Wildfire Cerberus MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 5 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Creature — Dog |
Abilities | Monstrosity |
Released | 2014-05-02 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Journey into Nyx |
Set code | JOU |
Power | 4 |
Toughness | 3 |
Number | 116 |
Frame | 2003 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Slawomir Maniak |
Text of card
: Monstrosity 1. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes monstrous.) When Wildfire Cerberus becomes monstrous, it deals 2 damage to each opponent and each creature your opponents control.
Cards like Wildfire Cerberus
Wildfire Cerberus joins a unique cohort of creatures within Magic: The Gathering that excel in dealing damage to multiple targets. When comparing it to other creatures, the Cerberus slots into a niche that blends area effect with potential game-ending power. Embermaw Hellion, for instance, amplifies red damage spells and abilities, which could complement the Cerberus’s capability to scale its impact across the board. Nonetheless, the Hellion lacks the board-clear potential that the Cerberus’s monstrosity ability can bring to the table.
Another creature that shares a semblance with Wildfire Cerberus is the Flameborn Hellion, which also carries a hefty amount of power. Unlike the Cerberus, the Hellion has haste, allowing it to attack without waiting. But it doesn’t provide the same level of board interaction, as its abilities are focused solely on player damage. The Cerberus’s board-wide damage can sometimes flip the game in your favor by clearing out smaller creatures, though at a higher mana cost.
In essence, Wildfire Cerberus is a versatile pick for MTG enthusiasts who enjoy controlling the board while still posing a significant threat. Its uniqueness in dealing with crowds of smaller creatures sets it apart from many other creatures in the game.
Cards similar to Wildfire Cerberus by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Monstrosity ability of Wildfire Cerberus can deal damage to all opponent’s creatures, potentially wiping their board and giving you a significant card advantage during the late game phases.
Resource Acceleration: Although Wildfire Cerberus does not directly contribute to resource acceleration, its ability to clear the board of smaller creatures can help preserve your resources and pave the way for your stronger creatures to attack without resistance.
Instant Speed: While Wildfire Cerberus itself is not an instant, the flexibility of its Monstrosity ability means you can activate it at the end of your opponent’s turn, effectively using it like an instant to surprise your opponent and disrupt their strategy before your turn begins.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: With Wildfire Cerberus, there isn’t a direct discard requirement. However, utilizing its Monstrosity ability can be indirectly taxing on card advantage. To activate this, you must have the Cerberus already on the battlefield and available mana, which could prevent you from deploying other cards in your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Wildfire Cerberus demands a strict commitment to red mana. With a casting cost consisting entirely of red and generic mana, this card may prove challenging to cast in multicolored decks that can’t reliably generate the required mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At five total mana for a creature with 4/3 stats, Wildfire Cerberus is on the higher end of the mana scale considering its base power and toughness. Although it has potential board impact with its Monstrosity ability, the additional seven mana to activate it can be seen as a hefty investment in comparison with other cards that offer immediate and possibly more cost-effective impacts on the game.
Reasons to Include Wildfire Cerberus in Your Collection
Versatility: Wildfire Cerberus serves as a flexible option for decks looking to capitalize on powerful mid-game board presence. Its ability to affect multiple creatures makes it a great defensive card against swarm strategies.
Combo Potential: With its monstrosity mechanic, this card can be a game-changer in the right deck. When it becomes monstrous, it deals damage to each opponent and each creature your opponents control, pairing well with effects that increase damage output or with cards that capitalize on opponents’ creatures being dealt damage.
Meta-Relevance: As creature-based strategies cyclically return to prominence in many metagames, having Wildfire Cerberus can provide a tactical advantage. It’s a card that can adapt to various playing fields, keeping your deck competitive as the meta shifts.
How to beat Wildfire Cerberus
Encountering the Wildfire Cerberus in MTG can be a daunting task for any player due to its board-wiping monstrosity ability that activates during a monstrous transformation. This potent ability tends to clean out multiple creatures on the board in one fell swoop, especially those pesky token creatures that can quickly overwhelm a game. One of the most effective strategies to counter the Cerberus is to utilize instant-speed removal spells before the opponent has the opportunity to make it monstrous, thereby nullifying the threat before it becomes too great.
Control decks that pack countermagic like Negate or Essence Scatter can prove invaluable by stopping the Cerberus or its monstrous ability from resolving. It is also possible to sidestep the Cerberus’ impact by operating with a deck that relies less on a wide board of creatures and more on significant individual threats that can withstand the Cerberus’ three damage. In conclusion, swift elimination, strategic counterspells, and a focus on resilience over numbers are key when maneuvering against the Wildfire Cerberus’s fiery wake.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wildfire Cerberus MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Wildfire Cerberus 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wildfire Cerberus has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wildfire Cerberus card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2014-04-26 | An ability that triggers when a creature becomes monstrous won't trigger if that creature isn't on the battlefield when its monstrosity ability resolves. |
2014-04-26 | Monstrous isn't an ability that a creature has. It's just something true about that creature. If the creature stops being a creature or loses its abilities, it will continue to be monstrous. |
2014-04-26 | Once a creature becomes monstrous, it can't become monstrous again. If the creature is already monstrous when the monstrosity ability resolves, nothing happens. |