Targeting Rocket MTG Card
Text of card
Whenever you crank Targeting Rocket, target creature blocks this turn if able.
Cards like Targeting Rocket
Targeting Rocket stands out in the arsenal of direct damage spells in Magic: The Gathering. It shares parallels with cards like Shock, a staple in the red spells lineup for its straightforward damage delivery. However, what sets Targeting Rocket apart is its versatility in locking onto either a creature or a player as the target, potentially acting as either removal or a tool to close out a game. Unlike Shock, which deals a flat two damage without further player engagement.
Considering other comparative spells, we have Lava Coil, which excels at eliminating creatures with its four damage point for a similar mana cost. Yet, unlike Targeting Rocket, Lava Coil follows a more restrictive path as it can only target creatures. Taking into account the flexibility in the battlefield, you might find that the adaptability of Targeting Rocket to change game states is more advantageous than the higher damage output of Lava Coil, depending on your strategy.
Ultimately, decisions around spells like Targeting Rocket will revolve around the context of your deck and play style. As it competes in the dynamics of MTG’s direct damage spells, its utility and flexibility offer a compelling choice for players looking to maintain momentum and versatility on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Targeting Rocket by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Targeting Rocket enhances your hand by offering targeted removal, giving you the upper hand in controlling the board and outpacing your opponent’s resources.
Resource Acceleration: By dealing damage to a creature or planeswalker, this card can shift the momentum in your favor, effectively removing blockers or threats, and helping you utilize your turns more efficiently.
Instant Speed: Its instant speed allows you to respond quickly to threats, disrupt opponent strategies during their turn, and keep options open as you strategically plan your plays and bluffs.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of the Targeting Rocket card is the necessity to discard another card from your hand. This can be detrimental, especially during the late game when each card in hand is crucial for maintaining an advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Targeting Rocket requires a specific arrangement of mana to cast, including not just colorless but also red mana. This means it can’t just slot into any deck and necessitates a mana base that can reliably produce red mana, potentially limiting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Targeting Rocket’s impact on the game can be significant, its relatively high mana cost compared to other removal options might make it a less appealing choice. Players often evaluate the cost-to-impact ratio closely, and there may be other cards that achieve similar effects for less mana, increasing the overall efficiency of the deck.
Reasons to Include Targeting Rocket in Your Collection
Versatility: Targeting Rocket can easily find a home in any deck that aims for precision removal. Since it can target both creatures and planeswalkers, it becomes a flexible tool for any player facing diverse threats.
Combo Potential: Its ability to eliminate key pieces on the board opens up opportunities for other combo pieces to dominate without hindrance, paving the way for game-winning synergies.
Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving meta, having a reliable and easily accessible answer to popular threats ensures that your deck remains competitive, making Targeting Rocket a must-have for any serious player.
How to beat
Targeting Rocket may seem like an intimidating card to counter in Magic the Gathering due to its ability to pick off creatures or threaten opponents in late-game scenarios. However, various strategies can successfully mitigate its impact. One effective method is to utilize instant-speed removal spells to eliminate your own creatures in response to Targeting Rocket’s activation. This will effectively negate the spell since it loses its target, wasting your opponent’s resources.
Another strong counterplay is to maintain a wide board presence. Cards that generate multiple creature tokens can outpace the single-target removal nature of Targeting Rocket. Additionally, having creatures with hexproof or shroud inherent abilities on the battlefield means that Targeting Rocket cannot target them, thereby neutralizing its effects before it can even be a threat.
Lastly, don’t overlook the significance of counter magic. By keeping mana open for spells that can counter Targeting Rocket or any other key spells your opponent plays, you can protect your creatures and maintain your board advantage. Playing smart and maintaining control of the board is crucial when facing a potentially game-changing card such as Targeting Rocket.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Targeting Rocket MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Targeting Rocket 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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Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Targeting Rocket card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | Any Contraption that’s on the battlefield and wasn’t assembled immediately heads to the scrapyard. However, if it’s a not an actual Contraption card (like Copy Artifact isn’t), it goes to your graveyard as normal. Non-Contraption cards can’t be in the scrapyard. |
| 2018-01-19 | At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control any Contraptions, move the CRANK! counter to the next sprocket. You may then crank any number of Contraptions on that sprocket, causing their abilities to trigger. Cranking a Contraption is always optional. |
| 2018-01-19 | Contraptions are artifacts. Anything that interacts with artifacts will interact with Contraptions. |
| 2018-01-19 | Contraptions aren’t put into your main deck. They go into a separate deck called the Contraption deck. |
| 2018-01-19 | If a Contraption would leave the battlefield and go to any zone other than exile, it instead goes to the scrapyard, the Contraption deck’s version of the graveyard. Things that affect the graveyard do not affect the scrapyard. You can exile Contraptions just fine. |
| 2018-01-19 | If you crank multiple Contraptions, their abilities can be put onto the stack in any order. The ability put onto the stack will resolve first. |
| 2018-01-19 | If you or a permanent you control are instructed to assemble a Contraption, reveal the top card of your Contraption deck. Put it onto the battlefield on one of the three sprockets. |
| 2018-01-19 | If you or a permanent you control assembles a Contraption and your Contraption deck is empty, nothing happens. You don’t lose the game. |
| 2018-01-19 | In Constructed formats, a Contraption deck must have at least fifteen different Contraption cards and no more than one of each. |
| 2018-01-19 | In Limited formats, a Contraption deck may include any number of Contraption cards in your card pool. You don’t have to include every Contraption card you draft or open in sealed deck. In those formats, your Contraption deck may include duplicates. |
| 2018-01-19 | In silver-bordered games using Contraptions, you have three sprockets, illustrated on the back of Contraption cards. At the start of the game, put a CRANK! counter on sprocket 3. |
| 2018-01-19 | While Contraptions you control are on the battlefield, the Contraption deck is not, even if you are using it to signify the three sprockets. |