Ancient Carp MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Fish
Released	2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set name	Dragons of Tarkir
Set code	DTK
Power	2
Toughness	5
Number	44
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Burdett

Key Takeaways

While not a resource accelerator, Ancient Carp can enable graveyard synergies for casting spells sooner.
It demands specific scenarios to thrive, making it less universally usable across various strategies.
In certain decks, Ancient Carp’s tap and untap synergies unlock unique combo potentials.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While not directly interacting with card draw, Ancient Carp can serve as a steadfast defender on the board. Its presence can protect more valuable creatures or your life total while you set up your game plan.

Resource Acceleration: Ancient Carp itself is not a resource accelerator, but in the right deck, it could potentially enable delve mechanics or other graveyard synergies, indirectly aiding in casting more substantial spells sooner.

Instant Speed: Though Ancient Carp doesn’t have instant speed, it provides a consistent four-turn cycle for defense. This allows you to use your instant-speed spells freely, knowing you have a reliable blocker on the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike cards providing a secondary benefit upon entering the battlefield, Ancient Carp demands a specific set of circumstances to be valuable, potentially leaving you with one less card to play if it doesn’t align with your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both generic and blue mana, this card’s cost isn’t as flexible, which can be restrictive when trying to maintain a diverse and adaptable mana base, especially in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana for a simple 2/5 creature, Ancient Carp’s stats and abilities do not offer competitive value when compared to other creatures players could cast for the same, or lesser, amount of mana.

Reasons to Include Ancient Carp in Your Collection

Versatility: Ancient Carp, though a simple card, can be a reasonable inclusion in decks that capitalize on creature count, such as those running with “Mortal’s Ardor” or “Inspiring Call.” Its presence can bolster your board state while offering you additional options for defensive play.

Combo Potential: In a deck with a focus on tap and untap mechanics, Ancient Carp can synergize with cards like “Retraction Helix” or “Benthic Infiltrator” for surprising combo plays. It may not be the flashiest card, but it holds untapped potential in the right deck.

Meta-Relevance: While it may not stride across competitive tournaments, in a local or casual meta-game, the Ancient Carp can serve as a budget-friendly option to fill deck slots, particularly in a blue creature-based strategy that needs a few additional low-threat entities.

How to beat

Ancient Carp may seem unassuming in the vast world of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, but even this simple card has its place in a strategic match-up. As a creature primarily seen in limited formats or casual decks, it is important to recognize that its strength lies in its toughness. Beating Ancient Carp typically involves going beyond its defense. Combat tricks that boost your creatures’ power or removal spells that don’t rely on dealing damage are effective ways to remove it from the board.

Should the situation arise where power and toughness modifications are insufficient, spells that don’t check for the creature’s toughness offer another route. Utilizing cards like Path to Exile or Dive Down can nullify the longevity Ancient Carp brings to the table. These allow you to handle the creature without getting ensnared in combat that favors your opponent due to the Carp’s higher toughness. By considering these solutions, you ensure that this fish doesn’t swim under your radar and disrupt your path to victory.

A holistic approach involving thoughtful resource management and strategic planning allows you to maintain control against cards like Ancient Carp, ensuring that its potential defensive value doesn’t become a stumbling block in your game plan.

Cards like Ancient Carp

Ancient Carp offers a unique blend of creature and defensive utility within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This fish is akin to other five mana-cost creatures like the vanilla Hill Giant, which provides a straightforward 3/3 creature advantage without any additional effects. Ancient Carp, however, provides a slightly different edge with its ability to sustain a player’s life total, much like the life-gain focused Vulpine Goliath which offers trample but at a higher power and toughness.

Comparing it to a card like Siege Wurm, another creature that poses a threat with it’s trample ability, Ancient Carp seems to offer less in terms of offense but pays off with the life-gain aspect for a defensive stance. Closer to its core functionality, Loam Dryad stands out as a two mana creature that offers both a 1/2 body and the ability to tap for mana, albeit without improving the life total of its controller.

While Ancient Carp may not headline aggressive strategies, it stands as a viable option for decks that aim to fortify their defense and prolong the game, thereby carving a niche for itself amongst similar Magic: The Gathering staple creatures in the five-mana slot.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ancient Carp MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Ancient Carp and other MTG cards: