Ogre Taskmaster MTG Card

Ogre Taskmaster presents immediate threats, demanding opponents to respond or make unfavorable trades. It’s limited to certain red-centric decks, diminishing its deck-building versatility. In aggressive strategies, Ogre Taskmaster’s power can shape the battlefield and outpace opponents.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Ogre
Power 4
Toughness 3

Text of card

Ogre Taskmaster can't block.

Three little goblins, enjoying their brew. One bumped an ogre, and then there were two.

Cards like Ogre Taskmaster

Ogre Taskmaster is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, reminiscent of other creatures that bring certain restrictions alongside their sizable stats. Standing out in its family of Ogres, this creature can’t block unless you control more creatures than the defending player. A similar card is Prickleboar, which can only block when you’re on the defensive during your own turn, playing around the timing of your strategy.

Comparing it to the Frostwalla, a creature with the ability to pump its own power, Ogre Taskmaster provides a straightforward approach without mana investment for strength enhancement. In terms of sheer power and toughness for the cost, a card like Canyon Minotaur comes to mind. Although Minotaur lacks the Ogre’s limitations, its lower power level for the same cost puts the Taskmaster ahead in terms of potential damage output.

Evaluating Ogre Taskmaster against these similar cards underscores its advantageous position in terms of board presence. Despite its restriction that influences defensive tactics, the card’s aggressiveness makes it a formidable creature in the right deck, especially for players keen on maintaining numerical superiority on the battlefield.

Prickleboar - MTG Card versions
Frostwalla - MTG Card versions
Canyon Minotaur - MTG Card versions
Prickleboar - MTG Card versions
Frostwalla - MTG Card versions
Canyon Minotaur - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With the Ogre Taskmaster, you can gain card advantage by deploying a formidable creature that requires an immediate answer from opponents. This pressure often forces opponents to use up valuable removal spells or make unfavorable trades on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While the Ogre Taskmaster itself doesn’t generate additional resources directly, its sheer presence on the board can lead to resource acceleration. Its demanding presence can further disrupt your opponent’s mana curve, as they might have to deploy resources sooner to address the threat.

Instant Speed: Although Ogre Taskmaster is not an instant itself, it pairs well with cards that are. You can bluff having an instant, maintaining untapped mana to cast the taskmaster if no better play arises. This tactic can deceive opponents into playing more cautiously, giving you an advantage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ogre Taskmaster’s need to pitch another card from your hand to bring it into play can lead to difficult decisions, especially if your hand is already depleted. This element diminishes its potential value in late-game scenarios where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: With its requirement for both red and generic mana, Ogre Taskmaster locks itself into certain deck archetypes, frequently leaning towards mono-red or two-color builds where red is a primary component. This requirement can hamper deck-building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment of three mana including two that must be red might seem steep, considering its inability to block without further support. While it does offer a solid power level, there are alternative creatures or spells in the same mana range that provide more versatile functionality or immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include Ogre Taskmaster in Your Collection

Versatility: Ogre Taskmaster’s beefy stats for its mana cost make it a solid inclusion in red aggressive decks that aim to put pressure on the opponent early in the game. Its simple mechanical nature means it slots easily into various red-centric strategies, whether you’re building on a budget or just need a robust four-power creature to dominate the board.

Combo Potential: Ogre Taskmaster works well in tandem with cards that mitigate or take advantage of its inability to block. Utilize effects that turn this drawback into an asset, like forcing opponents to attack into unfavorable trades or leveraging sacrifice synergies to your advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where quick, hard-hitting creatures are key to victory, Ogre Taskmaster can be a game changer. Its presence forces opponents to answer it swiftly or fall behind, and in the right build, this Ogre can consistently shape the battlefield in your favor.

How to beat Ogre Taskmaster

Ogre Taskmaster is an interesting creature that presents unique challenges and opportunities in MTG. Key to this card’s identity is its inability to block—this is both a limitation and a strategic element to consider. When thinking about how to gain an advantage over Ogre Taskmaster, it’s important to recognize that despite its considerable size for its mana cost, it’s a card that demands a certain attacking style of play from its controller.

Control players might find Ogre Taskmaster less intimidating, as they frequently use removal spells, which can easily dispatch the creature before it becomes a nuisance. Cards with the “destroy target creature” function nullify the threat effortlessly. Another effective strategy is to leverage its inability to block; developing your board with creatures and tokens allows for a more aggressive play, pressuring the Ogre Taskmaster player directly without having to worry about it on the defensive.

Utilizing creatures with evasion abilities like flying or unblockable can provide a consistent form of damage that Ogre Taskmaster can’t stop. This creates a race condition where the Taskmaster might be strong offensively but is ultimately unable to defend against airborne threats. Lastly, considering the card’s color and mana cost, one could set up their mana curve efficiently with lower-cost creatures or spells to ensure a presence on the board before the Taskmaster lands.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ogre Taskmaster MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age and Mercadian Masques, 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 Ogre Taskmaster and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ogre Taskmaster Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1998-06-24 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 1121997NormalBlackDan Frazier
21999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 2061997NormalBlackDany Orizio
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 203★1997NormalBlackJeff Easley
42001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 2031997NormalWhiteJeff Easley
52003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 2052003NormalWhiteDany Orizio
62003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 205★2003NormalBlackDany Orizio
72005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 2052003NormalWhiteDany Orizio
82005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 205★2003NormalBlackDany Orizio
92011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 1281997NormalBlackDan Frazier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ogre Taskmaster has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal