Sawtooth Thresher MTG Card

Efficient cost and token creation of Sawtooth Thresher offer sustained battlefield presence without depleting your hand. Its modular ability enhances long-term resource utility, even after leaving the battlefield. Presence deters opponents, leveraging instant-speed plays to the controller’s advantage.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Construct
Abilities	Sunburst
Released	2004-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Fifth Dawn
Set code	5DN
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	149
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alan Pollack

Text of card

Sunburst (This comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana used to pay its cost.) Remove two +1/+1 counters from Sawtooth Thresher: Sawtooth Thresher gets +4/+4 until end of turn.

Cards like Sawtooth Thresher

Within the vibrant world of artifact creatures in Magic the Gathering, Sawtooth Thresher stands out as a modular addition to the battlefield. Much like its brethren, Arcbound Worker, Sawtooth Thresher enters with two +1/+1 counters, but the possibility of doubling its power and toughness sets it apart. Unlike the Worker, Sawtooth Thresher can grow exponentially larger, albeit at the cost of four mana for each doubling.

However, when considering other artifacts with similar growth potential, Triskelion emerges as a classic counterpart. Although Triskelion arrives with three +1/+1 counters and the ability to remove counters to deal damage directly, it lacks the exponential growth potential. Then there’s Steel Overseer, which allows for a consistent increase in power for all of your artifacts, a benefit that the singular-focused Thresher cannot match. Nonetheless, Sawtooth Thresher can quickly become a mobile threat on its own.

Assessing the strategic value of Sawtooth Thresher amid other modular and counter-focused artifact creatures, its unique doubling feature offers a potentially massive power spike, balancing mana investment with considerable pay-off in creature-based MTG strategies.

Cards similar to Sawtooth Thresher by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sawtooth Thresher has the potential to magnify your card advantage with its efficient cost and the ability to continuously create creature tokens. This allows players to sustain a strong presence on the battlefield without depleting their hand.

Resource Acceleration: The modular ability inherent to Sawtooth Thresher can be a form of resource acceleration. As the creature can pass on its +1/+1 counters, it ensures that the resources invested in it continue to provide benefits even after it leaves the battlefield.

Instant Speed: While Sawtooth Thresher itself is not an instant, having it on the board can significantly impact instant-speed interactions. Its token-producing ability can deter opponents from attacking or incentivize them to wait on casting spells, allowing the Sawtooth Thresher controller to capitalize on the opponent’s hesitance.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sawtooth Thresher obliges players to discard a card to activate its ability. This can be a tactical setback, especially when your hand is already dwindling and you’re pressed for options.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card demands a precise blend of mana types to cast. While it’s versatile in its mana requirements, this specificity could restrict it to certain color-combined decks or necessitate a more intricate mana base to optimize playability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its casting and crewing costs are substantial in comparison to other vehicles or creatures in the current metagame. Players might find other cards that can achieve similar board impact or offer more strategic benefits without consuming as much of their crucial mana reserves in the early to mid-game phases.

Reasons to Include Sawtooth Thresher in Your Collection

Versatility: Sawtooth Thresher can be a valuable asset in a variety of deck types. Its adaptability lies in its modular ability, allowing you to spread out +1/+1 counters, which plays well in counter-focused strategies or decks that manipulate those counters for other benefits.

Combo Potential: This card is rife with potential to create powerful synergies. When paired with cards that double the number of counters or utilize those +1/+1 counters for alternative effects, Sawtooth Thresher can turn into a formidable force or enable unexpected game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given its scaling power with the game progression, Sawtooth Thresher can be incredibly relevant in environments where the board state can stall and larger creatures dominate. It adjusts well to various speeds of gameplay, making it a prudent choice for a well-rounded collection prepared to tackle shifting metas.

How to beat

Encountering a Sawtooth Thresher on the battlefield can be a daunting challenge for any Magic: The Gathering player. This card has the potential to overwhelm opponents with its machinery might and ability to grow exponentially. The key in facing this formidable artifact creature lies in preventing it from gaining momentum. As the Thresher thrives on artifact tokens to bolster its power, removing its support network is crucial. This means targeting artifact tokens with removal spells or using countermeasures like Stony Silence to shut down artifact abilities.

Another strategy is to deploy instant-speed removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push before the Thresher has a chance to swell in size. Focusing on controlling the board and maintaining card advantage can keep the Thresher at bay. Cards that restrict artifact activations or tax the opponent’s mana resources for using artifacts and creatures are also effective in curbing the Thresher’s impact. By employing these tactics, players can prevent the Sawtooth Thresher from dominating the game and secure victory against this mechanized threat.

Ultimately, understanding and disrupting the synergy within the opponent’s strategy that supports the Thresher is as important as dealing with the card itself. A well-timed response can ensure the Sawtooth Thresher remains just a cog in the machine and not the engine of your defeat.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sawtooth Thresher MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn, 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 Sawtooth Thresher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sawtooth Thresher has restrictions

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