Carrier Thrall MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Vampire
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Adept at maintaining board presence, Carrier Thrall replaces itself with a Vampire token upon exiting.
  2. The generated Vampire Scion token can be sacrficed for mana, helping accelerate your gameplay.
  3. Strategies to counter Carrier Thrall include precision removal or token generation suppression.

Text of card

When Carrier Thrall dies, put a 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature token onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this creature: Add to your mana pool."

"Later we will mourn those we have lost. First we must end their suffering." —Drana, Kalastria bloodchief


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The exit from play of Carrier Thrall provides an additional 1/1 Vampire creature token, effectively replacing itself on the battlefield and maintaining card presence.

Resource Acceleration: The Vampire token created by the demise of Carrier Thrall is not only a new creature but can be sacrificed for a burst of mana, aiding in the pace of your game development.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the token generation upon Carrier Thrall’s death can provide an unexpected blocker or sacrifice fodder during the opponent’s turn, somewhat akin to the flexible nature of instant speed plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Carrier Thrall does not have a discard requirement itself, players looking to capitalize on its death-triggered ability might need to include discard mechanics in their deck to consistently trigger it. This can be a drawback when your hand is already sparse.

Specific Mana Cost: Carrier Thrall requires both black and colorless mana to cast. This mana cost may not be a significant hindrance in two-color decks, but in multicolored or colorless decks, it can pose a challenge when trying to maintain a smooth mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its abilities, some players find Carrier Thrall’s mana cost a bit steep. There are other two-drop creatures that may provide more immediate board presence or value, making the mana investment in Carrier Thrall not always the most efficient play.


Reasons to Include Carrier Thrall in Your Collection

Versatility: Carrier Thrall provides an excellent two-drop for various deck types, fitting seamlessly into aggro, midrange, or aristocrats strategies. Its ability to leave behind a token when it dies makes it a resilient play against sweepers or removal.

Combo Potential: The Scion token it creates upon death can be utilized in numerous combos, particularly in decks that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for value or mana ramping. It serves as fodder for sacrifice outlets and synergizes well with cards that track creature deaths.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame fluctuates with the prevalence of creature-based strategies, Carrier Thrall remains relevant. It is an effective tool for maintaining board presence and can help keep pace with other creature-centric decks that dominate a given format.


How to beat

Carrier Thrall stands out as a valuable asset for MTG players who thrive on strategies that capitalize on creature death. It’s a low-cost creature card that when defeated, bestows you an additional 1/1 creature in the form of an Eldrazi Scion token that can be sacrificed for mana. Its utility lies not just in being a troop on the battlefield but also in its afterlife advantage, bolstering your mana resources upon its demise.

To outplay Carrier Thrall, removal spells that exile rather than destroy provide an edge, thwarting the token generation altogether. Cards like Path to Exile end its presence cleanly, nullifying any benefits for your opponent. Another method is to use effects that prevent token creation as seen with Tocatli Honor Guard, ensuring the Thrall exits silently without leaving gifts behind. Strategic use of these tactics can mitigate the advantages Carrier Thrall offers, turning the tables in your favor.

In essence, when navigating through an opponent’s strategy featuring Carrier Thrall, focusing on precision removal or token suppression can render this advantageous creature card less impactful. By disrupting the value it’s designed to provide, you can maintain a competitive edge in your MTG encounters.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unlock the untapped potential of your MTG deck with strategic card choices like Carrier Thrall. A card’s power often lies beyond its initial play, and Carrier Thrall exemplifies this with its ability to bolster your board state even in demise. As you fortify your collection with cards that offer more than meets the eye, remember the importance of synergy and how one card can influence your path to victory. Ready to advance your strategy and dominate your next duel? Dive into our resources to master the art of sacrifice and strengthen your MTG arsenal with cards like Carrier Thrall that promise value beyond their cost.


Cards like Carrier Thrall

In the realm of creature cards that provide an additional utility after being defeated, Carrier Thrall holds a noteworthy place. Like Doomed Dissenter, which creates a 2/2 zombie token upon death, Carrier Thrall offers a form of resource after it leaves the battlefield. Carrier Thrall distinguishes itself by furnishing a 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature token that can be sacrificed for mana, while its counterpart provides increased power on the board though lacks the ramp potential.

Examining Carrier Thrall alongside Pawn of Ulamog reveals another depth of comparison. Both belong to the black mana lineage and churn out tokens when they or another creature you control dies. The stimulus provided by Pawn of Ulamog extends beyond itself, but Carrier Thrall’s advantage lies in its lower casting cost. The structure of one’s deck could tip the scales in favor of either card’s unique synergies.

Ultimately, Carrier Thrall competes well within the category of self-replacing creatures in MTG. It may not provide the broad-triggered utility as Pawn of Ulamog or the instant board presence like Doomed Dissenter, but its ability to momentarily accelerate mana usage upon its demise can be strategically pivotal for any player leveraging sacrifice-themed decks.

Doomed Dissenter - MTG Card versions
Pawn of Ulamog - MTG Card versions
Doomed Dissenter - Amonkhet (AKH)
Pawn of Ulamog - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Carrier Thrall MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis, 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 Carrier Thrall and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Carrier Thrall Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Lius Lasahido.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-10-02Battle for ZendikarBFZ 1062015normalblackLius Lasahido
22016-09-02Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob NixilisDDR 422015normalblackLius Lasahido
32021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 3022015normalblackLius Lasahido
42022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 722015normalblackLius Lasahido
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1422015normalblackLius Lasahido

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Carrier Thrall has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Carrier Thrall card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2015-08-25 Eldrazi Scions are similar to Eldrazi Spawn, seen in the Zendikar block. Note that Eldrazi Scions are 1/1, not 0/1.
2015-08-25 Eldrazi and Scion are each separate creature types. Anything that affects Eldrazi will affect these tokens, for example.
2015-08-25 Sacrificing an Eldrazi Scion creature token to add to your mana pool is a mana ability. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to.
2015-08-25 Some instants and sorceries that create Eldrazi Scions require targets. If all targets for such a spell have become illegal by the time that spell tries to resolve, the spell won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won’t get any Eldrazi Scions.

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