Thunderous Orator MTG Card


Thunderous Orator - Strixhaven: School of Mages
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Kor Wizard
Abilities Vigilance
Released2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameStrixhaven: School of Mages
Set codeSTX
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number35
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBrian Valeza

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage by borrowing abilities from other creatures, enabling diverse combat strategies.
  2. Indirectly accelerates resources by pressuring opponents to respond to its versatile threat.
  3. Gains instant combat benefits when combined with creatures having flash or similar effects.

Text of card

Vigilance Whenever Thunderous Orator attacks, it gains flying until end of turn if you control a creature with flying. The same is true for first strike, double strike, deathtouch, indestructible, lifelink, menace, and trample.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thunderous Orator offers a variable source of card advantage depending on the other creatures you control. If paired with creatures with key abilities like vigilance, lifelink, or flying, you can potentially draw cards or create favorable combat interactions each turn.

Resource Acceleration: Although Thunderous Orator itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its versatility can lead to an indirectly faster gameplay. By forcing opponents to deal with it or the array of abilities it can potentially have, you can accelerate your board state while others are still setting up defenses.

Instant Speed: While Thunderous Orator isn’t an instant itself, its ability to gain abilities from other creatures can be a significant advantage during combat. For instance, if you have a creature with flash that enters the battlefield during combat, the Orator can suddenly gain and utilize new abilities at instant speed, throwing off your opponent’s strategy and potentially changing the outcome of the battle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Thunderous Orator doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, maintaining a strong hand to capitalize on its abilities might indirectly pressure players to avoid discarding, potentially limiting strategic flexibility.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for the Orator is specifically white, which may restrict it to decks heavy in white mana or require careful mana base planning in multicolored decks to ensure it can be played on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, there are instances where Thunderous Orator might be considered high-cost, particularly if other low-cost creatures with immediate impact are competing for a slot in the 2-mana curve in your deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thunderous Orator boasts adaptability, easily sliding into various deck archetypes. With its ability to gain multiple keywords based on other creatures you control, it works well in decks rich in creatures with flying, vigilance, double strike, or other abilities.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in the presence of creatures with diverse abilities, its own power enhancing the more varied your battlefield becomes. It’s primed to be a combo piece in intricate builds that revolve around keyword synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creatures often carry key roles, having an affordable creature that can be a Swiss Army knife on the battlefield makes Thunderous Orator a relevant choice for many players looking to outmaneuver their opponents with a dynamic and unpredictable creature.


How to beat

Thunderous Orator is a versatile card in Magic: The Gathering, delivering value in decks that harness a diverse array of creatures with different abilities. This creature leverages those varied powers, gaining them whenever it attacks provided you control another creature with the respective ability. However, like any formidable card, there are strategies to manage and ultimately outplay it.

To effectively neutralize the advantage of Thunderous Orator, controlling the battlefield is key. Employ removal spells to clear out creatures that offer abilities to the Orator. Spot removal spells such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can disrupt your opponent’s strategy by targeting key creatures they possess, minimizing the range of abilities Thunderous Orator can acquire. Moreover, using board wipes like Doomskar or Wrath of God can reset the board, depriving the Orator of any advantage.

Another approach is to employ enchantments like Pacifism or Ice Over to incapacitate it without removing it from the board, thus preventing it from attacking and utilizing its ability-copying feature. Utilizing counter spells to prevent the Orator from hitting the battlefield in the first place is also an effective measure to keep the opponent’s game plan in check.

In sum, understanding the mechanics of Thunderous Orator and employing targeted removal, strategic use of control spells, and clever deck building can turn the tide against this card, ensuring your victory on the battlefield.


Cards like Thunderous Orator

Thunderous Orator holds an interesting position in the pool of creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It shares certain characteristics with cards like Mantis Rider, which is known for its flying, vigilance, and haste abilities. However, Thunderous Orator comes with the versatility to acquire not just one but various keywords based on what other creatures you control. Mantis Rider offers a predictable set of abilities, whereas Thunderous Orator’s potential fluctuates with the battlefield.

Comparably, Squadron Hawk provides the flying aspect but offers more of a deck searching advantage rather than the Orator’s adaptive combat abilities. Both contribute to the aerial offense, but Thunderous Orator extends the dynamic by potentially adopting lifelink, trample, or double strike from other creatures, thus fitting various strategic molds.

Examining creatures with keyword multiplicity, Odric, Lunarch Marshal, stands out. This card ensures that at the beginning of each combat, creatures you control gain every keyword present on your creatures. Although Odric affects the entire battlefield and not just himself, he requires a longer setup in a turn. Thunderous Orator requires fewer resources, making it a nimble choice when looking to efficiently capitalize on keyword synergies.

Mantis Rider - MTG Card versions
Squadron Hawk - MTG Card versions
Odric, Lunarch Marshal - MTG Card versions
Mantis Rider - MTG Card versions
Squadron Hawk - MTG Card versions
Odric, Lunarch Marshal - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thunderous Orator MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Thunderous Orator and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thunderous Orator has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thunderous Orator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-04-16 Check the creatures you control as the triggered ability resolves to determine which abilities Thunderous Orator gains. Once Thunderous Orator gains an ability, it doesn’t matter what happens to other creatures you control with that ability.
2021-04-16 If you control a creature with one of the abilities listed in the last sentence, Thunderous Orator will gain the that ability, not flying.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.