Crackleburr MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Released | 2008-07-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Eventide |
| Set code | EVE |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 100 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mike Dringenberg |
Key Takeaways
- Gain card advantage and control with Crackleburr by leveraging its untap ability at crucial moments in play.
- Resource acceleration and instant speed actions make Crackleburr a tactical asset in interactive MTG decks.
- The card’s specific mana needs and discard cost can challenge deck flexibility and resource management.
Text of card
{UR}{UR}, , Tap two untapped red creatures you control: Crackleburr deals 3 damage to target creature or player. {UR}{UR}, {Q}, Untap two tapped blue creatures you control: Return target creature to its owner's hand. ({Q} is the untap symbol.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crackleburr enhances your tactical plays by allowing you to untap two creatures you control when executing its abilities. This can create multiple opportunities for card interaction, significantly tilting the card advantage in your favor throughout the match.
Resource Acceleration: With the potential to tap or untap creatures strategically, Crackleburr can help manage your resources more efficiently. This allows for quicker deployment of your strategies and can often catch opponents off guard, speeding up your game plan.
Instant Speed:The double-duty skills of Crackleburr can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves during their turn. This adaptability is a substantial benefit in games, especially in formats demanding timely responses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Crackleburr requires players to discard their own cards to activate its abilities, often placing them at a card disadvantage and pressuring their hand resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Due to its color-specific activation costs, this card might struggle to find a place in multicolor decks that can’t always guarantee the red and blue mana required.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its ability costing a significant amount of mana to use, Crackleburr’s efficiency is impacted when compared to other creatures or spells that have a lower activation cost and potentially a more immediate board impact.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Crackleburr fits seamlessly into decks built around tapping and untapping creatures. Its ability to control the board by bouncing threats and dealing damage adds a flexible tool for numerous strategies.
Combo Potential: Capable of creating infinite combos with cards that untap creatures, Crackleburr can turn into a game-ending mechanism, especially with a well-structured mana base or enablers like “Intruder Alarm”.
Meta-Relevance: As the competitive scene varies, Crackleburr’s adaptability may prove crucial. In a meta with numerous creature-based strategies, this card’s relevance soars, offering direct responses to opponent’s threats while enabling your tactics.
How to beat
Crackleburr presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to control combat and manipulate the board state. As a card that thrives on untapped blue or red creatures, successful strategies against it often involve limiting these resources. Instant speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can disrupt Crackleburr’s plans before they come to fruition. Moreover, cards that prevent creature abilities from activating, such as Linvala, Keeper of Silence, or Cursed Totem, serve as direct counters to Crackleburr’s powers.
Another effective tactic is to go wide with creature tokens, thereby diluting Crackleburr’s impact by overwhelming it with sheer numbers. Overcommitting to the board, however, risks facing an advantageous trade, so balance is key. Additionally, keeping a low creature count can mitigate Crackleburr’s ability as it requires tapping two other untapped creatures you control to either ping or bounce a target. Consequently, managing your own battlefield presence and being prepared with creature removal or ability negation will significantly reduce Crackleburr’s effectiveness.
Ultimately, Crackleburr can be contained with thoughtful playstyle adaptations, focused removal, and strategic creature management. These tools make it possible for players to navigate the complexities Crackleburr brings to MTG matches and maintain control over the game.
Cards like Crackleburr
Crackleburr stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique multi-faceted creature card. It shares the ability to manipulate creatures with cards such as Tradewind Rider. Yet, Crackleburr brings a twist with its capacity to deal damage and bounce creatures simultaneously. In contrast, Tradewind Rider focuses solely on returning creatures to their owner’s hand, lacking the direct damage feature Crackleburr offers.
Another card with a similar role in the control archetype is Izzet Staticaster. While it can also deal damage to multiple creatures, it does not provide the same utility of bouncing creatures like Crackleburr does. However, Izzet Staticaster does not require tapping other creatures to activate its ability, which can be a strategic advantage based on the board state.
In synthesis, Crackleburr offers a unique combination of board control and direct damage, a synergy not often found in other MTG cards. Its requirement for both red and blue creatures to be tapped for its ability creates an interesting and strategic layer, appealing to players who enjoy nuanced control mechanics. As such, Crackleburr could be considered a distinctive choice for decks that focus on creature interaction and utility.
Cards similar to Crackleburr by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crackleburr MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Crackleburr 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 Crackleburr has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crackleburr card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | If the permanent is already untapped, you can’t activate its {Q} ability. That’s because you can’t pay the “Untap this permanent” cost. |
| 2008-08-01 | The “summoning sickness” rule applies to {Q}. If a creature with an {Q} ability hasn’t been under your control since your most recent turn began, you can’t activate that ability. Ignore this rule if the creature also has haste. |
| 2008-08-01 | To activate either ability, you’ll need Crackleburr plus two other creatures. Crackleburr must have been under your control since your most recent turn began (or have haste), but the other two creatures don’t. |
| 2008-08-01 | When you activate an {Q} ability, you untap the creature with that ability as a cost. The untap can’t be responded to. (The actual ability can be responded to, of course.) |
