Stonework Puma MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Stonework Puma doesn’t directly offer card draw, its Tribal type allows for potential synergy with cards that care about Allies or Cats, potentially giving you an indirect card advantage through beneficial tribe-based interactions.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct accelerator, this card’s modest mana cost makes it a seamless addition to any curve, aiding in maintaining a steady deployment of creatures and resources throughout the game.

Instant Speed: Although Stonework Puma itself is a creature cast at sorcery speed, it can harmonize with other cards in your deck that operate at instant speed. For instance, in decks that utilize flash mechanics or instant speed buffs, Stonework Puma can be a reliable target during your main phase, ready to be enhanced during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s actions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Stonework Puma doesn’t have a direct discard impact, though it doesn’t mitigate the setback of one being low on hand size. In a game scenario where card advantage is key, having a creature without intrinsic value-add can be felt more acutely.

Specific Mana Cost: This card asks for a generic mana cost which provides flexibility, but this doesn’t inherently make it a fit for every deck type. In tactical plays that revolve around color-specific synergies, Stonework Puma might not be the ideal inclusion.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three for a 2/2 creature, some players might find it less appealing compared to other creatures at the same cost that offer additional abilities or higher stats.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Stonework Puma is an adaptable card, seamlessly fitting into Artifact and Ally tribal decks. Its creature type ensures it can play a supportive role in various strategies that capitalize on type synergies.

Combo Potential: As an Ally, it has the potential to work well with other cards that trigger or benefit from Ally entry effects, enabling numerous combo possibilities within Ally-centric decks.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature type matters and tribal themes are prevalent, Stonework Puma can serve as a low-cost enabler, potentially impacting the board by enhancing the power of other tribal members.

How to Beat Stonework Puma

Stonework Puma, while not an overwhelmingly powerful card, is a reliable creature in certain MTG decks due to its “Ally” typing. It synergizes well within Ally-based strategies, often found in the Zendikar block. To effectively counter this card, it is advantageous to disrupt its synergy rather than focusing on the Puma itself. Targeted removal spells can be useful for this, especially those that can handle multiple creatures at once, like board wipes which can dismantle the Ally network it belongs to, thereby reducing its impact on the board.

Another strategy is to outpace the presence of the Puma by deploying larger creatures quickly, overshadowing its moderate stats. Include robust, bigger threats in your deck that demand an immediate answer from your opponent. In addition, spells that grant your creatures protection from colors or make them unblockable can bypass Stonework Puma, allowing you to swing for damage directly and apply pressure. Ultimately, by undermining the Puma’s allies, overpowering it with stronger creatures, or simply evading it, you can nullify the advantages it brings to the battlefield.