Masticore MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Masticore
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Masticore offers creature removal each turn, providing a consistent board control advantage.
  2. Its activated ability at instant speed allows strategic play and unexpected opponent disruption.
  3. The need for discarding a card for upkeep can strain resources if not managed well.

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, you may choose and discard a card from your hand. If you don't, sacrifice Masticore. : Masticore deals 1 damage to target creature. : Regenerate Masticore.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Masticore provides a recurring source of creature removal, which can systematically dismantle an opponent’s board presence. While it requires discarding a card, the ability to remove key threats each turn can often lead to advantageous exchanges.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct form of resource acceleration, Masticore’s ability to dominate the board without additional mana investment each turn frees up resources. This enables a player to develop their board or hand more effectively, managing their resources for other strategies.

Instant Speed: The Masticore’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, allowing strategic flexibility. A player can wait until the most opportune moment during an opponent’s turn to use the removal effect, catching them off-guard and disrupting their plans.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the main drawbacks of the Masticore card is its upkeep demand, which stipulates discarding a card from your hand each turn. This can be particularly punishing if you’re already struggling to maintain a substantial hand size, thereby potentially depleting your resources quickly and leaving you at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Masticore requires a hefty sum of generic mana to cast, a total of four. While this expense grants access across a variety of deck builds, it remains a hefty investment, particularly in the early game when mana resources are limited and other plays might be more strategically advantageous.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When compared to other creatures within the game, Masticore’s casting cost sits at a higher tier, demanding a substantial investment for its initial deployment. Moreover, its ongoing maintenance cost can be taxing as the game progresses. In faster-paced environments or in decks that aim to curve out efficiently, the Masticore may lag behind, providing opponents with an opportunity to seize the advantage with less cumbersome creature options.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Masticore offers a unique blend of offensive might and defensive utility that allows it to slot into a range of decks, from control to aggro. Its ability to deal damage to creatures or players provides flexible responses to various board states.

Combo Potential: This artifact creature shines in synergy with strategies revolving around discard or graveyard manipulation. Its upkeep cost, which requires discarding a card, can be turned into an advantage in decks designed to benefit from such mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with creature-based strategies, Masticore’s creature removal ability can repeatedly clear the board while maintaining a threatening presence. As the game environment evolves, having a card with the adaptability to check threats and dictate the pace can be a significant advantage.


How to beat

Masticore is a classic artifact creature that has made its mark in the Magic: The Gathering universe due to its unique abilities. This creature is recognized for its versatility and resilience, offering players a variety of ways to control the board. To overcome Masticore, it’s essential to understand its strengths and weaknesses. One strategic approach involves removing cards from your opponent’s hand to disrupt their ability to feed Masticore’s upkeep cost, as it requires discarding a card each turn.

Also, since Masticore can be a formidable blocker and can deal damage to creatures, utilizing spells that grant your creatures protection or indestructibility can nullify its board control. Alternatively, employing exile effects bypasses Masticore’s regeneration capability, ensuring that once it’s dealt with, it stays out of play. In essence, a combination of hand disruption and specialized removal spells could effectively negate Masticore’s impact on the game.

Hence, when facing a card with the staying power and flexibility of Masticore, players must thoughtfully adapt their strategy, capitalizing on its weaknesses to turn the tide in their favor and claim victory on the battlefield.


Cards like Masticore

The Masticore card stands as a unique artifact creature in the vast array of MTG cards. Its closest kin might be Razormane Masticore, which offers a similar discard mechanism and the potential for player-damage each turn. Yet, the original Masticore is distinct due to its ability to regenerate, a powerful defensive trait not seen in its razored counterpart.

Looking to the broader MTG universe, Triskelion emerges as a comparable artifact creature. Both Masticore and Triskelion allow you to remove counters to deal damage, but Triskelion lacks the discard requirement for its upkeep, which gives it a variant advantage in long-term playability. Another similar card, the modern-age Walking Ballista, enables precision damage control without the upkeep cost of Masticore, demonstrating the evolution of artifact creatures in the game.

Artifact creatures like Masticore are a testament to MTG’s complex and evolving gameplay. While Masticore demands a steep upkeep cost, its tactical versatility can’t be underestimated, especially for players who manage their hands with care. Recognizing the strengths and trade-offs of cards such as Masticore truly enriches the strategic depth of MTG.

Razormane Masticore - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions
Walking Ballista - MTG Card versions
Razormane Masticore - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Triskelion - Antiquities (ATQ)
Walking Ballista - Aether Revolt (AER)

Cards similar to Masticore by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Aetherworks Marvel - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Patagia Golem - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Rod of Ruin - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Gnarled Effigy - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Scrapbasket - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Magnetic Mine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Icy Manipulator - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Eye of Doom - Commander 2013 (C13)
Well of Lost Dreams - The List (PLST)
Coercive Portal - Conspiracy (CNS)
Aetherworks Marvel - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Masticore MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and World Championship Decks 1999, 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 Masticore and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Masticore Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-06-07Urza's DestinyUDS 1341997normalblackPaolo Parente
21999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 mlp134sb1997normalgoldPaolo Parente
31999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 kb143b1997normalgoldPaolo Parente
42000-08-02World Championship Decks 2000WC00 jf1341997normalgoldPaolo Parente
52000-08-02World Championship Decks 2000WC00 jk134sb1997normalgoldPaolo Parente
62000-08-02World Championship Decks 2000WC00 jk1341997normalgoldPaolo Parente
72010-08-27From the Vault: RelicsV10 72003normalblackSteven Belledin
82014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 2752015normalblackSteven Belledin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Masticore has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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