Ghor-Clan Savage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Centaur Berserker
Abilities Bloodthirst
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Ghor-Clan Savage can be a game-changer when it’s powered up by the Bloodthirst ability.
  2. Optimal play requires strategic instant-speed damage to unlock this creature’s full potential.
  3. Gruul deck inclusion is a must due to its specific mana requirements and synergies.

Text of card

Bloodthirst 3 (If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ghor-Clan Savage, while not a traditional card advantage tool, has an important role in any deck designed around the Bloodthirst mechanic. When you manage to deal damage to an opponent in the same turn, this creature comes onto the battlefield stronger, effectively becoming a larger threat without needing an additional card.

Resource Acceleration: Though Ghor-Clan Savage doesn’t offer direct resource acceleration, its Bloodthirst ability ensures that you’re maximizing the potential of the mana spent to cast it. If played correctly, it embodies an efficient use of resources, providing a hefty creature for the cost under the right conditions.

Instant Speed: Although Ghor-Clan Savage itself is not an instant, it benefits from your other instant-speed interactions. By dealing damage to an opponent with instants before casting it, you ensure that the Bloodthirst ability activates, supercharging the Savage for a potentially game-changing impact on the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ghor-Clan Savage doesn’t directly require you to discard a card, its bloodthirst ability is often optimally utilized by dealing damage first, which indirectly pressures deck design around discard or direct-damage strategies that can be resource-intensive.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s casting cost demands a specific blend of mana, with a requirement for both red and green. This locks it into Gruul-based decks, reducing its flexibility across the diverse MTG meta.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Ghor-Clan Savage is competing with many other options in the four to five mana range that may provide instant impact or more potent abilities upon hitting the battlefield, potentially overshadowing its bloodthirst feature.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghor-Clan Savage is able to adapt to various game situations, making it a valuable addition to decks that require flexible combat options. Its Bloodthirst ability can turn it into a formidable creature once an opponent has been dealt damage.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize well with other cards that reward you for dealing damage to your opponent, or those that increase the number of +1/+1 counters on creatures, further amplifying its impact on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive strategies are prevalent, Ghor-Clan Savage can serve as a powerful tool to outpace other creature-based decks. When timed correctly, its increased power can become a significant threat that needs to be answered by opponents.


How to beat Ghor-Clan Savage

Ghor-Clan Savage can be quite the powerhouse when bloodthirst is triggered, turning it from a moderately menacing creature to an imposing presence on the battlefield. Tackling this card effectively requires strategic planning. When facing a Ghor-Clan Savage, keeping the board clear of damage is crucial before it hits the field, preventing its bloodthirst ability from becoming active.

Spell-based removal is your best friend in this scenario, with options like Doom Blade or Path to Exile offering efficient and immediate answers. Alternatively, ensuring you have creatures with strong defensive capabilities can provide a buffer against the Savage, particularly if it hasn’t been empowered by bloodthirst. Consider cards like Wall of Omens as a defensive measure, which also offers card draw to ensure your hand remains versatile.

Overall, being proactive and mindful of the Savage’s bloodthirst conditions can deny your opponent the opportunity to leverage its full potential. Countering or removing the creature before it can benefit from additional counters will help maintain your position and keep the Ghor-Clan Savage from running rampant on the board.


Cards like Ghor-Clan Savage

Ghor-Clan Savage is a creature card that brings a force of nature to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It shares the bloodthirst mechanic with other creatures like Scab-Clan Mauler, allowing it to enter the game with additional +1/+1 counters if an opponent was dealt damage this turn. Scab-Clan Mauler, while smaller, benefits from this mechanic as soon as it arrives.

Exploring further, we find Rip-Clan Crasher, which also embodies the Gruul clans’ aggressive play style. Although it doesn’t feature bloodthirst, its haste ability enables it to attack without waiting and can catch opponents off-guard. Ghor-Clan Savage, with its larger size, gears towards a late-game advantage, rewarding players who soften up their opponents first.

In the grand scale of creature options, Ghor-Clan Savage stands out for its potential size and impact. In the realm of creature cards that reward player aggression and tactical strikes, it’s a formidable option for those looking to beef up their creatures and put pressure on the opponent in Magic: The Gathering.

Scab-Clan Mauler - MTG Card versions
Rip-Clan Crasher - MTG Card versions
Scab-Clan Mauler - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Rip-Clan Crasher - Shards of Alara (ALA)

Cards similar to Ghor-Clan Savage by color, type and mana cost

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Thicket Basilisk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Cockatrice - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Ironroot Treefolk - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Elvish Bard - Alliances (ALL)
Durkwood Boars - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Elven Riders - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Redwood Treefolk - Weatherlight (WTH)
Spined Wurm - Stronghold (STH)
Rabid Wolverines - Exodus (EXO)
Deadly Insect - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Vintara Elephant - Prophecy (PCY)
Spring-Leaf Avenger - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Okina Nightwatch - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Consuming Blob - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Primeval Force - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spitting Spider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Copperhoof Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Llanowar Behemoth - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bramble Elemental - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghor-Clan Savage MTG card by a specific set like Salvat 2005 and Salvat 2005, 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 Ghor-Clan Savage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ghor-Clan Savage Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2005-08-22 and 2013-09-06. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL I292003normalwhiteGreg Staples
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL I552003normalwhiteGreg Staples
32006-02-03GuildpactGPT 862003normalblackGreg Staples
42013-09-06Duel Decks: Heroes vs. MonstersDDL 532003normalblackGreg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ghor-Clan Savage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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