Flailing Manticore MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Manticore
Abilities	First strike,Flying
Released	1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mercadian Masques
Set code	MMQ
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	187
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Roger Raupp

Key Takeaways

Flailing Manticore delivers impactful board presence and direct damage, enhancing overall card advantage.
Its mana flexibility and instant speed play elevate strategic gameplay and resource acceleration.
However, it has trade-offs, including a discard prerequisite and specific mana costs that can limit play.

Text of card

Flying, first strike o1: Flailing Manticore gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Any player may play this ability. o1: Flailing Manticore gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Any player may play this ability.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Flailing Manticore is a versatile creature card, offering players the potential to deal damage upon entering the battlefield. By targeting either another creature or player directly, it can shift the board state in your favor, creating both an immediate impact and long-term advantage.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s casting cost includes a combination of both generic and red mana, which aligns well with decks focusing on red mana ramping. The flexible casting cost aids in efficient resource management, ensuring that you can deploy this threat while progressing your game plan effectively.

Instant Speed: The Flailing Manticore’s ability to act at instant speed gives players the strategic upper hand, allowing for reactive plays during the opponent’s turn. It shines in situations where you need to surprise an opponent with a sudden blocker or when timing is critical to disrupt enemy strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the hindrances of Flailing Manticore is its discard condition, whereby a player must let go of another card from their hand to leverage its ability. This could strain hand advantage, especially in the late game when options are thin on the ground.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both red and other colors, Flailing Manticore’s mana cost can be restrictive. It fits predominantly in decks that can reliably produce the necessary mana, potentially limiting its application across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Standing at a higher mana value, this creature might not be as cost-effective compared to other options available in the format. Decks aiming for efficiency might skip over it in favor of creatures that punch above their weight without such a steep initial investment.

Reasons to Include Flailing Manticore in Your Collection

Versatility: Flailing Manticore is a unique addition to any MTG player’s arsenal. Its ability to engage in combat as a flyer makes it a versatile threat across multiple phases of the game. It thrives in decks that can manipulate or take advantage of its flail ability for strategic plays.

Combo Potential: This creature’s varied abilities enable it to synergize with strategies that capitalize on flying creatures or damage-based effects. It can be an integral part of combos that require a creature with a specific set of abilities, adding a layer of complexity to your game plans.

Meta-Relevance: Due to its hybrid mana cost and potential for immediate impact on the board, Flailing Manticore remains relevant, particularly in a meta that favors quick and adaptable threats. Its presence alone can shift opponent strategies, giving you a psychological edge in matches.

How to beat

The Flailing Manticore card presents an engaging challenge in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering. It’s a dynamic creature that often forces opponents to make difficult decisions. Its ability to fly gives it a tactical edge, capable of soaring over ground-based defenses. What truly stands out, however, is its fairly balanced attack and defense statistics, paired with the potential to deal additional damage each turn. This makes it a substantial threat on the field.

Overcoming the Flailing Manticore requires strategic play. Utilizing removal spells or abilities that bypass its flying capability, such as “Murder” or “Path to Exile”, can efficiently dispatch it from the battlefield. Alternatively, properly timing the spells to negate any additional damage it might deal during your turn is crucial. As the Manticore thrives in situations where it can consistently attack, preventing it from attacking through “Pacifism” or keeping it tapped with “Frost Lynx” can negate its impact. Timing and resource management are key in handling this multifaceted card.

Ultimately, while the Flailing Manticore brings a strong presence to the board, with the right countermeasures and a proactive approach to controlling the board state, you can nullify its advantages and maintain dominance in your matches.

Cards like Flailing Manticore

Flailing Manticore is a standout creature in the Magic: The Gathering arena, nestled within a family of flying creatures with added flexibility. Much like its cousin Skarrgan Skybreaker, which delivers a direct damage bonus in addition to its flying trait, Flailing Manticore offers players a reactive way to disrupt opponents with its first-strike feature. Both have the potential to dramatically shift the tide of combat in the air.

Meanwhile, creatures like Viashino Sandscout echo the Manticore’s agility, though it’s designed for more temporary battlefield presence. Unlike the Manticore’s sustained combat role, the Sandscout’s return-to-hand mechanism optimizes it for repeated castings. Comparatively, Flailing Manticore presents a more persistent threat on the board.

Considering these parallels, Flailing Manticore finds its niche among MTG creatures with similar costs. It’s the combination of flying, first strike, and additional options during gameplay that gives this card its unique edge in duels. A multifaceted tool indeed for those looking to dominate the skies and surprise their adversaries with deft, tactical maneuvers.

Cards similar to Flailing Manticore by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flailing Manticore MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Flailing Manticore and other MTG cards: