Durkwood Tracker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Giant
Released	2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set name	Time Spiral
Set code	TSP
Power	4
Toughness	3
Number	194
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Michael Phillippi

Key Takeaways

Durkwood Tracker enables targeted creature removal through strategic combat initiated at instant speed.
Being versatile, it pairs well with deathtouch creatures and those benefiting from fighting mechanics.
Its inclusion is beneficial in creature-heavy metas, proving a practical choice for green-focused decks.

Text of card

, : If Durkwood Tracker is in play, it deals damage equal to its power to target attacking creature. That creature deals damage equal to its power to Durkwood Tracker.

These days, trackers must follow their quarry over years as well as miles.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Durkwood Tracker has the potential to help you thin out the creatures on your opponents’ side, which can indirectly contribute to card advantage. By selecting creatures to fight, you can eliminate key threats and improve the quality of your hand and board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly impacting mana, the Tracker can quickly change the state of the board in your favor. By removing blockers or potential threats, it allows your other creatures to attack or defend more effectively, potentially saving your resources in the long run.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Durkwood Tracker’s fighting skill at instant speed is crucial. This enables you to choose the optimal moment during your opponent’s turn to engage in combat, possibly disrupting their combat strategies or removing a creature before it can be used in synergistic plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Durkwood Tracker necessitates sacrificing a creature to trigger its ability. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your board presence is already limited.

Specific Mana Cost: The card demands a strict split of mana types which may not align effortlessly with multi-colored decks that lack a steady base of green mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting requirement of five mana including two green, Durkwood Tracker’s activation cost can be too steep, especially when considering the rate of return on creature removal against other options available in the game.

Reasons to Include Durkwood Tracker in Your Collection

Versatility: Durkwood Tracker offers a unique toolset to green decks capable of turning any creature into a potential threat-eliminator. Its ability to force combat with targeted creatures enables players to remove key threats on the board with strategic fights.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with creatures that have deathtouch or those that benefit from entering the battlefield or dying. Pairing Durkwood Tracker with these types of creatures can lead to advantageous board states and even game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with a prevalence of creature-heavy decks, Durkwood Tracker shines by acting as a repeatable removal tool. Its relevance increases in games where maintaining board control is critical, making it a surprisingly practical choice for your collection.

How to beat

Durkwood Tracker is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that allows its controller to force a creature fight upon tapping. This ability can quickly become a problem, especially when your opponent uses it to take out key creatures on your board. To outmaneuver this, maintaining control of the board and keeping your essential creatures out of harm’s way is strategic.

One effective strategy is to use instant-speed removal spells on the Tracker before it can activate its ability. Counterspells are also a valuable tool, preventing the Tracker from ever entering the battlefield in the first place. Evasion abilities like flying or unblockability ensure that your creatures stay safe from forced combat. In addition, having creatures with indestructible or those that benefit from being targeted, like ones with enrage or similar abilities, can turn the Tracker’s ability against your opponent.

Ultimately, while the Durkwood Tracker has the potential to be a game-changer with its creature-fighting ability, attentive play and a good selection of preventative measures can keep it in check and maintain the balance of the game in your favor.

Cards like Durkwood Tracker

Durkwood Tracker holds a unique position within the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. In terms of functionality, it parallels hunters such as Somberwald Stag, which also features a mechanism to deal with opposing creatures directly. Durkwood Tracker’s ability to force a creature to fight another upon tapping resembles the Stag’s entry effect but requires a mana investment and the tapping of the card itself.

Then we have Thorn Mammoth, a larger creature that brings a similar fight dynamic to the table. While the Mammoth triggers its fighting ability whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, the Tracker needs an activation. This distinction is pivotal as it positions the Mammoth as a reactive force during gameplay, as opposed to the proactive but once-per-turn Tracker.

One must also consider the imposing Vigor, albeit indirect in comparison. Instead of fighting, Vigor prevents damage to other creatures you control and strengthens them instead. Durkwood Tracker, in contrast, aims to eliminate threats, acting as both protectant and aggressor in your creature lineup. The choice between these cards ultimately boils down to differing strategies and game situations that could favor one over the other.

Cards similar to Durkwood Tracker by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Durkwood Tracker MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Durkwood Tracker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Durkwood Tracker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2006-09-25	If Durkwood Tracker has left the battlefield before the ability resolves, the ability doesn’t do anything. If the targeted creature has left the battlefield before the ability resolves, the ability doesn’t resolve.