Rampart Smasher MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Giant |
| Released | 2019-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Throne of Eldraine |
| Set code | ELD |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 213 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Emrah Elmasli |
Text of card
Rampart Smasher can't be blocked by Knights or Walls.
"He has strength and courage—just way, way too much of both." —Syr Faren, the Hengehammer
Cards like Rampart Smasher
Rampart Smasher carves a niche in the realm of powerhouses in Magic: The Gathering. This card harkens to the likes of Bonecrusher Giant for its capacity to dominate the battlefield. Rampart Smasher, with its immunity to Knight and Wall creatures, assures a clear path against specific defensive strategies. Unlike Bonecrusher Giant, it cannot deal direct damage, but it compensates with a substantial body that can weather the storm of combat.
An equivalent to consider is Lovestruck Beast, which shares a similar mana cost and strong stat line. The main difference comes into play with Lovestruck Beast’s stipulation that demands a 1/1 creature to attack, while Rampart Smasher offers restriction-free aggression. Yorvo, Lord of Garenbrig also deserves mention for its potential growth with each green creature summoned, posing an escalating threat, but it lacks Rampart Smasher’s selective unblockable feature.
Each card has its advantages, yet Rampart Smasher provides consistent pressure against decks reliant on Knights or Walls. It stands as a potent creature card that aligns well with aggressive strategies, delivering a steady flow of damage without the need for extra conditions or setup.
Cards similar to Rampart Smasher by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rampart Smasher might not directly contribute to hand replenishment, but its impressive board presence often forces opponents to commit multiple resources to deal with it. This can indirectly lead to card advantage, as it can result in favorable trades that deplete an opponent’s hand while maintaining your own board state.
Resource Acceleration: While Rampart Smasher itself doesn’t ramp or accelerate resources, its 5/5 stats for a four mana cost represents efficient resource usage. In a Giant tribal deck, it may reduce the cost of other giants you cast, or work in tandem with cards that benefit from having a giant in play, thereby accelerating your game plan.
Instant Speed: Although Rampart Smasher is a creature card played at sorcery speed, it can have an instant impact on the game. Its ability to dish out significant damage upon entering the battlefield can immediately put pressure on the opponent and shape the pace of the game. Also, in metas with flash-supporting cards, it potentially could be cast at instant speed, adding an element of surprise and enabling strategic plays during your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Rampart Smasher’s casting requirements are quite stringent, necessitating both red and green mana and lacking any colorless flexibility. This can pose a challenge in decks that aren’t heavily focused on those colors, reducing the card’s general applicability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana value, two of which must be red and green, Rampart Smasher is on the expensive side. As a creature, it competes with other four-mana options that may present more immediate board impact or provide additional benefits.
Discard Requirement: While Rampart Smasher itself does not have a discard requirement, its high mana cost could compete for resources with other cards in your hand that may have discard effects as part of their cost or ability, potentially leading to difficult decision making regarding hand management.
Reasons to Include Rampart Smasher in Your Collection
Versatility: Rampart Smasher offers a powerful presence on the battlefield, easily fitting into Giant tribal or aggressive Red/Green decks seeking a robust four-drop that can dominate combat against multicolored creatures.
Combo Potential: This card excels when combined with effects that reduce the cost of Giants or with cards that reward you for playing high-power creatures, potentially creating an overwhelming board state for your opponent.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with multicolored creatures, Rampart Smasher swiftly becomes a key player, shrugging off blockers that would otherwise pose a threat to other monochromatic creatures. Its immunity to damage and destruction effects from multicolored sources can provide a vital edge in such an environment.
How to beat
Rampart Smasher presents itself as a formidable force on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its power lies in its immunity to damage from Knights, Walls, and creatures with defender capabilities. This makes it a tough opponent to deal with using traditional block strategies. To outmaneuver it, focus on removal spells that don’t rely on the combat phase. Spells like Murder, which can destroy a creature for three mana regardless of its size, sidestep Rampart Smasher’s combat protections and can take it off the board efficiently.
Another tactical move is to use board wipes such as Shatter the Sky or Wrath of God to reset the battlefield. These spells don’t target specific creatures and therefore circumvent Rampart Smasher’s selective damage immunity. Additionally, utilizing enchantments that reduce a creature’s power or lock it down, such as Pacifism, can neutralize the Smasher without engaging in combat.
Overall, successful strategies against Rampart Smasher involve looking beyond combat-based interactions. Removal spells, board wipes, and disabling enchantments are key tools in your arsenal to control and ultimately beat this hulking adversary.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rampart Smasher MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine, 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 Rampart Smasher and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rampart Smasher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |