Ashenmoor Gouger MTG Card

Shadowmoor (SHM)
2008-05-02 - Number 180

Ashenmoor Gouger - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)

Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
2015-05-22 - Number 190

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental Warrior
Power	4
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Affordable cost and 4/4 stats make it a valuable aggressive play, enhancing board control early in the game.
The Rakdos mana requirement shapes deck-building decisions, influencing color commitment for optimized play.
Immunity to certain removal spells underscores its strategic use against decks reliant on targeted spell-based answers.

Text of card

Ashenmoor Gouger can't block.

After his hands had crumbled away, leaving only wickedly sharp points, he decided his only purpose was war.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Ashenmoor Gouger itself may not directly provide card draw, its resilient nature means it often remains on the battlefield, effectively denying opponents the card advantage they might gain from removing a less sturdy creature.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly increase your mana pool, but its affordable cost for a solid 4/4 body allows for aggressive board presence without a large resource investment, thus indirectly accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: Ashenmoor Gouger doesn’t have instant speed or related abilities. However, its enduring presence can influence opponents to play differently, perhaps holding back instant speed removal in anticipation of bigger threats, which can be an indirect strategic advantage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ashenmoor Gouger does not impose a discard requirement on its controller, allowing players to maintain card advantage while deploying this creature to the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost requiring both red and black mana, Ashenmoor Gouger demands a dedication to a Rakdos color scheme, potentially limiting its incorporation into decks with a broader color identity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana, including one red and one black, Ashenmoor Gouger may compete with other three-drops in the aggressive slot that offer additional abilities or a stronger board presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ashenmoor Gouger can be a solid addition to aggressive decks seeking resilient threats. Its immunity to “destroy” spells due to Hybrid mana cost makes it a reliable creature on the battlefield against removal-heavy decks.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in environments that benefit from high attack points for low-cost creatures. It complements strategies that capitalize on power-based triggers or effects from cards, synergizing well with cards that boost power or utilize power for alternative effects.

Meta-Relevance: Ashenmoor Gouger stands strong in a meta that rewards quick and sturdy creatures. It can swing in without fear against control decks that rely on spell-based removal, making it a valuable card for pacing the tempo of the match in your favor.

How to beat

Ashenmoor Gouger is a resilient creature card that can be quite a headache for players who are not prepared to face its menace. The card possesses not only a decent body of stats but also the inability to be targeted by spells or abilities that consist of one or two colors, making it almost immune to a good part of targeted removal that’s prevalent in many MTG decks.

When devising tactics to outmaneuver Ashenmoor Gouger, one must turn to colorless mechanisms, such as artifacts or the broad-reaching sweep of board clearing spells. Board wipes that do not discriminate by color, like Damnation or Supreme Verdict, can efficiently handle the Gouger without needing to directly target it. In the same manner, artifacts with the ability to exile or force sacrifices, such as Perilous Vault or Attrition, can also bypass the protective veil around this daunting creature.

Ultimately, planning ahead and incorporating non-targeted or colorless means into your deck can give you the upper hand against Ashenmoor Gouger, ensuring that its presence on the battlefield is short-lived, and your path to victory remains unimpeded by its otherwise formidable stature.

Cards like Ashenmoor Gouger

Within Magic: The Gathering, Ashenmoor Gouger makes its mark as a formidable creature. Comparable in aggression to cards like Gore-House Chainwalker, the Gouger boasts an immunity to counter spells due to its key trait, can’t be countered. Where Gore-House Chainwalker can potentially be stopped in its tracks, Ashenmoor Gouger ensures its presence on the battlefield.

Another rival for board dominance is Lava-Born Muse. While the Muse offers a supplementary ability to force card discard when an opponent has a low hand, it lacks the sheer indestructibility granted to Ashenmoor Gouger by its protection from white. This strategic advantage makes the Gouger a persistent threat to opponents fielding white defenses.

Moreover, Shaman of the Great Hunt provides card draw and buffing abilities to creatures as they deal combat damage, a synergy potential that may seem missing in the Gouger. However, the latter’s simplicity and guarantee of evading counters is a straightforward boon in red decks emphasizing guaranteed creature deployment. When these aspects are considered, the Ashenmoor Gouger holds its ground as a solid choice for players seeking resilient and predictable creature performance in their MTG strategies.

Gore-House Chainwalker - MTG Card versions

Shaman of the Great Hunt - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ashenmoor Gouger by color, type and mana cost

Vial Smasher the Fierce - MTG Card versions

Lyzolda, the Blood Witch - MTG Card versions

Xantcha, Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ashenmoor Gouger MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Ashenmoor Gouger and other MTG cards: