Flowstone Charger MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Released | 2001-06-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Apocalypse |
| Set code | APC |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 99 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | John Gallagher |
Key Takeaways
- Its ability to return to your hand post-combat extends its board presence, enhancing your strategic options.
- Combining it with cards that benefit from creature-based triggers can lead to a resource acceleration synergy.
- Despite a demanding mana cost and discard requirement, its power adaptability makes it a flexible pick.
Text of card
Whenever Flowstone Charger attacks, it gets +3/-3 until end of turn.
A mane of flowstone and a mien of fury.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Flowstone Charger has the potential to be a recurring threat on the battlefield. When it successfully deals combat damage to a player, you may return it to your hand. This means that, in certain circumstances, you can play it multiple times to generate combat damage multiple times, outpacing your opponent’s resources.
Resource Acceleration: Although Flowstone Charger itself does not directly accelerate resources, its natural synergy with discard and draw game mechanics can potentially fit into a strategy that accelerates your available resources. For instance, it can work well with cards that trigger off of creatures entering the battlefield or being returned to the hand.
Instant Speed: While Flowstone Charger doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to return to your hand right after it deals combat damage can give you the flexibility similar to instant speed interactions. This means you can adapt to your opponent’s moves and maintain a level of unpredictability, making it harder for them to prepare for your next move.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Flowstone Charger demands a card to be discarded every time you want to activate its ability. This requirement can pose a strategic setback, especially in situations where maintaining a full hand is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature comes with a precise mana necessity: one red and three generic mana. This particular cost can be restrictive because it ties the card to decks that can reliably produce red mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you assess Flowstone Charger’s four mana cost against other creatures in the same mana range, it might seem less appealing. Its cost efficiency is questionable, especially considering the additional expense of discarding cards to maximize its combat potential.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Flowstone Charger brings adaptability to the table, fitting snugly into red-tinged control or aggro decks alike. Its variable power mechanic based on the amount of mana invested makes it a wildcard that can surprise opponents when least expected.
Combo Potential: This card’s strength alteration feature pairs wonderfully with effects that capitalize on changes in a creature’s power. It can harmonize with cards that look for high-power creatures to inflict significant damage or to utilize power-based triggers on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavy with creature-based decks, Flowstone Charger can be a game changer. By adjusting its power when blocking or attacking, it can deal with threats flexibly, making it a relevant pick in a responsive deck strategy.
How to beat
The Flowstone Charger presents a challenge in Magic: The Gathering with its unique ability to grow in power during combat. Engaging with this creature on the battlefield can be daunting, especially when its attack strength increases whenever it becomes blocked. Nevertheless, strategically outmaneuvering this card isn’t as complex as one might think.
To successfully counter the Flowstone Charger, consider including cards in your deck that can remove or exile it before it declares an attack. Instant-speed removal spells such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push are ideal, as they can disrupt your opponent’s plans before the Charger’s ability becomes a factor. Additionally, utilizing cards with the ‘reach’ or ‘flying’ attribute are advantageous as they can block the Charger without boosting its power.
Moreover, a focused strategy involving cards that restrict your opponent’s creatures from attacking, colloquially known as “pacifism effects,” can also prove effective against the Flowstone Charger by rendering its combat abilities insignificant. By employing these techniques, you can neutralize the Charger and maintain control over the game’s pace, ultimately edging closer to victory.
Cards like Flowstone Charger
When evaluating the Flowstone Charger from MTG, it’s interesting to note that while not a staple, it shares characteristics with other creatures that emphasize flexibility in power and toughness. Akin to Flowstone Charger, the Shapeshifter creature type represented by cards such as Unstable Shapeshifter allows players to modify characteristics, often prompted by various triggers in the game.
Looking at other red-aligned options, the Flowstone Sculpture stands out as a relative, with its built-in ability to bolster its stats at the cost of vulnerability. This mechanic reinforces strategic play around timing and board state. Comparatively, creatures like the Spark Elemental have a fleeting but immediate impact thanks to trample and haste, although they lack the lasting board presence offered by the Charger.
In terms of tactical adaptability and endurance, Flowstone Charger offers a unique blend. While it may not have the raw immediacy of a Spark Elemental or the transformative versatility of a Shapeshifter, it provides red deck players with a creature that can navigate the evolving exigencies of a match, particularly in formats where such adjustments could turn the tide of a duel.
Cards similar to Flowstone Charger by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flowstone Charger MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse, 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 Flowstone Charger and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Flowstone Charger has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |