Tolarian Terror MTG Card
2022-09-09 - Number 72
2022-09-09 - Number 18
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Serpent |
| Abilities | Ward |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
This spell costs less to cast for each instant and sorcery card in your graveyard. Ward (Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays .)
Afterward, a number of treatises on sea serpent morphology were swiftly revised.
Cards like Tolarian Terror
The power and potential of Tolarian Terror in any MTG deck can’t be overlooked. Its natural habitat is in decks filled with a high density of instants and sorceries. This principle echoes the traits of Enigma Drake, another creature that benefits from a spell-slinging strategy. While Tolarian Terror gains its formidable strength only from the graveyard, Enigma Drake takes into account both the graveyard and cards in hand, leading to a dynamically evolving threat on board.
We also see parallels with Crackling Drake that, similar to Enigma Drake, calculates power based on instants and sorceries in the graveyard and in exile. However, Tolarian Terror has the added advantage of being unblockable when you’ve cast a historic spell, escalating its danger. Then there’s the budget-friendly comparison with Spellheart Chimera, which presents an efficient cost but lacks the impactful evasion Tolarian Terror offers.
When diving into the blue segment of MTG, Tolarian Terror stands out for players seeking to stealthily tip the scales in their favor. With strategic deck building around historic spells, it can rapidly become an unassailable force that defines the pace of the game.
Cards similar to Tolarian Terror by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Tolarian Terror. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Blue Delver | Pauper | Mono-Blue Delver | Pauper League 2024-05-15 |
 | UR | Pauper | Pauper League 2024-05-14 | |
 | Dimir Control | Pauper | Dimir Control | Pauper League 2024-05-16 |
| URG | Pauper | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-05-18 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tolarian Terror offers a significant strategic edge by enabling the setup for card draw mechanisms, as it becomes more potent with a filled graveyard. This can potentially feed into other card draw strategies, bolstering your hand and giving you more options during the gameplay.
Resource Acceleration: As a high-powered creature, Tolarian Terror can be a catalyst for strategies that capitalize on creature-based synergies. Its presence on the battlefield can accelerate your game plan by applying pressure and leveraging its sizable stats to influence various resource-based strategies.
Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant itself, Tolarian Terror influences the importance of playing at instant speed. By rewarding a playstyle that fills the graveyard with instants and other cards, it endorses a reactive and flexible approach, making it a formidable threat when played at the right moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Tolarian Terror comes with a stipulation that can affect the flow of your game: in order to cast it for its reduced mana cost, you must discard a card. This can lead to difficult decisions, especially if your hand contains key pieces that are vital to your strategy. Discarding a valuable card can sometimes cost you the game if you’re not careful with your resource management.
Specific Mana Cost: Tolarian Terror’s casting cost includes blue mana. This specificity necessitates a commitment to blue mana sources within your deck. While this synergizes well with blue’s typical themes and strategies, it does mean that the card is less flexible and is not a simple include for every type of deck. Players running multi-colored decks may find it challenging to meet the mana requirements at times.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though Tolarian Terror has the potential for a reduced casting cost, its base mana requirement is fairly high. Coming in at six mana for a 5/5 creature, there are other options in the same mana range that may provide additional benefits or impacts on the board. Competitive decks often look for efficiency in their mana expenditure, and without a reliable way to ensure Tolarian Terror can be played for its alternative cost, some players may deem it too costly for the effect.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tolarian Terror is a powerhouse in blue builds that thrive on having a substantial number of instants and sorceries in the graveyard. It can easily slide into decks aiming for a high spell count, becoming a win-condition behemoth as the game progresses.
Combo Potential: This card not only synergizes well with graveyard-filling strategies but it can also become an unstoppable force when combined with cards that give unblockable abilities, ensuring that its massive damage potential isn’t just theoretical.
Meta-Relevance: As a card that can quickly turn the tides in a late-game scenario, Tolarian Terror holds its ground in environments where controlling the board and late-game finishers are key to clinching the win.
How to beat
Tolarian Terror in the magic universe is an imposing presence, embedding fear into the hearts of opponents. This creature card elevates sea monster decks to a new level, boasting formidable stats that can quickly turn the tide of battle. But how do you topple such a leviathan in a match?
Combatting Tolarian Terror begins with understanding its weaknesses. Since the terror lies beneath the waves, spells that can override its ward ability, such as direct removal or board wipes, are vital. Subdue this beast before it becomes monstrous, as countering it upon casting is often your best bet. Should the terror hit the board, keep removal spells in hand, and remember that despite its size, enchantments for control or pacifism render it harmless. Furthermore, utilizing strategies that bypass creature combat, like mill or burn, can prove effective in bringing down opponents without confronting Tolarian Terror head-on.
In essence, your arsenal should be versatile enough to address this and other massive threats. Precise timing and clever deck building can assure that even the most intimidating sea monster doesn’t stand a chance in the vast world of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tolarian Terror MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United and Dominaria United Art Series, 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 Tolarian Terror 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
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Printings
The Tolarian Terror Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Vincent Christiaens.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 72 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Christiaens | |
| 2 | Dominaria United Art Series | ADMU | 18 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Vincent Christiaens |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tolarian Terror has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tolarian Terror card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-09-09 | To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions (such as that of Tolarian Terror). The mana value of the spell is determined by only its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast that spell was. |
| 2022-09-09 | Tolarian Terror’s first ability can’t reduce the in its cost. |