Siege Mastodon MTG Card
2009-07-17 - Number 30
2010-07-16 - Number 29
2011-07-15 - Number 34
2013-07-19 - Number 34
2019-07-12 - Number 312
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elephant |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Cards like Siege Mastodon
Siege Mastodon stands as a sturdy creature within Magic: The Gathering’s broad repertoire of spells and abilities. Much like its contemporary, the Silverback Ape, it delivers a substantial presence on the battlefield with its decent toughness. Both creatures are useful for holding off adversaries, however, Siege Mastodon takes a slight edge with its ability to potentially block creatures that boast flying, a trait the Silverback Ape doesn’t possess.
Looking towards the Guardians of Meletis, we find another creature with similar toughness. They too can be a defensive barrier, yet their lack of power makes them less of a threat to the opponent. On the flip side, if offense is the aim, the Serra Angel presents a similar power to the Siege Mastodon but with the added advantages of flying and vigilance, allowing it to contribute to both offensive and defensive strategies without the drawback of tapping.
Ultimately, Siege Mastodon fits nicely into a defensive strategy where its specific attributes can be maximized. It holds its own among similar creatures, providing a blend of resilience and tactical advantages especially in formats where evasion abilities can play a crucial role on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Siege Mastodon by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While the Siege Mastodon may not directly allow you to draw cards, its solid defensive abilities can help maintain board presence, indirectly contributing to card advantage by deterring opponents from attacking and forcing them to use resources to deal with it.
Resource Acceleration: The Siege Mastodon doesn’t inherently provide resource acceleration. However, its modest mana cost of five, including one white, fits well into many midrange decks that look to establish a strong presence on the board without falling behind on mana development.
Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant itself, the Siege Mastodon benefits from various instant-speed synergies within the white color pie, such as combat tricks or protection spells, enabling it to serve as a reliable and unexpected blocker when timed correctly with other cards in your deck.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Siege Mastodon doesn’t have a discard requirement, it’s important to note that cards requiring a discard upon casting can deplete your hand, leaving you with fewer options later on.
Specific Mana Cost: Siege Mastodon requires one White mana in its casting cost, which could restrict it primarily to mono-White or two-color decks that can support White mana without compromising the mana base. Decks that aren’t aligned with White might not be able to accommodate the mastodon as easily.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature with its stats, a casting cost of four mana, including one White, might be on the higher end when considering the inclusion of other creatures with similar or better effects for the same or lower mana investment. These alternatives can potentially provide better board presence or additional abilities that offer greater value than simply being a 3/5 creature.
Reasons to Include Siege Mastodon in Your Collection
Versatility: Siege Mastodon is versatile due to its solid defensive stats. Its 3/5 body for a cost of five mana means it can be a dependable blocker in decks that need to stall against aggressive opponents while building up to their win condition.
Combo Potential: While it may not be the flashiest card for combos, the mastodon’s robust frame makes it a suitable candidate for cards that synergize with sizeable creatures. Enhancements that boost its power and toughness can turn it into a formidable offensive asset.
Meta-Relevance: If your local meta includes decks that rely on 3/3 or smaller creatures for combat wins, Siege Mastodon can serve as a reliable wall. Its ability to survive most combat encounters against smaller creatures can disrupt your opponent’s tempo and help you maintain control of the board.
How to beat
Siege Mastodon is a sturdy creature card in Magic: The Gathering, wielding enough toughness to block common attackers effectively. Its strength lies in its ability to serve as a strong defensive line, often deterring opponents from engaging in unfavorable attacks. The card doesn’t go down without a fight and can be a nuisance for strategies that rely on ground combat to seal a victory.
When facing Siege Mastodon, the key to overcoming this pachyderm is to bypass its brute strength. Utilizing flying or reach creatures can easily circumvent the Mastodon’s defenses, allowing for strikes from the air it can’t contest. Moreover, spells that cause -X/-X effects or direct removal cards can dispatch the Mastodon quickly, ensuring it doesn’t become a roadblock for long. Alternatively, taking advantage of its absence of vigilance will allow players to strategize and attack during their turn when the Mastodon is tapped and unable to block.
To sum up, while Siege Mastodon may appear daunting with its significant defensive capabilities, strategic methods via evasion, direct removal, or exploiting its tap state can ensure it’s just a temporary obstacle on the path to victory in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Siege Mastodon MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Magic 2011, 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 Siege Mastodon and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Siege Mastodon Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2019-07-12. Illustrated by Matt Cavotta.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 30 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 2 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 29 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 3 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 34 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 4 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 34 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 5 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 312 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Matt Cavotta |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Siege Mastodon 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 |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |