Korozda Monitor MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Lizard
Abilities	Scavenge,Trample
Released	2012-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Return to Ravnica
Set code	RTR
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	129
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Lars Grant-West

Key Takeaways

Korozda Monitor is a dual-threat with in-game presence and post-mortem scavenge utility.
It’s an asset in creature-centric decks needing midgame strength or graveyard strategies.
Understanding its pros and cons helps optimize your deck’s performance counterplay.

Text of card

Trample Scavenge (, Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Korozda Monitor contributes to card advantage by being a sturdy creature with its scavenge ability. Once in the graveyard, it can be exiled to give another creature +3/+3 until end of turn, effectively utilizing the card from beyond the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: The Monitor’s scavenge ability can be a form of resource acceleration. Although it doesn’t directly produce additional mana, by enhancing a creature on the board, it can boost your attack, potentially ending games faster and efficiently using your graveyard as a resource.

Instant Speed: While Korozda Monitor itself might not operate at instant speed, its scavenge ability can be used at instant speed. This allows for a sudden and unexpected bolstering of a creature during combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn, keeping your strategies flexible and opponents off guard.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Korozda Monitor doesn’t ask you to discard cards as a part of its casting cost, in formats that require card efficiency and conservation, any card that doesn’t directly impact the board or offer card advantage could be seen as a drawback. This is especially true if you find yourself discarding it to effects that require you to pare down your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: The Korozda Monitor requires a specific mana configuration to play, needing both green and generic mana. For decks not heavily invested in green or those looking to maintain a low curve, Korozda Monitor’s mana requirements can be restrictive and may cause delays in playing other vital spells on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Korozda Monitor’s four-mana cost, MTG players might expect a more immediate board impact. In a game where mana efficiency is crucial, there are other creatures or spells at this cost that give you an immediate effect upon hitting the board or have better stats, making Korozda Monitor a less competitive choice for many strategies.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Korozda Monitor can easily find a home in decks that are focused on creature-based strategies or those needing a stable mid-game threat. The ability to Scavenge can be a game-changer, allowing you to boost any creature on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card works well in synergies that capitalize on counters or graveyard play. The Scavenge mechanism opens up interactions with anything from proliferate mechanics to any strategy that benefits from larger creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavily dependent on creature duels and board presence, the Monitor serves as both an offensive and defensive asset. Its four-power can be considerable in mid-game, and its Scavenge ability can turn late-game topdecks into valuable resources.

How to Beat Korozda Monitor

Korozda Monitor shines in decks emphasizing on creature growth and battlefield presence. This adaptable Lizard boasts trample, ensuring that it can still cause damage even when blocked by smaller creatures. It’s also known for its scavenge ability, which allows it to bolster another creature from the graveyard.

To counter this reptilian threat, you’ll want to focus on removal strategies. Employ instant removal spells that can target Korozda Monitor before its scavenge ability is activated. Cards that exile creatures from the graveyard like Cremate or Tormod’s Crypt can render its key ability useless. Prioritize board control with sweepers or damage spells capable of handling larger creatures. Trading card-for-card might not always be the best approach given Korozda Monitor’s potential to come back from the graveyard stronger. Instead, look for opportunities to mitigate its impact over the course of the game.

Consistently managing the battlefield and being cautious of your opponent’s graveyard will give you the upper hand. Remember, disrupting their strategy and maintaining removal options are crucial when up against a card with resilience like Korozda Monitor.

Cards like Korozda Monitor

Korozda Monitor is an intriguing creature in Magic: The Gathering, sharing space with other formidable creatures in the green mana pool. It carries the trample ability, allowing excess combat damage to be dealt to the defending player, a trait it shares with Charging Tuskodon. However, Korozda Monitor also boasts the scavenge ability, permitting it to contribute beyond the battlefield post-mortem by powering up another creature.

In likeness, Duskshell Crawler provides benefits to other creatures by giving them a +1/+1 counter when it enters the battlefield. While it doesn’t share the scavenge ability of Korozda Monitor, it compensates with the immediate impact on the board. Then, consider the Spined Wurm, a simple yet efficient creature for its mana value with no additional abilities but providing a solid body for combat.

Ultimately, in the overarching strategy of green decks that focus on large, impactful creatures, Korozda Monitor stands out not just for its size but also for its potential to leave a lasting influence on the game, validating its spot within its subset of green creatures.

Cards similar to Korozda Monitor by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Korozda Monitor MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica, 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 Korozda Monitor and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Korozda Monitor has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-04-15	Exiling the creature card with scavenge is part of the cost of activating the scavenge ability. Once the ability is activated and the cost is paid, it’s too late to stop the ability from being activated by trying to remove the creature card from the graveyard.