Runic Armasaur MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Dinosaur
Power 2
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. The card allows frequent hand replenishment, leveraging opponents’ board activities for your benefit.
  2. Early defensive play and card drawing from Runic Armasaur accelerate resource control.
  3. Despite its cost and specific deck fit, the undeniable utility adds depth to gameplay.

Text of card

Whenever an opponent activates an ability of a creature or land that isn't a mana ability, you may draw a card.

The Sun Empire's most sacred sites are protected by more than prayers.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Runic Armasaur’s unique ability provides a potential card advantage in MTG matches. Whenever an opponent activates an ability of a creature or land that isn’t a mana ability, you may draw a card. This allows you to replenish your hand frequently, depending on your opponent’s actions during the game.

Resource Acceleration: As a creature of cost 3, Runic Armasaur can offer an early advantage in defending and countering opponents’ board developments. By providing a steady, meaty resistance while potentially generating card draw, this dinosaur contributes to resource acceleration in a meaningful way.

Instant Speed: Although not directly, Runic Armasaur’s ability can be activated at instant speed during your opponent’s turn by making use of lands or creature’s activated abilities. It fits well into strategies that require holding up mana for responses during the opponents’ turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The drawback of the Runic Armasaur includes its discard necessity. The upkeep of Armasaur demands that you let go of a card, causing a setback when your hands are tight.

Specific Mana Cost: Another limitation of the Runic Armasaur is its specific mana cost. With a demand for two forests (green), the application of this card is restricted to certain deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of five, including the two green mana, the Runic Armasaur may seem a bit on the expensive side. Other creatures at this price point could provide a higher power and toughness ratio, or offer more impactful abilities.


Reasons to Include Runic Armasaur in Your Collection

Versatility: Runic Armasaur, with its ability to fit into various deck strategies, is a boon to players. Whether you’re a control player seeking strong defensive creatures or are looking to leverage its ability to draw cards from opponent’s activated abilities, this card can offer value in a range of scenarios.

Combo Potential: The dinosaur’s unique triggered ability can provide additional card draw in combination with certain cards that force opponents to activate abilities. This puts an interesting twist on game strategy, forcing opponents to think twice before using their cards.

Meta-Relevance: As one of the few creatures that can draw cards from opponent’s abilities, Runic Armasaur adds nuance to MTG’s meta-game. Especially in a metagame where activated abilities of lands or artifacts are prevalent, the Armasaur has proven to be an effective counter. This card can hence be a vital player and grow in significance depending on shifts in the metagame.


How to Beat

The Runic Armasaur is one of those unique MTG cards, due to its ability to draw a card each time an opponent activates an ability of a creature or land that isn’t a mana ability. This resource-generating capacity can quickly become challenging to handle, especially in a game where every card counts.

A recommended strategy is using spells and abilities that can directly destroy it. Consider MTG cards such as Murder, Fatal Push, or Terminate, which provide ideal solutions to get rid of the dinosaur swiftly. Silent Dart and Lava Coil are also excellent choices, specifically tailored to handle critters with high toughness, like our friend – the Runic Armasaur.

Alternatively, if you have sufficient mana resources, you could use control spells like Confiscate or Mind Control, taking the reins and using its abilities for your advantage. In this case, your opponent’s strategy could backfire. The fundamental takeaway here is always to be prepared. Understanding the capacities of cards like Runic Armasaur can indeed make the difference in your MTG Match.

In essence, tactically handling the Runic Armasaur requires a well-stocked arsenal of spells and an understanding of your opponent’s strategies, highlighting the strategic depth of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

The Runic Armasaur’s capabilities in MTG can shift your matches into your favor. By effectively managing this card, you can outmaneuver your opponents by turning their own strategies on their head. Runic Armasaur’s strength lies within its unique ability to turn the tables by providing you with valuable card draws, giving you an edge in the game. Ensure to anticipate its cons such as the required discard and particular mana needs. But by pairing it smartly with other cards, its advantages can be massively amplified. Delve deeper into the strategies and nuances that make Runic Armasaur a remarkable addition to your deck. Dive into the details, explore synergies, and arm yourself with the wisdom to use this dino disruptor to its fullest potential. Join the ranks of seasoned MTG tacticians and let the Runic Armasaur transform your gaming experience.


Cards like Runic Armasaur

Runic Armasaur makes an unforgettable impression in the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It’s somewhat akin to cards like Beast Whisperer, which likewise has a knack for providing card advantage but does so whenever you cast a creature spell. Conversely, the Runic Armasaur, capitalizes on the actions of your opponents, drawing cards whenever they activate abilities of creatures or lands. This strategic difference sets the Armasaur apart.

Tireless Tracker, another card worthy of comparison, follows a different path. It maintains card advantage by creating clues that you can sacrifice for card draw, but hinged on landfall, whereas the Runic Armasaur depends on your opponents’ game play. However, Tracker offers the advantage of strengthening with each clue sacrificed, extending an alternate resource utilization option.

Lastly, consider the Syr Konrad, the Grim that focuses on graveyard activities for card advantage, differing greatly in mechanics but still providing that extra draw. Comparatively, Runic Armasaur stands significant in this array due to its proactive trait of banking on opponents’ moves.

In conclusion, evaluating these comparisons, we find Runic Armasaur carving a distinctive niche within Magic: The Gathering creature cards territory, attributed to its unique ability to provide card advantages.

Beast Whisperer - MTG Card versions
Tireless Tracker - MTG Card versions
Syr Konrad, the Grim - MTG Card versions
Beast Whisperer - Resale Promos (PRES)
Tireless Tracker - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Syr Konrad, the Grim - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)

Cards similar to Runic Armasaur by color, type and mana cost

Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
Rysorian Badger - MTG Card versions
Sabertooth Cobra - MTG Card versions
Quirion Druid - MTG Card versions
Spike Feeder - MTG Card versions
Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions
Titania's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Taoist Mystic - MTG Card versions
Femeref Archers - MTG Card versions
Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Champion - MTG Card versions
Realmwalker - MTG Card versions
Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions
Timberwatch Elf - MTG Card versions
Leatherback Baloth - MTG Card versions
Pincher Beetles - MTG Card versions
Yavimaya Elder - MTG Card versions
Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
Rysorian Badger - Homelands (HML)
Sabertooth Cobra - Mirage (MIR)
Quirion Druid - Visions (VIS)
Spike Feeder - Stronghold (STH)
Hungry Hungry Heifer - Unglued (UGL)
Titania's Chosen - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taoist Mystic - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Femeref Archers - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lydari Druid - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Steel Leaf Champion - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Realmwalker - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Topiary Stomper - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Territorial Scythecat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wirewood Savage - Onslaught (ONS)
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Timberwatch Elf - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Leatherback Baloth - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Pincher Beetles - Tenth Edition (10E)
Yavimaya Elder - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Runic Armasaur MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 Promos and Core Set 2019 Promos, 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 Runic Armasaur and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Runic Armasaur Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Randy Vargas.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 200p2015normalblackRandy Vargas
22018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 200s2015normalblackRandy Vargas
32018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 2002015normalblackRandy Vargas
42023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 2562015normalblackRandy Vargas

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Runic Armasaur has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-07-13 Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written "
-ost:
-ffect]." Some keyword abilities are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. An activated mana ability is one that produces mana as it resolves, not one that costs mana to activate.
2018-07-13 Runic Armasaur's ability doesn't trigger when an opponent activates an ability of a card in hand (such as a cycling ability from the Amonkhet block) or a card in a graveyard (such as that of Bone Dragon), even if that causes a card to be put onto the battlefield.
2018-07-13 Runic Armasaur's ability doesn't trigger when an opponent activates an ability of a noncreature, nonland permanent that causes it to become a creature (such as a crew ability of a Vehicle).
2018-07-13 Runic Armasaur's ability resolves before the ability that caused it to trigger. Players can cast spells and activate abilities after the triggered ability resolves but before the activated ability that caused it to trigger does.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks