Polis Crusher MTG Card

Polis Crusher threatens card advantage, demanding multiple resources for its removal. Its monstrous ability presents a significant late-game investment, offering board impact. Forcing instant removal, Polis Crusher dictates the pace of opponent’s mana usage.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Cyclops
Abilities	Monstrosity,Protection,Trample
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	198
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Chase Stone

Text of card

Trample, protection from enchantments : Monstrosity 3. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.) Whenever Polis Crusher deals combat damage to a player, if Polis Crusher is monstrous, destroy target enchantment that player controls.

Cards like Polis Crusher

Polis Crusher stands out in the realm of monstrous creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It bears striking similarities to other formidable figures such as Territorial Allosaurus. Both creatures share the capacity to grow stronger through their respective monstrosity and kicker abilities, yet Polis Crusher has the added advantage of being able to destroy enchantments—a subtle but significant edge in certain matchups.

Looking at another comparable giant, Ember Swallower presents a different angle. While also a creature that can become monstrous, Ember Swallower lacks the targeted enchantment removal of Polis Crusher and instead focuses on mana disruption. This makes Polis Crusher more versatile against decks that rely on enchantment strategies. Another relative in this category is Arbor Colossus, which shares the monstrosity feature, with a focus on dealing with flying threats instead of enchantments.

While each creature has its unique strengths, Polis Crusher offers a blend of power growth and enchantment control, setting it apart in games where enchantments play a key role. This distinctive combination allows players to maintain board presence and deal with pesky noncreature permanents simultaneously, underscoring its niche in MTG creature strategies.

Territorial Allosaurus - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Polis Crusher offers an ongoing threat that requires an answer from your opponent. Escalating the pressure each turn, it has the potential to generate card advantage by demanding multiple resources from an opponent to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: While Polis Crusher itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its monstrous ability can be a form of investment that pays off by delivering significant damage and impacting the board state, potentially clearing a path for more of your creatures.

Instant Speed: Though Polis Crusher operates at sorcery speed, its relevance lies in how it interacts with instant speed elements. Being a creature that your opponent must answer, it can force them to use instant speed removal on their turn, leaving them less mana to interfere with your plans during yours.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Polis Crusher requires a player to have a specific creature type to trigger its renowned ability, which may not always be feasible depending on the deck construction or the state of the board.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost includes both red and green, which necessitates a commitment to a dual-color deck; something that not all MTG players are willing or able to do efficiently, limiting the card’s versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that are color-specific, Polis Crusher competes with other powerful four-drop creatures and spells. Some alternatives could offer immediate impact or lower cost alternatives with similar levels of threat.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Polis Crusher’s adaptability comes from its ability to serve multiple roles. Its protection from enchantments and potential to become monstrous make it a choice for various gameplans, particularly in decks that aim to counter strategies reliant on enchantments.

Combo Potential: When Polis Crusher becomes monstrous, it gains the capacity to destroy enchantments on the battlefield. This synergizes well with effects that capitalize on destroying opposing permanents or require creatures with significant power.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where enchantment-based decks are prevalent, Polis Crusher can be particularly impactful. Its natural resistance to a wide array of commonly played enchantments can give you a significant advantage in such metas.

How to beat

Polis Crusher presents a unique challenge when facing it on the battleground of Magic: The Gathering. This formidable monster has protection from enchantments and boasts the ability to destroy any number of enemy enchantments upon becoming monstrous. To outmaneuver this creature, players must think strategically about their removal options. Direct damage spells such as Shock or Lightning Strike are ineffective due to its considerable toughness.

Instead, consider utilizing board wipes like Wrath of God or targeted removal spells that aren’t enchantments such as Murder or Doom Blade. Another strategy includes countering Polis Crusher before it hits the battlefield with a spell like Counterspell or Negate. Holding up mana for such instances can be pivotal. Timing is essential; preventing your opponent from making Polis Crusher monstrous will eliminate the potential demolition of your valuable enchantments and maintain control over the game state. Always keep in mind your deck’s tools to circumvent or subdue this mythic creature efficiently.

Polis Crusher can be a looming threat but with the right preparation and resource management, its impact on the game can be minimized or completely neutralized, preserving your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Polis Crusher MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Polis Crusher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Polis Crusher has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-15	An ability that triggers when a creature becomes monstrous won't trigger if that creature isn't on the battlefield when its monstrosity ability resolves.
2013-09-15	Monstrous isn't an ability that a creature has. It's just something true about that creature. If the creature stops being a creature or loses its abilities, it will continue to be monstrous.
2013-09-15	Once a creature becomes monstrous, it can't become monstrous again. If the creature is already monstrous when the monstrosity ability resolves, nothing happens.
2013-09-15	Polis Crusher must be monstrous as it deals combat damage to a player in order for its last ability to trigger. Once the ability triggers, it resolves even if Polis Crusher isn't on the battlefield at that time.
2013-09-15	“Protection from enchantments” means that Polis Crusher can't be enchanted, it can't be targeted by Aura spells or by abilities of enchantments, all damage that would be dealt to it by enchantments is prevented, and it can't be blocked by enchantment creatures. Notably, it doesn't have protection from enchanted creatures (unless those creatures are also enchantments).