Megatog MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Atog
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	100
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

Megatog excels in artifact-dense environments, converting idle resources into significant combat advantages.
Its ability for instant power boosts can surprise opponents, often changing the course of the game.
Deploying Megatog requires careful mana management and a strategy for maintaining artifact supply.

Text of card

Sacrifice an artifact: Megatog gets +3/+3 and gains trample until end of turn.

In an ironic bit of evolution, the megatog's dozens of teeth are mainly ornamental. It prefers swallowing things whole.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Megatog thrives in an environment rich with artifacts, allowing you to savor the delight of transforming idle items into pure power. As you sacrifice nonessential artifacts to beef up Megatog, you not only build a formidable creature but also feed into strategies that benefit from items entering the graveyard, turning potential lulls in action into a strategic upper hand.

Resource Acceleration: Dominating the battlefield requires more than sheer force; it demands speed and cunning. By converting expendable artifacts into a surge of strength, Megatog accelerates your offensive capabilities, potentially springing from a manageable threat to an overwhelming force in a single turn cycle. This quick power boost can be instrumental in overtaking opponents before they have time to marshal their defenses.

Instant Speed: Flexibility is a tool of the skilled player, and Megatog’s ability to bulk up at instant speed cannot be overstated. This permits strategic sacrifices during the heat of combat or in response to an opponent’s moves, catching them off-guard and turning their strategies against them. Additionally, instant speed reactions mean Megatog can grow unexpectedly, turning the tides of battle and acting as a deterrent against enemy actions geared towards your artifacts.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Megatog demands a hefty price, necessitating the discard of an artifact to activate its ability. This can quickly deplete your hand and resources, especially in a game where each card in play is vital for maintaining an edge over the opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning Megatog requires a precise combination of mana, including both generic and red. This can hinder its inclusion in multicolored decks that may not have a steady source of red mana, thereby limiting its versatility across different deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial investment of six mana to bring Megatog onto the battlefield, players may find themselves at a tempo disadvantage. In the fast-paced environment of the game, investing such a large amount of mana might not be the most effective use of one’s resources, particularly when there are other, more mana-efficient creatures that could be played instead.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Megatog’s ability to fit into a range of artifact-heavy decks makes it a valuable addition to any collection. Its synergy with numerous other cards can solidify many game strategies, especially in environments where sacrificing artifacts is beneficial.

Combo Potential: With the capacity to grow exponentially in power and toughness, Megatog serves as a win condition in its own right. Its combo potential with cards that produce copious amounts of artifacts can suddenly turn the tide of a game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where artifact decks are prominent, incorporating Megatog can provide a competitive edge. Its ability to apply pressure and threaten massive damage aligns perfectly with certain game phases, making it a crucial card against various control and combo decks.

How to beat

Megatog is a formidable artifact creature known for its potential to rapidly grow in power and toughness within Magic: The Gathering games. This card becomes a threat primarily due to its ability to sacrifice artifacts, which bolsters its strength significantly for each artifact consumed. Players facing this monster must prioritize the management of artifacts on the battlefield, ensuring that the arsenal of disposable items is kept to a minimum.

Control decks that include countermagic or removal spells can be particularly effective when dealing with Megatog. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares remove the creature outright, negating any setup your opponent has invested in. Edict effects, which force the opponent to sacrifice a creature, are also a savvy countermeasure, as these can sometimes circumvent the traditional protection strategies an opponent might deploy around their Megatog.

Overall, a strategic approach that involves keeping the battlefield clear of artifacts, timely removal, and keeping pressure on your opponent’s resources can turn the tide against Megatog. As a player, always be mindful of its presence in the archetype and prepare your deck with answers that can neutralize this mechanical giant before it becomes an insurmountable threat.

Cards like Megatog

Megatog, a formidable force in the Magic: The Gathering universe, belongs to the artifact creature realm where voracious Tog creatures consume artifacts to fuel their power. It’s akin to its relative, Atog, which also gains strength through artifact sacrifices. However, Megatog makes a bigger impact on the battlefield with its trample ability, allowing it to carry over lethal damage beyond blocker elimination. This characteristic positions it as a more threatening aggressor than Atog.

Examining its larger counterpart, Psychatog, we see a parallel in the sacrificing strategy for power growth. Unlike Megatog, Psychatog sacrifices cards from the hand or graveyard instead of artifacts, with a different strategic angle. Megatog requires a more artifact-dense deck to reach its full potential, while Psychatog operates within graveyard and hand management strategies.

Highlighting these comparisons demonstrates Megatog’s niche in MTG gameplay. It’s specially tailored for artifact-rich environments where it can become the apex predator, outscaling similar creatures and potentially swinging games with its hefty attacks and artifact synergy.

Cards similar to Megatog by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Megatog 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 Megatog and other MTG cards: