Krark-Clan Stoker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Shaman
Released	2004-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Darksteel
Set code	DST
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	65
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

Converts excess board presence into a versatile mana source, enhancing gameplay in drawn-out matches.
Instant-speed mana generation lends flexibility and surprise tactics during critical gameplay moments.
The mandatory artifact sacrifice for activation can limit options, demanding strategic board management.

Text of card

, Sacrifice an artifact: Add to your mana pool.

Fallen enemies are fed to the scavengers. Fallen friends are thrown into the Great Furnace, their souls returned to the Great Mother.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Krark-Clan Stoker enables players to turn surplus creatures into valuable mana resources, potentially keeping hand and board presence agile and efficient in longer matchups.

Resource Acceleration: By sacrificing artifacts or creatures, this card quickly ramps up one’s mana pool, facilitating powerful plays or the casting of high-cost cards much earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: Although the Krark-Clan Stoker itself is not an instant, it offers the ability to generate mana at instant speed, allowing you to adapt swiftly to changing battlefield conditions and surprise opponents with unanticipated plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must say goodbye to an artifact they control whenever activating the abilities of Krark-Clan Stoker, which could limit your board presence especially when you’re aiming to maintain a solid front.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a solitary red mana sphere, this card aligns with red-centric or compatible multicolor decks, which could exclude it from various strategies that don’t cater to this very specific mana requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its three mana investment for a seemingly modest effect, the Stoker can feel a tad costly, especially against a landscape of cards that might offer more bang for the buck in your mana curve.

Reasons to Include Krark-Clan Stoker in Your Collection

Versatility: Krark-Clan Stoker offers a flexible role in decks that thrive on mana generation or artifact synergy. Its ability to turn creatures into mana can save a game or kickstart critical plays.

Combo Potential: This card becomes a cog in machine-like combo decks, serving a dual purpose: fueling your pool with mana and sacrificing creatures for greater benefits, such as in an artifact-themed strategy or synergizing with abilities that trigger upon a creature dying.

Meta-Relevance: While not a staple in all metas, in certain environments where resource acceleration is paramount, Krark-Clan Stoker provides a niche edge. It competes to be a pivotal enabler in decks looking to exploit quick bursts of mana for overwhelming turns.

How to beat Krark-Clan Stoker

The Krark-Clan Stoker from Magic the Gathering is a unique creature card that brings tactical sacrifice and mana acceleration to the battlefield. Facing this card can be tricky as it allows your opponent to transform other creatures into instant mana, potentially unleashing powerful spells or abilities ahead of schedule. However, there are strategies to counteract this functionality.

One effective method is to limit the number of creatures available for sacrifice. Cards that restrict creature plays or removal spells that can pick off smaller creatures before they’re sacrificed for mana can be instrumental. Another approach is to use enchantments or abilities that nullify activated abilities, thereby rendering the Stoker’s ability unusable. Furthermore, direct damage or “destroy creature” spells are practical for removing the Stoker itself from play, cutting off the mana supply at its source.

Ultimately, while Krark-Clan Stoker may present a tactical challenge, a well-considered strategy utilizing control and removal can effectively neutralize its advantages, allowing you to maintain the upper hand in your matches.

Cards like Krark-Clan Stoker

Krark-Clan Stoker plays a unique role in mana acceleration within MTG. As a card that offers a mana ability by sacrificing an artifact, it slots into a niche filled by few others. When considering its brethren, Iron Myr emerges as a potential alternative, providing a repeatable source of mana without a cost. Though it shares the ability to generate red mana, the Myr lacks the Stoker’s potential for explosive bursts of resources.

Interestingly, Cathodion offers a similar, yet distinct angle on mana generation. Upon its death, it bequeaths a significant burst of mana, a one-time event in stark contrast to the Stoker’s repeatable ability. Both facilitate larger plays or enable a quick adaptation to battlefield changes. Priests of Iroas from the world of Theros provide an intriguing counterpoint; they also sacrifice artifacts but draw from this ritual to deal direct damage rather than to stockpile mana.

Ultimately, Krark-Clan Stoker’s blend of repeatability and synergy with artifact-centric decks carves out a clear identity in MTG. This gives it an explicitly defined role that, while comparable, remains distinct from its counterparts.

Cards similar to Krark-Clan Stoker by color, type and mana cost

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions

Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions

Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions

Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Krark-Clan Stoker MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 Krark-Clan Stoker and other MTG cards: