Muscle Burst MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2001-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Odyssey |
| Set code | ODY |
| Number | 252 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Gary Ruddell |
Text of card
Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is 3 plus the number of Muscle Burst cards in all graveyards.
As strong as a centaur's will.
Cards like Muscle Burst
Muscle Burst offers players a unique strength boost in MTG’s vast array of combat trick cards. Resembling Giant Growth, a staple that grants a creature +3/+3 until end of turn, Muscle Burst adjusts its power based on the number of cards named Muscle Burst in your graveyard. While both cards are designed to surprise opponents during combat, Muscle Burst potentially offers a larger increase in power and toughness, though it requires a more specific set-up.
Another analogous card is Brute Force, which gives a creature +3/+3 until end of turn for a single red mana. Although costing one less mana makes Brute Force more mana-efficient, Muscle Burst’s power can scale dramatically, particularly in a deck designed to utilize its abilities fully. Then we have Invigorate, which has the distinct advantage of potentially being free if you control a Forest and are willing to give an opponent 3 life. While Muscle Burst lacks the cost flexibility of Invigorate, it can turn a minor threat into a major player on the battlefield, capable of turning the tide in a tightly contested game.
Within the context of muscle-flexing spells in MTG, Muscle Burst commands a spotlight for its scalability and surprise potential, distinguishing itself among the ranks of creature-boosting cards.
Cards similar to Muscle Burst by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Muscle Burst showcases its might by potentially adding significant damage to a creature during combat. While it doesn’t directly draw cards, the potential to remove an opponent’s creature while keeping your own can lead to an indirect card advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While Muscle Burst doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the affordable casting cost of this spell means you can efficiently allocate mana to both develop your board and keep Muscle Burst at the ready, optimizing resource use during crucial turns.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Muscle Burst provides the flexibility to wait until the optimal moment during combat to unleash its power. This can turn the tides dramatically, catching opponents off guard and potentially leading to favorable trades or unexpected wins.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Muscle Burst doesn’t force you to discard cards, it necessitates having cards in the graveyard to maximize its power. This can be a setback in early game or if your deck isn’t built to willingly send cards to the graveyard.
Specific Mana Cost: Muscle Burst requires one green mana, making it exclusive to decks that run green or have a mana base built to accommodate multicolored strategies. This inflexibility can hamper deck variety and integration.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a pumping spell, Muscle Burst’s cost might be steep considering the need to have multiple copies, or cards with the same name, in the graveyard to get the best results. Other green spells could offer more efficient creature enhancement at a lower cost or without the graveyard dependency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Muscle Burst offers an efficient way to increase your creature’s power, fitting seamlessly into aggressive strategies that prioritize swift damage delivery.
Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that utilize ‘Threshold’ or manipulate the graveyard, often turning a decent attacker into a game-ending threat.
Meta-Relevance: With decks that focus on quickly filling the graveyard, Muscle Burst can become a consistent and unexpectedly powerful tool against various opponents.
How to beat
Muscle Burst presents itself as a prominent card in the aggressive decks of Magic: The Gathering, known for its potential to drastically increase a creature’s power during combat. Decisive for surprise wins, it can become a daunting obstacle when the grave is stacked with copies. To outmaneuver this potent card, a strategy involving disruption and control can be effective. Consider employing removal spells post-stacking to minimize the impact before the cards hit the graveyard, thus rendering Muscle Burst less imposing.
Control tactics, time your spells, and keep pace with the Muscle Burst’s imminent threat. Strategic planning and instant-speed interaction are key. Employing counterspells like Counterspell or Negate can neutralize Muscle Burst before it boosts the creature, while instant removal such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can dispose of the creature in response, negating the card’s effect altogether. It’s also helpful to manage opponents’ graveyards using cards like Relic of Progenitus or Bojuka Bog, decreasing the potency of Muscle Burst indirectly. Adaptability, preemptive disruption, and informed gameplay will provide the advantage needed to surpass the challenge Muscle Burst brings to the table.
Ultimately, enduring against a Muscle Burst requires a blend of foresight and quick action. By understanding the mechanics and preparing your deck with effective countermeasures, you maintain an advantageous position against this powerful card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Muscle Burst MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Muscle Burst and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Muscle Burst has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |