Horrible Hordes MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Spirit
Abilities	Rampage
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	304
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ian Miller

Key Takeaways

Horrible Hordes excels in providing card advantage through token generation, a key to winning matches.
The card enhances resource acceleration, turning creature swarms into a potent mana source.
Instant speed casting allows for strategic flexibility and surprise, disrupting opponents’ plans.

Text of card

Rampage 1 (For each creature assigned to block it beyond the first, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)

Few are able to underestimate the hordes.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Horrible Hordes shines when it comes to granting players additional creatures on the battlefield. By creating multiple tokens, you effectively gain several cards worth of value with a single card, drastically tipping the scale of card advantage in your favor during a match.

Resource Acceleration: As Horrible Hordes generates a multitude of creature tokens, it indirectly supports strategies hinging on resource acceleration. These tokens can work in tandem with sacrifice outlets or synergize with other cards, transforming a swarm of seemingly modest creatures into valuable resources that vault you ahead of your opponent in terms of board presence and potential mana assets.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Horrible Hordes is further expanded by its ability to be cast at instant speed. This characteristic allows savvy players to wait for the perfect moment during an opponent’s turn to unleash a surge of tokens, thus maximizing surprise and strategic depth. Being prepared to deploy threats at any given instance adds a layer of complexity and unpredictability to your game plan which can be a pivotal factor in overwhelming your opponent.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Horrible Hordes demands you to send a card from your hand to the graveyard to play it, posing a challenge when your card advantage is already waning.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Horrible Hordes requires a precise combination of mana types, potentially complicating its inclusion in multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value, Horrible Hordes enters a competitive slot where numerous alternatives may present more impactful board presences or provide greater value immediately upon casting.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Horrible Hordes offers a unique flexibility in deck-building, adapting effortlessly to strategies th\at desire a swarm of creatures. Its ability to scale based on game progression means it will always provide some level of impact on the board, no matter when it’s played.

Combo Potential: With the right synergies, Horrible Hordes’ creature tokens can unlock powerful combinations, especially in decks that capitalize on creature numbers for buffs or those utilizing sacrifice mechanics for additional benefits.

Meta-Relevance: Given the trend of creature-centric decks in the current competitive scene, having Horrible Hordes could serve as a counterbalance, allowing for rapid board presence potentially overwhelming opponents unprepared for a sudden surge of creatures.

How to beat

Overcoming the challenge of Horrible Hordes in your MTG gameplay requires a blend of timely disruption and strategic control. This card, which can overwhelm opponents with a multitude of token creatures, behaves much like other token generators that populate the board quickly. To counteract this advantage, you might focus on sweepers or board clearing spells, which can reset the board and remove the multitude of tokens in one fell swoop. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation are quintessential picks, capable of leveling the playing field against such swarm strategies.

Targeted removal, while useful, isn’t as efficient in this scenario due to the sheer volume of creatures Horrible Hordes generates. Instead, look towards utilizing spells with ‘each creature’ wording or leveraging the benefits of spells with exile effects to prevent recurring threats from graveyard interactions. Additionally, employing cards with the ‘deathtouch’ ability can act as deterrence, making your opponent think twice before attacking.

Ultimately, players facing down Horrible Hordes should consider their deck’s capability to manage multiple threats simultaneously. Integrating sweepers and enforcing a strong control game plan will vastly improve your chances against this swarm-inducing card and lead you towards victory.

Cards like Horrible Hordes

In the realm of creature-based strategies, Horrible Hordes stands out with its unique approach to amassing a formidable army on the battlefield. Its nearest kin within Magic: The Gathering are cards such as Assembly-Worker, which also revolves around the concept of token generation. However, Horrible Hordes takes it up a notch by not only creating token creatures but also allowing them to tap for mana, much like a walking mana ramp.

Another comparable card is Myr Turbine. This artifact, akin to Horrible Hordes, is an engine for token production, specifically Myr tokens, which can also be utilized as mana sources similar to the Hordes. Though Myr Turbine has the added benefit of fetching any Myr card from your deck, Horrible Hordes excels in raw mana acceleration. Then there’s Krenko, Mob Boss, which doubles the number of Goblin tokens you control each time it taps. Whilst Krenko strictly generates Goblins, Horrible Hordes offers more flexibility in token types, potentially adapting better to various deck themes.

Evaluating these alternatives highlights Horrible Hordes’ versatility and potential to unlock explosive turns with both creature and mana advantages, making it a potent card for players who thrive on building substantial board presence in MTG.

Cards similar to Horrible Hordes by color, type and mana cost

Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Horrible Hordes MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Horrible Hordes and other MTG cards: