Molten-Tail Masticore MTG Card

Molten-Tail Masticore - Scars of Mirrodin

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Mythic
Type	Artifact Creature — Masticore
Released	2010-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Scars of Mirrodin
Set code	SOM
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	177
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Whit Brachna

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage through graveyard creature card exile for consistent board influence.
Demanding upkeep discard can hinder hand size, critical for maintaining game control.
Flexibility and meta-relevance make it a potent sideboard option against creature-centric decks.

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Molten-Tail Masticore unless you discard a card. , Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Molten-Tail Masticore deals 4 damage to target creature or player. : Regenerate Molten-Tail Masticore.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Molten-Tail Masticore offers a consistent flow of card advantage by allowing you to exile a creature card from your graveyard to deal damage. This translates to sustained board impact while utilizing resources that are no longer active in play.

Resource Acceleration: This card can be a formidable accelerator. By converting unused creatures in your graveyard into potent damage, you efficiently leverage past resources to press your advantage or control the pace of the game.

Instant Speed: Molten-Tail Masticore provides the versatility of instant-speed action, enabling you to make strategic decisions reactively. Whether you’re fending off an attacker or finishing off a weakened opponent, the ability to act during any phase can turn the tides in your favor without inhibiting your turn-based plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Molten-Tail Masticore requires a discard at the beginning of your upkeep. This can quickly deplete your hand, possibly leaving you at a strategic disadvantage, especially in formats where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes generic and colorless mana, Molten-Tail Masticore demands a mana base that can reliably produce the required resources, potentially complicating deck construction and limiting its versatility in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring four mana to play puts Molten-Tail Masticore in competition with other mid to late-game threats. Many decks aim to maximize the impact of their four-mana plays, and as such, Molten-Tail Masticore may fall short in comparison to other cards with similar or lower costs that provide immediate board presence or value.

Reasons to Include Molten-Tail Masticore in Your Collection

Versatility: Molten-Tail Masticore offers adaptability for various deck builds, with its ability to act as both a recurring damage source and creature removal. Its utility can support a range of strategies whether you are on the offensive or require board control.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with graveyard mechanics and can be potent in decks that capitalize on discarding and sacrificing creatures. Its ability to convert graveyard resources into direct damage provides a strong finisher in combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-changing landscape of competitive play, Molten-Tail Masticore maintains relevance by fitting into decks that counter creature-heavy strategies, making it a valuable sideboard card in matches where creature control is paramount.

How to beat

The formidable Molten-Tail Masticore is a challenge on the battleground with its unique ability to deal substantial damage and regenerate. To outmaneuver this creature, it’s essential to disrupt its regeneration cycle. An effective strategy includes timely removal spells which are capable of working around the regeneration, such as exile effects or spells that force a sacrifice. Keep in mind; counterspells like Negate or Essence Scatter can prevent the Masticore from ever hitting the field.

The key is to play around its discard ability, ensuring you’re not caught off guard when it’s time for Molten-Tail Masticore to unleash its power. Additionally, having graveyard manipulation or cards that can exile from graveyards neutralize its secondary ability and make it significantly less menacing. Lastly, staying ahead on board presence and maintaining pressure prevents your opponent from comfortably paying the Masticore’s upkeep cost, making it more difficult for them to utilize its full potential.

Recognizing the right moment and having the correct response is vital when facing the Molten-Tail Masticore. With these tactics, this once daunting adversary becomes a manageable foe in the diverse world of deck building and gameplay.

Cards like Molten-Tail Masticore

Molten-Tail Masticore is a unique creature card that provides a mix of aggressive and defensive capabilities. This powerhouse mirrors cards like the classic Masticore which also allows for card and board control with its discard and destroy abilities. However, Molten-Tail distinguishes itself with its ability to exile a creature card from your graveyard to deal 4 damage to any target, making it a key player in late game scenarios to finish off opponents.

When compared to Razormane Masticore, another variant in the same family, Molten-Tail Masticore offers the advantage of converting dead creatures into direct damage. While Razormane requires the discard of a card at the beginning of your upkeep, Molten-Tail can turn that discarded card into a potential win condition. Grafted Wargear is yet another similar tool, bestowing creatures with a significant power boost. Despite that, it doesn’t offer the same capacity for resource conversion and direct damage that Molten-Tail Masticore brings to the table.

All things considered, Molten-Tail Masticore stands out with its dual role of creature and graveyard manipulation, ensuring a spot as a formidable component in many MTG decks seeking to capitalize on both offensive and defensive transitions.

Cards similar to Molten-Tail Masticore by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Molten-Tail Masticore MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Molten-Tail Masticore and other MTG cards: