Savage Knuckleblade MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 197
2019-11-07 - Number 1480
2020-09-26 - Number KTK-197
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Ogre Warrior |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Offers card advantage by demanding opponents’ attention, either by attacking or absorbing resources.
- Flexibly uses mana and can adapt to the game’s flow with instant speed abilities.
- While powerful, it requires a specific mana base, which may limit deck inclusion.
Text of card
: Savage Knuckleblade gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Activate this ability only once each turn. : Return Savage Knuckleblade to its owner's hand. : Savage Knuckleblade gains haste until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Savage Knuckleblade doesn’t provide traditional card drawing, it offers strategic card advantage by pressuring your opponent to deal with it. Each turn it remains on the battlefield, it has the potential to generate value, whether through dealing damage or forcing your opponent to spend resources on it.
Resource Acceleration: Savage Knuckleblade efficiently utilizes mana resources of three different colors—red, green, and blue. The ability to pay a green mana to increase its size, a blue mana to return it to your hand, and red mana to grant it haste ensures that at any stage of the game, your mana can be used to adapt to the board state effectively.
Instant Speed: The creature’s blue ability allows you to bounce Savage Knuckleblade back to your hand at instant speed. This adaptability provides a safeguard against removal spells, effectively denying your opponent the opportunity to use their removal spells optimally while preserving your board presence.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Savage Knuckleblade doesn’t have a discard requirement, but this aspect in other cards can deplete your hand, leaving you vulnerable.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Savage Knuckleblade demands a specific mix of mana colors, making it challenging to fit in decks that aren’t focused on Temur colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three different mana, including a double mana requirement for one ability, Savage Knuckleblade can be demanding on your mana base, which might slow down your gameplay or clash with other mana-intensive cards.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Savage Knuckleblade’s adaptability is one of its key strengths. With its ability to be cast for three different colors of mana, it can easily find a home in Temur decks or any blue, red, or green-based deck looking for a solid creature. Its power adjustment and haste options add to this versatility, making it a threat at any stage of the game.
Combo Potential: With its multiple abilities, Savage Knuckleblade works well with various synergies. It can be bounced back to your hand, avoiding removal or enabling enter-the-battlefield triggers from other cards. Moreover, its potential for quick powering up sets the stage for devastating combo finishes, particularly when you have spare mana.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta with an abundance of interaction and removal, Savage Knuckleblade shines with its resilience and the ability to promptly re-enter the battlefield. Its swift nature allows it to compete effectively with contemporary creature-based strategies, and it remains an ever-present threat that opponents must answer.
How to Beat
Savage Knuckleblade can present itself as a daunting challenge on the battlefield with its swift aggression and adaptability. This card’s multifaceted options, including hasty attacks, increased power, and the ability to bounce back to a player’s hand, make it a versatile threat. However, facing this creature head-on is not insurmountable. Key strategies involve preemptive control and adaptability in your response.
One effective method to counteract Savage Knuckleblade’s impact is through timely removal spells. Triggering these before the Knuckleblade has the opportunity to gain haste or enlarge itself can prove crucial. Think of cards like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider that can handle creatures irrespective of their size or abilities. Alternatively, countering Savage Knuckleblade as it hits the stack prevents it from ever posing a threat.
Restricting mana sources can also hinder a player’s ability to maximize Savage Knuckleblade’s potential. Utilizing land destruction or counter strategies limits the capacity for this creature to enter the battlefield or access its activated abilities. Overall, navigating around the Knuckleblade demands thoughtful timing and precision in your approach, assuring that the threat is neutralized before it can unleash its full power.
Cards like Savage Knuckleblade
The Savage Knuckleblade, a dynamic creature card, makes its mark on Magic: The Gathering with a blend of power, agility, and utility. This unique card draws parallels with Ghor-Clan Rampager, which also boasts a tremendous power boost. However, Savage Knuckleblade stands out with its multi-modal nature, offering the ability to gain haste, bounce itself to a player’s hand, or grow larger. Ghor-Clan Rampager, while it can’t match this versatility, compensates with its bloodrush ability—giving another creature its power and trample until end of turn.
Mantis Rider is another card that closely aligns with the playstyle of Savage Knuckleblade, thanks to its flying and vigilance abilities — providing both an offensive and defensive edge. Yet, it lacks the on-demand adaptability that the Knuckleblade possesses. Lastly, there’s Loxodon Smiter, an option that cannot be countered and trumps control decks, but once again falls short of the adaptability Savage Knuckleblade offers on the battlefield.
Comparatively speaking, Savage Knuckleblade provides a balance of resilience and options to players, setting a commendable standard of flexibility and strength for creature cards in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Savage Knuckleblade by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Savage Knuckleblade MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, 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 Savage Knuckleblade and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Savage Knuckleblade Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Chris Rahn.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 197 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1480 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | KTK-197 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Savage Knuckleblade has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
