Loathsome Catoblepas MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Beast
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	95
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Burdett

Key Takeaways

Loathsome Catoblepas can serve as a powerful removal tool, capable of shaping the battlefield upon death.
Its ability’s mana cost and color specificity impact its overall flexibility within various deck builds.
Despite its higher casting cost, it remains a versatile creature, suitable for strategic control decks.

Text of card

: Loathsome Catoblepas must be blocked this turn if able. When Loathsome Catoblepas dies, target creature an opponent controls gets -3/-3 until end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Loathsome Catoblepas allows you to impact the board state by potentially removing an opponent’s key creature when it comes into play. By doing so, you could diminish their resources while maintaining your own creature count.

Resource Acceleration: While Loathsome Catoblepas itself does not directly offer resource acceleration, its presence can lead to a more favorable board position, indirectly accelerating your game plan by dealing with threats cost-effectively.

Instant Speed: Though the Catoblepas’ triggered ability is not instant speed, the flexibility it provides in gameplay enables you to plan your turns efficiently. The threat of activation influences your opponent’s decisions, which can be as pivotal as the action itself.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Loathsome Catoblepas demands a specific action to utilize its full potential. Players must tap a substantial amount of mana to activate its ability. This can be a tactical setback when you’ve meticulously curated your hand for a strategic late-game play, only to be forced to invest heavily just to get your creature’s ability off the ground.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s casting cost includes a precise combination of mana, specifically black. This requirement can make it less versatile, particularly in decks that either can’t produce black mana reliably or have a mana base that’s stretched among multiple colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that may be considered on the higher side for what it offers, Loathsome Catoblepas places a considerable demand on your mana resources. In faster-paced games or against decks that rapidly churn out threats, dedicating six mana to bring this creature to the battlefield can feel inefficient, especially considering alternate cards with greater impact or lower mana investments.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Loathsome Catoblepas can be a flexible addition to a variety of decks, finding its place comfortably in strategies rooted in creature control. Its ability to potentially destroy a creature with a powered-up toughness makes it a handy option to have against tougher opponents.

Combo Potential: Its death-triggered ability offers synergy with decks that capitalize on targeted removal, also playing well with strategies that manipulate the power and toughness of creatures to set up kills.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where high-toughness creatures are prevalent, Loathsome Catoblepas can serve as a tech card, potentially swinging games by removing key blockers or threats. This could prove especially useful in matchups where board control is critical.

How to beat

Loathsome Catoblepas is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that can present a tactical challenge on the battlefield. This black creature from the Theros set brings a valuable tool to the table with its ability to make creatures your opponents control get -2/-2 until the end of the turn when it dies. However, a well-timed removal or bounce spell can negate this effect altogether, rendering the threat manageable.

When dueling against a deck that wields this particular card, it’s crucial to hold back instant-speed removal until the Catoblepas poses a real threat or is about to activate its ability. This way, you can decide the flow of combat or the board state before it can utilize its death-triggered ability. Additionally, countering it upon casting ensures that the creature does not hit the battlefield at all, hence its ability won’t get a chance to impact the game in your opponent’s favor. Cards like Essence Scatter or Negate are perfect examples of control elements that can effectively counter creature spells or abilities, respectively.

Mastering the timing and strategy to deal with Loathsome Catoblepas can solidify a player’s control over the game, emphasizing tactical play and the importance of reactive spells in a strategic Magic: The Gathering matchup.

Cards like Loathsome Catoblepas

Loathsome Catoblepas stands out as a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering with its distinct ability to potentially doom an opponent’s creature upon death. When compared to other cards like Nekrataal, another creature that also offers a form of removal, Catoblepas allows for more strategic board control due to its death-triggered ability. Unlike Nekrataal, it does not provide immediate impact as it doesn’t have an enters-the-battlefield effect, thus requiring a more patient setup.

Pit Fight offers a similar ability in terms of creature removal, albeit as an instant that forces two creatures to fight. While it allows for instant speed interaction, it doesn’t leave behind a creature presence the way Loathsome Catoblepas does. A closer match is Spark Harvest, providing targeted creature removal, but also demands a sacrifice, giving it added versatility at the cost of personal resources.

Each card brings a slightly different tactical advantage to the table. While Loathsome Catoblepas serves as both a creature and removal tool, it’s conditional and can be less immediate than alternatives like Nekrataal or Pit Fight, yet offers potential for greater board influence in the long-term compared to the instant removals like Spark Harvest.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Loathsome Catoblepas MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Loathsome Catoblepas and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Loathsome Catoblepas has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-15	If Loathsome Catoblepas is attacking and its activated ability has resolved, the defending player must assign at least one blocker to it during the declare blockers step if that player controls any creatures that could block it.
2013-09-15	The activated ability doesn't target any creature or make any specific creature have to block. Activating it more than once in a turn provides no additional benefit.