inherent advantage, leveraging counter spells to prevent Magmasaur from hitting the field in the first place. Permission strategies are also effective, biding time and drawing out the game until your opponent is forced to play lands, thus nullifying the Magmasaur’s ability. Alternatively, removal spells are effective after its resolution if you can manage to keep your land count high and therefore its ability in check. Enchantment-based board control like ‘Pacifism’ or ‘Claustrophobia’ can also neutralize it without triggering its ability, providing a clear path to victory. Lastly, hand disruption spells can strip this threat from your opponent’s grip before it can ever impact the board.
In essence, while Magmasaur presents a significant threat on paper, a strategic approach utilizing disruption and control tactics can mitigate its impact and guide you to triumph over this fiery adversary.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Magmasaur MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Magmasaur 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Magmasaur Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Daniel Gelon.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 188 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 141 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Magmasaur has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |