Atarka Pummeler MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Ogre Warrior |
| Abilities | Formidable |
| Released | 2015-03-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dragons of Tarkir |
| Set code | DTK |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 129 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Lucas Graciano |
Key Takeaways
- Board advantage by dealing damage without depleting your hand makes Atarka Pummeler a key card.
- When paired with instant speed spells, it offers surprise plays and increased game flexibility.
- The requirement to discard for activation can be a strategic drawback in tight situations.
Text of card
Formidable — : Each creature you control can't be blocked this turn except by two or more creatures. Activate this ability only if creatures you control have total power 8 or greater.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Atarka Pummeler’s ability to possibly deal damage to multiple creatures without using up additional cards from your hand can lead to a significant advantage on the board. This potential to “two-for-one” or better means it can be a key play in outlasting your opponent and depleting their resources while maintaining your own.
Resource Acceleration: The aggressive mana cost and the potential ramp provided by the red and green mana sources in your deck can lead to early deployment of Atarka Pummeler. Its efficiency in terms of mana to impact ratio allows for a quick tempo gain and the opportunity to utilize your mana resources effectively to advance your board position quickly.
Instant Speed: Though Atarka Pummeler itself is not an instant, its ferocious ability can interact excellently with spells you may cast at instant speed. This can lead to surprise changes in the state of the game, presenting a threat during the opponent’s turn or right before your attack, making it a flexible addition to decks that value timing and unpredictability.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Atarka Pummeler necessitates the discarding of a card to trigger certain abilities. This can lead to unfavorable scenarios, especially when your hand is running low on cards. Letting go of potentially crucial spells or creatures might not always be the best strategic option, hindering your gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: The Atarka Pummeler comes with a distinct mana cost involving both red and green. This requirement can be restrictive as it fits primarily in a Gruul deck or others that can accommodate such color combinations, alienating it from mono-colored or other two-color strategies that can’t meet this criterion easily.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Deploying Atarka Pummeler onto the battlefield can be mana-intensive, and it might not always align with an agile mana curve. In situations where speed is of the essence, summoning this creature could slow you down compared to other options. Its high mana cost may not justify the benefits when faster, more cost-effective creatures are available, compelling players to weigh their decisions carefully.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Atarka Pummeler offers a flexible role in decks that are focused on aggressive strategies. Its ability to grant a creature double strike can be a game-changer, synergizing well with creatures that have high power or those that benefit from hitting an opponent multiple times.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Atarka Pummeler can create devastating combos. Pairing it with other cards that increase creature damage or provide additional combat phases can lead to quick victories, making it a strong combo piece in the right deck.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where hefty creatures reign supreme, Atarka Pummeler can elevate a deck’s threat level. Giving your heavy hitters double strike not only increases their damage output but can force opponents to rethink their defensive strategies, possibly providing the edge you need in a tight match.
How to beat Atarka Pummeler
The Atarka Pummeler card brings unique challenges to players in MTG due to its potential for explosive damage. To successfully navigate against it, one should prioritize card control tools that remove threats preemptively. Spot removals like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can be effective if timed before the Pummeler’s power-boosting abilities are activated. Similarly, counterspells serve as a preventive measure to keep the Pummeler off the battlefield altogether.
Another strategy involves limiting the Atarka Pummeler’s effectiveness through clever deck design. Cards with hexproof protect your creatures from targeted effects, ensuring your battlefield presence remains unthreatened. Ensnaring Bridge is another potent choice, preventing heavy hitters like Atarka Pummeler from assaulting your life points directly.
Finally, understanding the synergy within your opponent’s deck that empowers Atarka Pummeler can be crucial. Disrupting their combo pieces with thoughtseize-style effects or graveyard manipulation can derail their game plan, giving you the upper hand to emerge victorious.
Cards like Atarka Pummeler
Atarka Pummeler stands out as a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Its kinship with cards like Savage Punch is evident; both empower creatures to fight others – yet Atarka Pummeler brings something extra to the table. With the added benefit of granting a potentially game-ending eight extra damage when formidable is met, it overshadows the simple might augmentation Savage Punch provides.
Similar comparisons can be drawn with the likes of Tail Slash. While this card allows for creature-to-creature combat much like Atarka Pummeler, it lacks the additional damage bonus, making it a weaker choice in decks built to exploit the formidable keyword. Fall of the Hammer also shares the fight mechanic but misses out on scaling up with creatures’ power, which Atarka Pummeler uniquely leverages to turn the tides of a duel.
In sum, as we delve into creature-to-creature fight cards within Magic: The Gathering, Atarka Pummeler is a significantly more impactful option. Its dynamics with the formidable mechanic can decisively enhance combat outcomes, elevating it above similar cards in strategic creature-focused decks.
Cards similar to Atarka Pummeler by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Atarka Pummeler 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 Atarka Pummeler 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 Atarka Pummeler has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Atarka Pummeler card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-02-25 | Activating Atarka Pummeler’s ability more than once conveys no additional benefit to creatures you control. |
| 2015-02-25 | If you control a creature with power less than 0, use its actual power when calculating the total power of creatures you control. For example, if you control three creatures with powers 4, 5, and -2, the total power of creatures you control is 7. |
| 2015-02-25 | Other formidable abilities are triggered abilities with an “intervening ‘if’” clause. Such abilities check the total power of creatures you control twice: once at the appropriate time to see if the ability will trigger, and again as the ability tries to resolve. If, at that time, the total power of creatures you control is no longer 8 or greater, the ability will have no effect. |
| 2015-02-25 | Some formidable abilities are activated abilities that require creatures you control to have total power 8 or greater. Once you activate these abilities, it doesn’t matter what happens to the total power of creatures you control. |
