Rock Badger MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Badger Beast
Abilities Mountainwalk
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Evasion through mountainwalk offers a tactical edge in red-centric metagames for consistent combat damage.
  2. Rapid deployment at a low mana cost aids tempo, while synergy with instant speed spells enhances play.
  3. Demands a specific mana alignment and might not mesh with every deck, offering alternatives for resource allocation.

Text of card

Mountainwalk (This creature is unblockable as long as defending player controls a mountain.)

The Kyren goblins created most of the inverted mountain's tunnels simply by driving the beast before them.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Rock Badger itself may not draw cards directly, its evasion ability sets up potential for card advantage by consistently dealing combat damage, which could be leveraged in red strategies that reward you for successful attacks.

Resource Acceleration: Although Rock Badger doesn’t provide resource acceleration in the form of additional mana or tokens, its relatively low converted mana cost allows for swift deployment, contributing to tempo and enabling quicker plays or reinforcements on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Rock Badger, as a creature, doesn’t operate at instant speed, yet it synergizes well with cards that do. Its mountainwalk ability can be maximized by cards that change land types at instant speed, catching an opponent unawares and slipping through defenses right when it matters most.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Rock Badger, while a unique addition to the battlefield, demands players to remove valuable cards from their hands to initiate specific abilities. This can undermine your game if your hand is already stretched thin by other demands.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card necessitates a precise mana alignment to be played efficiently. Sporting a predominantly red mana cost, it might not fit seamlessly into all deck archetypes, especially those that don’t capitalize on mountain mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the Rock Badger commanding a substantial portion of your mana pool to hit the board, it’s integral to consider the opportunity cost. In the realm of MTG, where resource allocation is crucial, there are alternative creatures or spells that could potentially offer a greater advantage for the same, if not lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Rock Badger in Your Collection

Versatility: Rock Badger can adapt to various strategies, seamlessly fitting into red-based control or aggro decks that can benefit from its evasion ability, allowing it to avoid creatures without mountainwalk.

Combo Potential: This creature offers synergy with cards that capitalize on land types or benefit from unblocked attackers, potentially enabling intriguing combinations within the right deck build.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where ground stalls are common, Rock Badger’s mountainwalk can be a decisive factor, slipping past defenses to secure damage on opponents with mountainous terrain.


How to beat

Rock Badger, a creature card in Magic the Gathering, presents a distinctive quality with its mountainwalk ability, allowing it to be unblockable as long as the opponent controls a Mountain. While it may appear challenging at first glance, especially against decks heavy on red mana, there are straightforward strategies to overcome this wily creature.

One of the most effective tactics is to limit the availability of Mountains on the opponent’s battlefield. Land alteration spells that change a land’s type can effectively neutralize Rock Badger’s advantage. Additionally, utilizing creatures with reach or aerial capabilities can help fortify your defenses against other potential threats. In games where Rock Badger might be leveraged, having such defense mechanisms in place can give you an upper hand in maintaining control over the board state.

Bearing in mind these strategies, Rock Badger can transform from a daunting obstacle to a manageable challenge on the battlefield. With the right mix of land control and versatile defenses, players can effectively counteract the advantages that Rock Badger brings to the table, ensuring a more leveled playing field during the match.


Cards like Rock Badger

Rock Badger enters the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering as a unique creature card with the mountainwalk ability, enabling it to be unblockable as long as the opponent controls a Mountain. Within the realm of evasion abilities, Rock Badger has cousins like River Bear, which boasts the forestwalk ability. Both share the constructive feature of being virtually unblockable in the right circumstances, though they appeal to different deck themes.

Looking at other creatures sharing a similar mana cost, Alpine Grizzly is a straightforward alternative, offering a more aggressive power stance straight out of the gate without relying on specialized board conditions like land types. Yet it lacks the strategic evasion that Rock Badger provides. Canyon Wildcat is another card that can sneak past defenses with its plainswalk ability and comes at a lower mana cost, making it more accessible earlier in the game but with the tradeoff of less impact in the later stages.

These comparisons highlight Rock Badger’s niche within Magic: The Gathering—a card well-suited for games where Mountain lands are prevalent, tipping the scales with its specialized form of evasion in specific metagames or deck constructions.

River Bear - MTG Card versions
Alpine Grizzly - MTG Card versions
Canyon Wildcat - MTG Card versions
River Bear - Portal Second Age (P02)
Alpine Grizzly - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Canyon Wildcat - Tempest (TMP)

Cards similar to Rock Badger by color, type and mana cost

Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Ravaging Horde - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Thundering Giant - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Savage Firecat - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Fire Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Earth Elemental - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Eron the Relentless - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Balduvian War-Makers - Alliances (ALL)
Hivis of the Scale - Mirage (MIR)
Hulking Cyclops - Visions (VIS)
Flame Spirit - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Salamander - Tempest (TMP)
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Ravaging Horde - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Covetous Dragon - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Thundering Giant - Tenth Edition (10E)
Dwarven Strike Force - Odyssey (ODY)
Savage Firecat - Odyssey (ODY)
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Tephraderm - Onslaught (ONS)
Avarax - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Bonethorn Valesk - Scourge (SCG)
Frost Ogre - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Heartless Hidetsugu - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rock Badger MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Tenth Edition, 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 Rock Badger and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rock Badger Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by Heather Hudson.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 2101997normalblackHeather Hudson
22007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 2262003normalblackHeather Hudson
32007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 226★2003normalblackHeather Hudson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rock Badger has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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