Clockwork Vorrac MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Boar Beast
Abilities	Trample
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Power	0
Toughness	0
Number	156
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Arnie Swekel

Key Takeaways

Clockwork Vorrac gradually grows stronger, compelling opponents to address its presence or risk escalation.
The creature provides incremental value, a robust tool for decks focused on counter manipulation.
Its battlefield impact and potential growth make it a strategic choice against diverse opponents.

Text of card

Trample Clockwork Vorrac comes into play with four +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever Clockwork Vorrac attacks or blocks, remove a +1/+1 counter from it at end of combat. : Put a +1/+1 counter on Clockwork Vorrac.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Clockwork Vorrac doesn’t necessarily put extra cards directly into your hands, but it offers a different type of advantage by constantly threatening to get bigger through its ability. This stable presence on the board can force your opponent to deal with it, potentially saving your more valuable cards from removal.

Resource Acceleration: While Clockwork Vorrac doesn’t create mana, it is a creature that can be played early and grow over time, which means you effectively accelerate the impact of your resources. Each +1/+1 counter that Vorrac accrues represents an incremental accumulation of power without additional investment.

Instant Speed: Clockwork Vorrac operates at sorcery speed as most creatures do. However, its ability to gain counters can influence the state of the battlefield at crucial moments. The capacity to beef it up just before damage is dealt, or when no blockers are declared, can turn the tides of a game unexpectedly, providing a strategic advantage akin to using an instant.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Clockwork Vorrac doesn’t have a discard mechanic, however, it does have upkeep requirements that could be seen as a resource strain. You need to constantly ensure you are putting +1/+1 counters on it or it may become weaker over time, which is similar to a resource cost.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three generic and one green mana, this artifact creature’s mana requirement could be challenging in multicolored decks that are mana-hungry for other colors. This makes it less flexible in decks that aren’t heavily green-based.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Clockwork Vorrac can be a sturdy creature, its initial cost of four mana might be considered high considering its base 0/0 stats. To fully utilize its potential, additional mana needs to be invested, which could otherwise be spent on creatures that provide immediate impact on the board.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Clockwork Vorrac can be a robust addition to any deck that thrives on manipulating counters. Its adaptability shines in builds where +1/+1 counters are a focal point, allowing for dynamic synergy with a variety of support cards.

Combo Potential: This artifact creature offers a unique angle for combos, particularly in decks that capitalize on counter doubling effects or those that benefit from modular abilities. Its innate capability to accumulate and redistribute power makes it a linchpin in inventive strategies.

Meta-Relevance: With the right setup, Clockwork Vorrac can play a significant role against decks that focus on stalling the board. As the game advances, its capacity to grow and maintain pressure makes it an asset in numerous match-ups, enabling it to adapt to shifting metagames.

How to beat

Clockwork Vorrac presents an interesting challenge on the Magic: The Gathering battlefield with its counter-based mechanics that can make it a formidable creature. Its power adjusts with the number of +1/+1 counters it possesses, which can fluctuate and provide your opponent with a recurring threat. Unlike other creatures that might hold consistent power and toughness, Clockwork Vorrac’s unique ability to regain counters every upkeep makes it resilient.

However, despite this strength, there are efficient ways to address Clockwork Vorrac. The key to triumph lies in managing its counters. Utilizing cards that remove counters like Vampire Hexmage can instantly neutralize Clockwork Vorrac’s threat. Another strategy involves employing removal spells that don’t deal damage but rather send the creature straight to the graveyard; think Path to Exile or Go for the Throat.

Timing also plays a crucial role when facing Clockwork Vorrac. Engaging it in combat when it has the fewest counters, hence the weakest, can be a wise tactic. Additionally, creating a deck that can outpace or fly over Vorrac’s terrestrial might with flying creatures or overwhelming it with a mass of tokens suggests other various pathways to victory. By considering these strategies, Clockwork Vorrac becomes less daunting, allowing you to maintain control of the game.

Cards like Clockwork Vorrac

Clockwork Vorrac is an intriguing mechanical creature in Magic: The Gathering, drawing parallels with other artifact creatures that work off counters. For example, Triskelion presents a utility in dealing direct damage to any target through removing +1/+1 counters. Contrarily, Clockwork Vorrac increases its power with every attack, though it requires consistent counter replenishment to maintain its strength, making it akin to a ticking time element in your strategy.

Compelling comparisons can be drawn with Arcbound Reclaimer, which also leverages counters but centers its ability on retrieving other artifacts from your graveyard. Both present incremental value but with distinct applications. Where Clockwork Vorrac is about accumulating and wielding power, Arcbound Reclaimer is a key piece for recursive artifact strategies. Additionally, like Clockwork Vorrac, Workhorse uses counters to fuel its ability, except it’s focused on mana generation. Workhorse can deplete itself to ramp your mana availability, a different tactical approach compared to Clockwork Vorrac’s combat potency.

Considering these counterparts, Clockwork Vorrac offers a unique blend of aggressive potential and capability to turn the tide in protracted battles, positioning itself as a versatile choice among artifact creatures with counter-based mechanics in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Clockwork Vorrac by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Clockwork Vorrac MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Clockwork Vorrac and other MTG cards: