Krosan Constrictor MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Snake
Abilities	Swampwalk
Released	2002-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Torment
Set code	TOR
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	129
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jim Nelson

Key Takeaways

Krosan Constrictor helps maintain card advantage through deterrence and interaction at instant speed.
Its discard requirement and the specific mana cost can be restrictive to players with varied decks.
Versatility and meta relevance make it a card worth considering for targeted deck strategies.

Text of card

Swampwalk oc T: Target black creature gets -2/-0 until end of turn.

"It's a slithering, coldblooded menace. I've gotta respect that." —Braids, dementia summoner

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Krosan Constrictor is particularly useful for those decks looking to sustain momentum through creature control. While it doesn’t draw cards directly, its ability can deter opponents from attacking, preventing loss of your own creatures and effectively maintaining card advantage on the board.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Krosan Constrictor itself does not produce additional mana or tokens, it can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by dealing with threats efficiently. This allows you to use your mana for developing your board rather than constantly handling opponents’ creatures.

Instant Speed: One of the standout qualities of Krosan Constrictor is its interaction with instant-speed spells. While the card itself may not be an instant, its synergy with flash mechanics or abilities that benefit from the creatures being tapped (such as those that deal damage to tapped creatures or allow you to draw cards), make it a strategic asset during all phases of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Krosan Constrictor’s ability to force an opponent to discard a card comes at the cost of discarding one of your own. This can put you at a disadvantage, particularly when your hand is already running low on options.

Specific Mana Cost: Krosan Constrictor demands a dedicated green mana as part of its casting cost. This requirement can restrict the card’s inclusion to decks that are heavily green or that have reliable mana fixing to accommodate such specificity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its ability and power level, some players might find the mana investment for Krosan Constrictor a bit steep. In the realm of green creatures and control cards, there might be alternatives that offer a better cost-to-impact ratio, potentially relegating Krosan Constrictor to a less favorable spot in deck construction.

Reasons to Include Krosan Constrictor in Your Collection

Versatility: Krosan Constrictor is a flexible inclusion for decks needing a robust blocker or able to take advantage of its swampwalk ability. Perfect for black-based decks, it adapts to various in-game situations, bolstering your defense or sneaking past an opponent’s lines when swamps are in play.

Combo Potential: This snake shines when paired with cards that change lands into swamps or with effects that benefit from creatures dealing combat damage to a player. Its capacity to evade and consistently hit the opponent opens up opportunities for interesting card interactions and combos.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where black decks or those featuring swamp-type lands are prevalent, Krosan Constrictor can become a strategic asset. Its inherent evasion mechanism makes it a worthy consideration for sideboards or as a meta call in your main deck to gain an edge over swamp-reliant opponents.

How to beat

With the Krosan Constrictor card shaking up strategy in Magic: The Gathering, players are seeking methods to outmaneuver its influence. This snake can be a real threat due to its deathtouch ability, making any creature it touches fatally vulnerable. Despite its power, there are tactics to effectively combat this pest.

Firstly, utilizing removal spells that don’t involve combat, such as ‘Murder’ or ‘Doom Blade’, can safely eliminate the Krosan Constrictor without risking your creatures. Cards with mass removal effects, for example ‘Day of Judgment’ or ‘Wrath of God’, can also clear the board, including the Krosan Constrictor, without engaging it directly in battle.

Moreover, invoking creatures with the reach or flying ability sidelines the Krosan Constrictor, as it lacks the capacity to block them. This provides a safe route to attack your opponent and maintain board control. Taking these approaches, players can effectively neutralize the Krosan Constrictor, turning the tide of the match in their favor.

Cards like Krosan Constrictor

Krosan Constrictor stands as an interesting creature card in the MTG universe, commonly compared to other cards that offer similar utility in the monstrosity of the green deck arsenal. A parallel that comes to mind is Grappler Spider, which also boasts a knack for catching opponents off guard with reach, albeit with a lower power and toughness. What sets Krosan Constrictor apart is its ability to use its entwine cost, offering the flexibility of choosing between a simple fight effect or enhancing the card with the entwine feature in a single move.

Another creature that emerges for comparison is the Nessian Asp, which shares the inherent quality of reaching for those pesky flying creatures. While Nessian Asp doesn’t have the fight ability, it scales in power and toughness through its monstrous ability, becoming an even larger threat as the game progresses. The key decision for players between these cards circles around immediate board impact versus potential for growth.

Ultimately, choosing to include Krosan Constrictor in a deck comes down to appreciating its upfront versatility against airborne threats and direct creature removal, adding a dynamic layer to green’s characteristic muscle and might in MTG.

Cards similar to Krosan Constrictor by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Krosan Constrictor MTG card by a specific set like Torment, 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 Krosan Constrictor and other MTG cards: