Graceful Cat MTG Card


Graceful Cat - Amonkhet
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Cat
Released2017-04-28
Set symbol
Set nameAmonkhet
Set codeAKH
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number273
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJohn Stanko

Key Takeaways

  1. Graceful Cat indirectly aids card advantage and resource acceleration, emphasizing efficiency over direct abilities.
  2. Restrictions in mana and comparative cost may limit inclusion in diverse or aggressive MTG decks.
  3. Offers deck flexibility and combo potential relevant in creature-centric metas, despite possible ease of removal.

Text of card

Whenever Graceful Cat attacks, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Though they are held in high regard as symbols of the god Oketra, cats often lack her sense of solidarity.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Graceful Cat itself does not provide direct card draw, it presents a repeated threat that requires an answer, potentially leading opponents to use more resources than they would prefer to manage it, indirectly contributing to card advantage strategies.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly linked to producing additional mana, having a reliable creature early in the game can help maintain board presence, which is critical for reaching the later stages of gameplay where more significant spells are cast, thus indirectly contributing to resource acceleration in the broader strategy.

Instant Speed: While the Graceful Cat doesn’t feature instant speed, its value lies in supporting more strategic plays. Being a creature, it invites a more tempered and controlled game flow, allowing players to build a solid foundation for their deck’s strategy without the pressure of instant timing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Offering no advantage when it hits the graveyard, Graceful Cat does not benefit players when discarded, making any forced discard actions a pure loss in card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Graceful Cat can only be cast using white mana, which potentially restricts deck-building options and may not fit into multi-colored deck strategies as smoothly as more flexible cards.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of three for a 2/2 creature, Graceful Cat may be less appealing considering other creatures at similar or lower costs can provide more impactful abilities or stats, enhancing overall board presence.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Graceful Cat offers flexibility for deck builders looking to bolster their creature lineup, fitting smoothly into a variety of white decks. Its straightforward mechanic is a solid addition to both aggressive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card becomes particularly interesting when combined with equipment or auras that boost its power, as its ability scales the strength of its triggered effect, creating tougher and more resilient attackers with each buff.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors creature-based tactics, Graceful Cat can hold its ground as an efficient one-drop with the capability to become a substantial threat. Its inherent ability to grow when attacking encourages a more proactive gameplay that can pressure opponents and shift the board’s dynamics in your favor.


How to beat Graceful Cat

Graceful Cat brings an elegant touch to creature cards with its unique ability to strengthen during combat. When facing off against this poised feline in Magic: The Gathering, players should consider cards that prevent it from attacking or blocking. Spells that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature can effectively bypass Graceful Cat’s combat-related ability, as it relies on being declared as an attacker to get its bonus.

Another strategy is to use removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes, which can clear out Graceful Cat regardless of its size. Choosing spot removals like Doom Blade or Murder can also be effective, as they deal with it before it becomes a larger threat. Artifact-based strategies that utilize equipment or vehicles also allow you to outclass the Graceful Cat by beefing up your own creatures, thus overpowering the cat in combat without touching it directly.

Ultimately, while Graceful Cat can become a sizable obstacle, it’s not insurmountable. Mitigating its impact on the battlefield and prioritizing the use of non-targeted removal or superior creatures will help ensure it doesn’t land on its feet.


Cards like Graceful Cat

Graceful Cat is a delightful creature card in Magic: The Gathering, sharing the battlefield with other feline-inspired cards like Adorned Pouncer. Both creatures carry the cat essence, but Graceful Cat edges ahead with a strength-boosting ability when it attacks, making it a modest threat each combat phase. On the other side, Adorned Pouncer may have a lower casting cost and the coveted double strike ability, making it a potential game ender with the right auras or equipment.

Comparatively, Sanctuary Cat, another two-mana cost feline, doesn’t have the same offensive capabilities as Graceful Cat. Instead, it relies on a defensive posture with a higher toughness, giving players a different strategic tool. Meanwhile, Regal Caracal stands as a superior cat leader, offering not only a bolster to fellow cats but also creating additional tokens to expand presence on the board.

Evaluating these relatives in the vast MTG cat arsenal, Graceful Cat embodies a balance between cost-effectiveness and an attrition strategy, providing players with a stalwart attacker that grows stronger with every assault.

Adorned Pouncer - MTG Card versions
Sanctuary Cat - MTG Card versions
Regal Caracal - MTG Card versions
Adorned Pouncer - Hour of Devastation (HOU)
Sanctuary Cat - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Regal Caracal - Amonkhet (AKH)

Cards similar to Graceful Cat by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Elvish Healer - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Stern Marshal - MTG Card versions
Soltari Crusader - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Prelate - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Kitsune Palliator - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Elvish Healer - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Soltari Crusader - Tempest (TMP)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Sanctum Prelate - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Graceful Cat MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet, 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 Graceful Cat and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Graceful Cat has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

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