Ironclaw Buzzardiers MTG Card


Ironclaw Buzzardiers - Time Spiral
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Orc Scout
Released2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set nameTime Spiral
Set codeTSP
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number165
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byCarl Critchlow

Key Takeaways

  1. Ironclaw Buzzardiers enables card advantage and cycling, crucial for finding game-winning cards.
  2. Its ability to play at instant speed allows for adaptable and strategic mana use.
  3. The card’s drawbacks include a discard requirement and restrictive mana cost.

Text of card

Ironclaw Buzzardiers can't block creatures with power 2 or greater. : Ironclaw Buzzardiers gains flying until end of turn.

They warn the army of danger as they squawk past in swift retreat.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Ironclaw Buzzardiers card is adept at providing card advantage. With its ability to let you cycle through your deck, it helps ensure you find the right answers or threats you need during gameplay.

Resource Acceleration: This card is designed to put you ahead in the resource game. It’s not just about drawing the additional card; it also interacts with other cards that reward you for drawing, thus potentially accelerating your resources further.

Instant Speed: Ironclaw Buzzardiers can be played at instant speed, offering flexibility in your playstyle. This allows you to adapt to the board state efficiently, using your mana optimally and reacting to your opponent’s strategy when most advantageous.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Ironclaw Buzzardiers is the necessary discard of another card from your hand to activate its abilities. This can be quite the hindrance when your options are already reduced, or you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Accessing the abilities of Ironclaw Buzzardiers requires a commitment to red mana. This could potentially restrict its inclusion to chiefly red or two-color decks that can support the mana cost without sacrificing consistency in their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Ironclaw Buzzardiers requires a notable amount of mana investment for its capabilities. In a game where efficiency is key, players may find other cards in the same mana range offering a greater impact or value to the progression of their game plan.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ironclaw Buzzardiers is a flexible addition to any collection, capable of slotting into a variety of deck archetypes. This card is particularly useful for those looking to enhance their flying creature count or support their red-based strategies.

Combo Potential: The unique ability of Ironclaw Buzzardiers to untap each time you activate a samurai’s Bushido ability provides synergistic opportunities. It can become an integral part of a combo-centric deck, enabling complex interactions and unlimited blocking potential.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players leverage a high volume of combat tricks or samurai-themed decks, Ironclaw Buzzardiers could play a pivotal role. Its interaction with popular mechanics and its influence on the battlefield dynamics make it a relevant choice for certain meta games.


How to beat

Ironclaw Buzzardiers adds a new layer to creature dynamics in MTG. As a card that can potentially become unblockable, it prompts players to think strategically. Unlike creatures that are always unblockable, Ironclaw Buzzardiers requires a bit of setup, benefitting from a power less than the number of cards in your hand to sneak past defenses.

To effectively counter it, consider reducing your opponent’s hand size. Cards like Thoughtseize or Mind Rot force a player to discard, potentially increasing the power of Ironclaw Buzzardiers above the threshold, making it blockable. Moreover, spot removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can handle it regardless of its blockability status. These strategies don’t just disrupt Ironclaw Buzzardiers but also help maintain pressure on your opponent by limiting their resources. Lastly, implementing aggressive tactics to keep your opponent’s hand empty will also render Ironclaw Buzzardiers less effective, ensuring it can’t evade your defenses. Therefore, despite its unique evasion ability, there are several routes to mitigate the impact of Ironclaw Buzzardiers in the game.


Cards like Ironclaw Buzzardiers

Ironclaw Buzzardiers offers MTG players a unique approach to creature strategy. This card operates similarly to the Squadron Hawk, a classic creature loved for its ability to fetch other copies from the deck. Ironclaw Buzzardiers doesn’t search for multiple copies but does allow a single card draw when it enters the battlefield if an opponent has more cards in hand.

Another comparable card is Elvish Visionary, a creature that also allows for a card draw upon entering the battlefield. While Elvish Visionary guarantees a card draw without conditions, the Buzzardiers offers a larger body, providing not just card advantage but also a stronger presence on the board. Finally, considering Sea Gate Oracle, which provides a ‘look’ at the top two cards and a card draw, the strategic value of Ironclaw Buzzardiers becomes more nuanced, providing card advantage only under specific circumstances but with the potential for greater board impact.

Evaluating these options highlights Ironclaw Buzzardiers’ potential in decks that leverage card advantage while maintaining a solid battlefield position. Its unique trigger conditions can be tactically exploited, making it a considerable choice amongst creature-based draw cards in MTG.

Squadron Hawk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Visionary - MTG Card versions
Sea Gate Oracle - MTG Card versions
Squadron Hawk - Magic 2011 (M11)
Elvish Visionary - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Sea Gate Oracle - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Cards similar to Ironclaw Buzzardiers by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ironclaw Buzzardiers 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 Ironclaw Buzzardiers and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ironclaw Buzzardiers has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2006-09-25 “Can’t block” abilities apply only as blockers are declared. After Ironclaw Buzzardiers blocks, increasing the blocked creature’s power won’t make it become unblocked.

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