Tough Cookie MTG Card


Grants enduring presence on the battlefield with its robust defenses and instant speed flexibility. Challenges include a specific mana cost and potential for reducing hand size upon use. Complemented by similar protective spells, offering strategic depth to players’ collections.
Tough Cookie - Wilds of Eldraine
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Food Golem
Abilities Food
Released2023-09-08
Set symbol
Set nameWilds of Eldraine
Set codeWOE
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number193
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMilivoj Ćeran

Text of card

When Tough Cookie enters the battlefield, create a Food token. (It's an artifact with ", , Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.") : Target noncreature artifact you control becomes a 4/4 artifact creature until end of turn. , , Sacrifice Tough Cookie: You gain 3 life.


Cards like Tough Cookie

Tough Cookie fits nicely into the array of protective spells in Magic: The Gathering. It finds its closest relatives in cards like Shielded by Faith, which also grants indestructible to a creature, ensuring its survival against most threats. What sets Tough Cookie apart is its specificity—targeting only creature cards that are food. Shielded by Faith offers more versatility by not limiting its protection to a particular creature subtype.

Another kin in Tough Cookie’s category is Blossoming Defense. This spell offers a quick and less expensive way to shield a creature, giving it not only a boost to its power but also hexproof to ward off targeted spells or abilities. Though it doesn’t have the enduring indestructible effect Tough Cookie provides, the immediate power surge can be pivotal during combat.

Finally, considering the balance of cost versus effect, Tough Cookie holds its own amongst its counterparts. Its unique thematic focus on food creatures may appeal to a niche market, but for those players, it’s a flavorful and strategic choice to fortify their edible allies on the battlefield.

Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
Blossoming Defense - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
Blossoming Defense - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Tough Cookie by color, type and mana cost

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Mask of the Jadecrafter - MTG Card versions
Ozolith, the Shattered Spire - MTG Card versions
Timber Paladin - MTG Card versions
Explorer's Cache - MTG Card versions
Power Fist - MTG Card versions
Moss Diamond - MTG Card versions
Kolvori, God of Kinship // The Ringhart Crest - MTG Card versions
Copper Myr - MTG Card versions
Horned Helm - MTG Card versions
Wall of Tanglecord - MTG Card versions
Narnam Cobra - MTG Card versions
Woodweaver's Puzzleknot - MTG Card versions
Verdant Automaton - MTG Card versions
Vivien's Arkbow - MTG Card versions
Bag of Tricks - MTG Card versions
Ranger's Longbow - MTG Card versions
Belt of Giant Strength - MTG Card versions
Pool of Vigorous Growth - MTG Card versions
Bramble Armor - MTG Card versions
Boxing Ring - MTG Card versions
Mask of the Jadecrafter - MTG Card versions
Ozolith, the Shattered Spire - MTG Card versions
Timber Paladin - MTG Card versions
Explorer's Cache - MTG Card versions
Power Fist - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Tough Cookie. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Simic Artifact AggroSimic Artifact Aggro StandardSimic Artifact AggroTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 4, 2024
Abzan ComboAbzan Combo ModernSpring Modern Championship
Lonis ComboLonis Combo ModernLonis ComboModern Challenge 96 2024-03-30
Simic AggroSimic Aggro StandardSimic Artifact AggroCCG Standard
Golgari MidrangeGolgari Midrange StandardGolgari MidrangeThe Pizza Box Open: Standard
Gruul Artifact AggroGruul Artifact Aggro StandardGruul Artifact AggroTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 18, 2024
Simic ArtifactsSimic Artifacts StandardSimic Artifact Aggro16 Day2
Golgari ComboGolgari Combo StandardGolgari MidrangeReCQ - Standard - SCG CON Philadelphia - Saturday - 12:00 pm (Bronze)
Naya ExileNaya Exile StandardNaya ExileStandard Challenge 32 2024-03-09
BGBG PioneerPioneer Preliminary 2024-03-06 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tough Cookie offers the ability to potentially neutralize threats while not losing a card from hand, thereby keeping your resources flush and often leaving you with more cards than your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This card can synergize with strategies that benefit from having creatures entering the battlefield or dying, helping to ramp up your board presence or enable key mechanics to turn the tide in your favor rapidly.

Instant Speed: The versatility of playing Tough Cookie at instant speed provides a strategic upper hand, allowing you to surprise opponents by strengthening a creature during combat or in response to an enemy spell, catching adversaries off guard and disrupting their plans.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tough Cookie requires discarding a card, which potentially depletes your hand, making it challenging to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands an exact blend of mana types, which can be restrictive and difficult to achieve in multicolored decks, limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its abilities, Tough Cookie’s mana cost is on the higher side, making it less attractive when compared to other options that could fit more efficiently into a deck’s curve.


Reasons to Include Tough Cookie in Your Collection

Versatility: Tough Cookie provides utility across various deck types, be it for its sturdy defensive capability or as an aggressive option in decks that capitalize on creature strength.

Combo Potential: This card can work seamlessly with strategies aimed at boosting toughness to unlock synergies, or to serve as a resilient threat that’s hard to remove.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment dominated by damage-based removal, Tough Cookie shines as a robust creature that can withstand common threats and impact board stability.


How to beat

Tough Cookie is a card that can be a real challenge to tackle in Magic: The Gathering. Its resilience and potential to stand strong against various types of removal can make it a formidable presence on the battlefield. To effectively counter this hardy card, players should consider strategies that don’t rely on straight-up destruction. Edicts that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures can sidestep Tough Cookie’s durability. Utilizing exile effects can be another route, as exiling bypasses any indestructibility or regeneration tricks that Tough Cookie might have up its sleeve.

Subverting the usual combat dynamics can also serve as a solution. Employing cards with various “tuck” mechanics, which put Tough Cookie back into the owner’s library, could be effective. Alternatively, taking control of Tough Cookie with cards that can steal creatures will turn this tenacious card to your advantage, stripping your opponent of their defenses. It’s important to consider that although Tough Cookie sounds daunting, MTG’s vast array of spells and abilities offer numerous pathways to cleverly handle such sturdy threats on the board, ultimately turning the tide of the game in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players know that card selection can make or break a match. With Tough Cookie, you’re looking at a unique and potentially game-changing addition to your deck. Its ability to dodge common removal tactics and enhance your creature’s survivability can significantly affect the board state. However, balancing the card’s pros and cons is key to harnessing its full potential. Interested in incorporating Tough Cookie’s strengths into your strategy and overcoming its drawbacks? Dive deeper with us to optimize your deck’s performance and discover comprehensive strategies that allow you to deploy Tough Cookie strategically, ensuring your MTG battles turn in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tough Cookie MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine, 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 Tough Cookie and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tough Cookie has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-09-01 As Tough Cookie's second ability resolves, the target permanent keeps any other types and subtypes it had before it became an artifact creature.
2023-09-01 Food is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some creatures, it’s never a creature type.
2023-09-01 If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Tough Cookie to activate the last ability of Sweettooth Witch.
2023-09-01 Some spells and abilities that create Food tokens may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won’t resolve. You won’t create any Food tokens.
2023-09-01 Whatever you do, don’t eat the delicious cards.
2023-09-01 You can’t sacrifice a Food to pay multiple costs. For example, you can’t sacrifice a Food token to activate its own ability and also to activate the last ability of Sweettooth Witch.