Tyrant of Valakut MTG Card

Surge cost enables real board impact by offering cost-efficient plays and potential direct damage. Strategizing with instants can maximize this dragon’s surge ability for a dominating presence. High mana cost demands careful deck construction to fully unleash Tyrant of Valakut’s power.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Dragon
Abilities Flying,Surge
Power 5
Toughness 4

Text of card

Surge (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.) Flying When Tyrant of Valakut enters the battlefield, if its surge cost was paid, it deals 3 damage to any target.

Cards like Tyrant of Valakut

Tyrant of Valakut offers a dynamic strategy for players seeking to elevate their red decks’ damage-dealing capabilities in Magic: The Gathering. It presents some parallels with other formidable dragons in the game, such as Drakuseth, Maw of Flames, which also delivers a potent impact upon entering the battlefield. Drakuseth, however, delivers more targeted damage divided among multiple targets which can sweep across the opponent’s board or hit direct to the life points, unlike Tyrant of Valakut’s single target mandatory surge trigger.

Likewise, Thundermaw Hellkite emerges as a comparison point with its immediate board influence by dealing with flying creatures and clearing the way for an attack. Although Thundermaw Hellkite’s efficiency is impressive, what makes Tyrant of Valakut stand out is the surge mechanic, providing a cost reduction and guaranteed damage if you played another spell before it, rewarding strategic play sequences. Additionally, for those valuing immediacy, Spawn of Thraxes might come to mind, which deals damage based on the number of mountains you control upon casting. However, it doesn’t have the same cost advantage that Tyrant of Valakut’s surge ability potentially offers.

When analyzing these dragons, Tyrant of Valakut is an enticing option for those who craft their plays for maximum impact, leveraging its surge ability to deliver a substantial damage turn.

Drakuseth, Maw of Flames - MTG Card versions
Thundermaw Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Spawn of Thraxes - MTG Card versions
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames - MTG Card versions
Thundermaw Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Spawn of Thraxes - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When the Tyrant of Valakut enters the battlefield, if you’ve achieved surge cost, it lets you deal 3 damage to a target – which could mean drawing out a counter or removal from your opponent, leaving the way clearer for your subsequent plays. It can act as a pseudo-card advantage by affecting the board state directly on entry.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration, the surge mechanic of Tyrant of Valakut rewards you for playing multiple spells in a single turn. This can synergize with decks that ramp up mana quickly or cast low-cost spells, enabling a potentially earlier, discounted drop of this considerable threat.

Instant Speed: Although Tyrant of Valakut itself doesn’t have instant speed, its surge cost encourages a playstyle that includes instant-speed spells. By playing instants on your opponent’s turn, you can maximize mana efficiency and set yourself up to cast this dragon for its surge price, thereby getting it onto the battlefield for a potentially game-changing impact.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In order to unlock the full potential of Tyrant of Valakut, you need to meet a surge condition which often involves discarding another card. This can deplete valuable hand assets, hindering your strategic options later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Tyrant of Valakut requires a precise combination of mana, including two red sources. This necessity can be restrictive and tricky for multi-colored decks to consistently manage, especially in the early to mid-game phases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of seven mana, including five generic and two red, Tyrant of Valakut comes with a steep price. Even with the surge alternative cost, the mana investment is significant and can be a drawback when pacing against decks that peak before you can summon this formidable dragon.

Reasons to Include Tyrant of Valakut in Your Collection

Versatility: Tyrant of Valakut provides utility in multiple deck archetypes, fitting well in decks that take advantage of flying creatures or large monsters. Its surge ability also allows for flexible play timing, making it useful in reactive strategies or surprise offensive plays.

Combo Potential: This dragon is a powerhouse when combined with cards that enable its surge cost, potentially transforming it into a game-ending threat. It synergizes with spells that manipulate the number of cards played in a turn, maximizing its on-cast trigger.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where large threats can dominate the battlefield, the Tyrant of Valakut can be a game changer. Its ability to deal direct damage when cast makes it relevant in matches where board control is vital, providing both a significant aerial threat and a removal aspect.

How to beat

Tyrant of Valakut is a formidable force on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This powerful dragon becomes a significant threat when it hits the board, especially due to its surge ability, which can deal 3 damage to a target creature or player. To effectively counteract this creature, it’s essential to prevent it from reaching the field in the first place. Cards with counter spells like Cancel or more specialized ones such as Essence Scatter, which targets creatures specifically, are key to stopping Tyrant of Valakut in its tracks.

Alternatively, if the creature has already landed, spot removal spells like Murder or Doom Blade can take it down post-summoning, notwithstanding its sizeable 5/4 stats. Cards that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature, such as Crackling Doom, can also bypass any protective measures they might have in place. It’s crucial to manage your resources effectively and time your interventions precisely to avoid Tyrant of Valakut’s damaging surge effect

Multiple strategies can be employed against this dragon; the key is to maintain control of the game. By keeping your mana open for those crucial moments and holding the necessary answers, you can temper the tyranny of Valakut and secure victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tyrant of Valakut MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Oath of the Gatewatch Promos, 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 Tyrant of Valakut and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tyrant of Valakut Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2016-01-22. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 596572015NormalBlackSteven Belledin
22016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 1192015NormalBlackSteven Belledin
32016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 119s2015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
42016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 1192015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tyrant of Valakut has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-01-22 Casting a spell for its surge cost doesn’t change its mana cost or its converted mana cost.
2016-01-22 For some cards, surge represents only an alternative cost, a discount that applies if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn. Other cards, like Reckless Bushwhacker, have additional abilities or effects if you paid the surge cost to cast the spell.
2016-01-22 If an instant or sorcery spell cast for its surge cost is copied, the copy is also considered to have had its surge cost paid.
2016-01-22 The other spell that you or a teammate cast can be one that’s resolved, one that was countered, or (for instants with surge) one that’s still on the stack.