Possessed Centaur MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Centaur Horror
Abilities	Threshold,Trample
Released	2002-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Torment
Set code	TOR
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	137
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alex Horley-Orlandelli

Key Takeaways

It provides a significant shift in board control by turning enemy creatures to your advantage.
The threshold ability of Possessed Centaur offers surprise tactical plays during the game.
Its versatility and combo potential make it a worthy inclusion in green-centric decks.

Text of card

Trample Threshold Possessed Centaur gets +1/+1, is black, and has "o B, oc T: Destroy target green creature." (You have threshold as long as seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Possessed Centaur allows you to potentially gain control of your opponent’s creatures. This aspect isn’t just about adding a creature to your side of the battlefield, but also removing a threat from your opponent’s, effectively altering the balance of the board in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: As a 4 mana 3/3 with an impactful ability, Possessed Centaur can be considered as a form of indirect resource acceleration. While it doesn’t produce mana or lower costs of other spells, it accelerates your game plan by giving you access to additional creatures without expending extra cards from your hand.

Instant Speed: Possessed Centaur operates at sorcery speed, but its threshold ability grants it an extraordinary tactical advantage. The real power of this card shines when you reach a threshold of seven cards in your graveyard, enabling it to transform and essentially act with the surprise factor that you would typically associate with instant-speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Possessed Centaur necessitates a discard from your hand in order to transform it using its threshold ability, which can deplete your hand and reduce your options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise mix of one green and three generic mana, potentially restricting its inclusion predominantly to green-based decks and impacting mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana to cast, Possessed Centaur may compete with other cards at this mana spot that could offer immediate impact or more resilient board presence.

Reasons to Include Possessed Centaur in Your Collection

Versatility: Possessed Centaur offers a robust presence on the battlefield, fitting nicely into green-centric decks that value sturdy creatures. Its ability to become tapped to control another creature adds a layer of utility, providing a roadblock for opponents’ strategies while bolstering your board position.

Combo Potential: The tap ability of Possessed Centaur serves as an enabler for numerous combos, particularly in decks that exploit tap and untap mechanics or those that can capitalize on temporary control of opponents’ creatures for sacrifices or other synergistic effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature control is king, Possessed Centaur shines by delivering an alternative approach to deal with threats. It’s especially cogent in metas where temporary control of creatures can disrupt your opponent’s rhythm or force them to alter their game plan.

How to Beat Possessed Centaur

Possessed Centaur enters the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a unique creature card with an intriguing Threshold ability. Its ability to prevent all damage that would be dealt to it by creatures is a formidable feature, almost giving it an edge of invincibility against certain decks that rely heavily on creatures to deal combat damage.

However, to strategize against the Possessed Centaur, one could look towards non-damage based removals. Enchantments such as Pacifism or spells like Unmake offer permanent solutions that do not rely on dealing damage, thus bypassing the Centaur’s defense. Alternatively, forcing a player to sacrifice creatures, through cards like Diabolic Edict, can prove to be efficient since it sidesteps targeting the Centaur directly.

Control decks often carry board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation, which efficiently handle a wide array of threats, including the seemingly resilient Possessed Centaur. Moreover, exiling the Centaur from the graveyard can be pivotal in matches where graveyard recursion is prominent. Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus can ensure that Possessed Centaur doesn’t make a surprising return from the graveyard, solidifying your position of control in the game.

Cards like Possessed Centaur

Possessed Centaur is a unique creature card that combines the robustness of a solid creature with an intriguing control ability in Magic: The Gathering. This card finds its parallels in creatures such as Mesmeric Fiend and Brain Maggot, which also deal in the realm of controlling opponent’s hands. What makes Possessed Centaur stand out is its higher toughness and Trample ability, adding a layer of offensive capability while disrupting your adversary’s strategy.

Exploring further, we can draw a line to cards like Kitesail Freebooter and Thought-Knot Seer. Both present a similar exile effect, albeit with different conditions and outcomes. Kitesail Freebooter is more agile with a lower mana cost and flying ability, while Thought-Knot Seer provides a beefier body and affects cards of any type, not just creatures like Possessed Centaur. It’s this balance between creature strength and hand disruption that makes each card relevant in different MTG strategies.

When considering the range of creature cards with hand control powers, Possessed Centaur holds its ground as a compelling option in MTG. Its combination of combat presence and strategic interference affords players a dual-threat capability that can be crucial in tipping the scales of a match in their favor.

Cards similar to Possessed Centaur by color, type and mana cost

Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root - MTG Card versions

Woodwraith Strangler - MTG Card versions

Savra, Queen of the Golgari - MTG Card versions

Lathril, Blade of the Elves - MTG Card versions

Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord - MTG Card versions

Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions

Storrev, Devkarin Lich - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Possessed Centaur 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 Possessed Centaur and other MTG cards: