Thundering Tanadon MTG Card


Thundering Tanadon - New Phyrexia
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Phyrexian Beast
Abilities Trample
Released2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set nameNew Phyrexia
Set codeNPH
Power 5
Toughness 4
Number122
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDan Scott

Key Takeaways

  1. Flexible casting options with Phyrexian mana allows diverse strategic deployment while managing resources in MTG.
  2. The card’s 6/6 stats for reduced mana make it a powerful surprise play, challenging opponents’ expectations.
  3. Maintaining life totals is crucial when utilizing Thundering Tanadon’s phyrexian mana to avoid strategic setbacks.

Text of card

({PG} can be paid with either or 2 life.) Trample

"We do not need beakers and vials to test our predators." —Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thundering Tanadon doesn’t inherently provide card advantage through drawing, but its Phyrexian mana cost gives flexibility, potentially allowing a quicker deployment which can lead to an advantageous board state.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration, the alternative Phyrexian mana payment method allows you to pace out life payments instead of mana, effectively keeping your mana resources available for other uses.

Instant Speed: Although Thundering Tanadon is a creature card and doesn’t operate at instant speed, its 6/6 stat line for potentially 4 mana (paying life as Phyrexian mana) can surprise opponents with a substantial, hard-hitting creature much sooner than traditional mana curves would allow.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some powerful creatures in the game, the Thundering Tanadon requires you to pay a specific phyrexian mana cost, which can be a considerable setback since it either demands two life per phyrexian mana or a green mana, potentially causing a strategic disadvantage in maintaining life total or mana curve.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost is not purely generic and includes green mana symbols. This can pose a challenge for multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana fixing or for players who wish to cast it earlier in the game without the required green sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although six mana for a 6/6 artifact creature might seem reasonable, in an environment where creatures and spells are becoming increasingly efficient, the Thundering Tanadon competes with other six-mana options that may provide immediate board impact or additional abilities beyond mere size.


Reasons to Include Thundering Tanadon in Your Collection

Versatility: Thundering Tanadon’s flexibility comes from its Phyrexian mana cost, allowing you to either pay with life or green mana, fitting well in a variety of decks, from aggressive green builds to life-matters themes.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with mechanics that care about creature power, such as Ferocious or Evolve, adding additional layers to your combo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with a focus on creature-based combat, Thundering Tanadon’s sheer size at 6/6 for four mana can be a game-changer, offering a cost-efficient creature that holds its own against other beefy creatures.


How to beat Thundering Tanadon

Thundering Tanadon is an intriguing addition to the roster of artifact creatures in MTG. A formidable force due to its phyrexian mana cost, which allows flexibility in casting, it also comes packed with impressive stats. However, one key to triumphing over this juggernaut is to employ removal spells that bypass its sheer size. Spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can eliminate it regardless of its power and toughness. Creature combat is another avenue, but it requires creatures that can surpass or match its 6/6 stats, so combat tricks or buffs are often necessary.

Board control is vital. Cards like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, leaving your opponent’s investment in the Tanadon nullified. Moreover, leveraging creatures with deathtouch or those that can force Tanadon into unfavorable blocks is a clever tactic. And don’t underestimate the power of chump blocking with smaller creatures to bide time. The key against Thundering Tanadon is a solid defense while setting up a strategy that either outpaces or devalues this massive artifact creature’s impact on the game.


Cards like Thundering Tanadon

Thundering Tanadon is a notable creature card that adds muscle to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It holds its ground when compared to other six-mana creatures, such as Stampeding Rhino, which shares the same cost and has a similar power and toughness. However, Thundering Tanadon offers the upside of Phyrexian mana, making it potentially easier to cast at the expense of some life points.

Another creature worth mentioning is Fangren Marauder, which also requires six mana. Both cards exhibit the same power level, yet Fangren Marauder can provide a recurrent life gain effect advantageous in long games. In contrast, Thundering Tanadon’s artifact status may be beneficial in synergy with cards that exploit artifact mechanics, offering different strategic possibilities.

Assessing these creatures from various angles, Thundering Tanadon stands out for its versatility in mana payment and its relevance in artifact-centric decks, making it a compelling choice for players crafting decks that can afford the life payment or are seeking to capitalize on artifact synergies.

Stampeding Rhino - MTG Card versions
Fangren Marauder - MTG Card versions
Stampeding Rhino - Magic 2010 (M10)
Fangren Marauder - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Cards similar to Thundering Tanadon by color, type and mana cost

Bootleggers' Stash - MTG Card versions
Malachite Golem - MTG Card versions
Vazal, the Compleat - MTG Card versions
Cradle Clearcutter - MTG Card versions
Sylvok Battle-Chair - MTG Card versions
Bootleggers' Stash - Streets of New Capenna Promos (PSNC)
Malachite Golem - Mirrodin (MRD)
Vazal, the Compleat - Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 (CMB2)
Cradle Clearcutter - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Sylvok Battle-Chair - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thundering Tanadon MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Thundering Tanadon and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thundering Tanadon has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thundering Tanadon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2011-06-01 A card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its mana cost is each color that appears in that mana cost, regardless of how that cost may have been paid.
2011-06-01 As you cast a spell or activate an activated ability with one or more Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, you choose how to pay for each Phyrexian mana symbol at the same time you would choose modes or choose a value for X.
2011-06-01 If you’re at 1 life or less, you can’t pay 2 life.
2011-06-01 Phyrexian mana is not a new color. Players can’t add Phyrexian mana to their mana pools.
2011-06-01 To calculate the converted mana cost of a card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, count each Phyrexian mana symbol as 1.

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