Valakut Predator MTG Card
2015-10-02 - Number 160
2019-11-07 - Number 1091
2020-09-26 - Number BFZ-160
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Landfall |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Valakut Predator gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
"Whatever volcanoes dream of, it seems like they always wake up grumpy." —Raff Slugeater, goblin shortcutter
Cards like Valakut Predator
Valakut Predator is an intriguing element in decks that focus on landfall mechanics in Magic: The Gathering. This creature card shares its landfall ability with cards such as Snapping Gnarlid, granting a temporary power boost each time a land enters the battlefield under your control. However, Valakut Predator stands out with its higher base power, which could deliver a more forceful impact in aggressive strategies.
Comparatively, we can look to cards like Akoum Warrior. While it doesn’t have the landfall ability of Valakut Predator, it offers flexibility as a modal double-faced card, able to be a land or a creature when you need it. Meanwhile, Steppe Lynx is another creature card with the landfall ability, although it swings with an even more dramatic power variance – perfect for explosive early game plays.
In summary, the unique value of Valakut Predator in MTG is noticeable among its landfall peers. Its consistency in providing a significant power surge with every land drop makes it a noteworthy choice for players looking to capitalize on land-based synergies.
Cards similar to Valakut Predator by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Valakut Predator itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its power elevates when lands come into play, essentially turning each land drop into a potential threat enhancer. This interaction can put your opponent in a tough spot, indirectly contributing to the card advantage by demanding answers to a growing creature.
Resource Acceleration: The synergy with landfall mechanics makes Valakut Predator an exceptional fit in decks focused on putting extra lands onto the battlefield. Each land accelerates the Predator’s threat level, efficiently utilizing the available resources each turn.
Instant Speed: Although the Predator operates at sorcery speed, its landfall ability can be triggered on your turn by playing instant-speed land cards or effects. This allows for adaptable play-making, potentially surprising an opponent by turning what seems to be a non-threatening creature into a formidable attacker virtually instantly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Valakut Predator itself does not have a discard requirement, it often needs to be paired with land discard strategies to maximize its potential, which can be a setback when you’re trying to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Valakut Predator comes with a specific mana cost requirement of one red and two generic mana, potentially restricting its integration in multicolored decks or those with a strict mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a 2/2 creature that only gets temporarily larger with landfall, some players might find it less appealing compared to other creatures at a similar cost offering more permanent buffs or additional abilities.
Reasons to Include Valakut Predator in Your Collection
Versatility: Valakut Predator shines in decks that aim to play with landfall mechanics. Its ability to grow with each land you drop allows it to fit snugly into a variety of aggressive and mid-range strategies where board presence is key.
Combo Potential: This creature pairs well with cards that enable multiple land drops per turn, providing a rapidly scaling threat that can pressure opponents. It’s a natural fit in decks with rampant land plays, making it a formidable inclusion in your arsenal.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where landfall strategies are particularly efficacious, the Valakut Predator’s adaptability makes it a solid choice against various popular archetypes, leveraging land drops for increased power and board impact.
How to beat
Grasping the intricacies of Magic: The Gathering can offer a competitive edge, especially when facing cards like Valakut Predator. This creature presents an interesting challenge with its landfall ability, which temporarily boosts its power each time a land enters the battlefield under your control. Its base stats may seem manageable, but with every new land drop, the predator becomes a larger threat.
To circumvent the burgeoning power of Valakut Predator, consider strategies such as timely removal spells. Instant speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can be particularly effective, allowing you to react to landfall triggers before the creature becomes too large. Another path is to limit the opponent’s ability to play multiple lands per turn with cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin, which keep their mana base in check and the Predator’s power at bay.
Ultimately, understanding the mechanics at play and planning around them is key when faced with a growing threat like Valakut Predator. Keeping a responsive hand and controlling the pace of land drops will ensure this formidable creature remains just a minor nuisance in your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Valakut Predator MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Mystery Booster, 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 Valakut Predator 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Valakut Predator Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Kev Walker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar | BFZ | 160 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1091 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | BFZ-160 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Valakut Predator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Valakut Predator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-08-25 | A landfall ability triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. It triggers whenever you play a land, as well as whenever a spell or ability puts a land onto the battlefield under your control. |
| 2015-08-25 | If the ability has an additional or replacement effect that depends on the land having a certain basic land type, the ability will check that land’s type as the ability resolves. If, at that time, the land that entered the battlefield is no longer on the battlefield, use its types when it left the battlefield to determine what happens. |
| 2015-08-25 | When a land enters the battlefield under your control, each landfall ability of the permanents you control will trigger. You can put them on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one to resolve. |