Noxious Groodion MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Deathtouch |
| Released | 2019-01-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ravnica Allegiance |
| Set code | RNA |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 78 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Simon Dominic |
Key Takeaways
- Noxious Groodion can be a deterrent, preserving your hand by requiring foes to tackle it first.
- Its steady board presence can save resources, allowing for advancement in other areas.
- The card synergizes well with instant-speed spells, optimizing its battlefield impact.
Text of card
Deathtouch
"Behold the groodion! Ichor-slurper, oozing fiend. Foulest wonder underground. Grandest vermin of them all!" —Zalin the Gutter Bard
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although the Noxious Groodion doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its menacing presence on the battlefield can deter opponents from attacking, effectively preserving your hand by requiring them to deal with the creature first.
Resource Acceleration: The Noxious Groodion isn’t a classic example of resource acceleration. However, its potential to remain a consistent threat on the board may save the resources usually spent on casting other creatures, letting you invest mana elsewhere and advance your board state faster.
Instant Speed: While Noxious Groodion is not an instant itself, it can benefit from instant-speed spells that buff it or protect it, maximizing its impact and ensuring it stays a threatening force during critical turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Noxious Groodion doesn’t force discarding, but a need to manage other cards to build around its abilities could lead to strategic discards, possibly depleting your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Noxious Groodion carries a black mana-specific cost, potentially complicating its inclusion in multicolored or splashed decks due to mana base restrictions.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three black mana and one colorless, Noxious Groodion’s presence on the board comes at a significant mana investment, which might detract from playing more versatile or low-cost creatures earlier in the game.
Reasons to Include Noxious Groodion in Your Collection
Versatility: Noxious Groodion, with its deathtouch ability, is a solid inclusion for decks that focus on control or defensive strategies. This card can act as a deterrent to attackers, as any creature that battles it risks being destroyed, no matter the size.
Combo Potential: This creature could seamlessly fit into a deck that capitalizes on card abilities synergizing with deathtouch or that triggers upon creature death. For instance, combining it with proliferate mechanics can benefit its -1/-1 counter distribution.
Meta-Relevance: With creature-focused decks frequently dominating the play field, having a low-cost creature like Noxious Groodion can be essential. It serves as an effective tool for stalling aggressive strategies, ensuring your longevity in the game.
How to Beat Noxious Groodion
Noxious Groodion is a creature card that brings a mix of aggression and resilience to the battlefield in Magic the Gathering. It’s often likened to creatures that pack a punch and can also take one, thanks to its deathtouch ability. Facing Noxious Groodion, the key lies in its power and toughness ratio. With no immediate impact on entering the battlefield, it leaves room for opponents to strategize a counter.
Consider leveraging spells that can bypass its deathtouch, like those that deal damage to the creature directly, such as Shock or Lightning Bolt. Board-wiping spells are also an effective strategy, as they can remove Noxious Groodion regardless of its deathtouch ability. Cards like Wrath of God for example, clear the board without interactions between creatures. If your deck operates on creature interactions, opt for creatures with first strike to defeat Noxious Groodion before its deathtouch becomes relevant.
Ultimately, while Noxious Groodion may demand a certain respect on the board, understanding its strengths and weaknesses reveals that there are clear strategies to handle this threat effectively. Employing the right removal or combat tactics is crucial to beat it in a game of Magic the Gathering.
Cards like Noxious Groodion
In Magic: The Gathering, Noxious Groodion defines its niche within the Deathtouch creature lineup. It resembles Sedge Scorpion and Pharika’s Chosen in its lethal ability to destroy any creature it damages, regardless of size. However, standing out with a formidable 2/2 body, Noxious Groodion poses a bigger threat on the battlefield than these one-mana alternatives.
Another comparable creature is Vampire Nighthawk, which not only poses as a Deathtouch archetype but brings additional benefits to the table, like flying and lifelink. Though it comes at a higher mana cost than Noxious Groodion, the added abilities can justify its inclusion in decks seeking more versatile threats. Typhoid Rats is another card to consider, with its low cost and Deathtouch potential making it a useful tool for early game board control.
Deciding between these cards often comes down to the specific strategy and mana curve of your deck. While Noxious Groodion stands out for providing a cost-effective Deathtouch creature that can act as both early game deterrent and a significant combatant later on, every card thrives in its proper context within the grand dynamic of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Noxious Groodion MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance, 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 Noxious Groodion 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Noxious Groodion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
