Basal Thrull MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Thrull
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Basal Thrull enables sacrificing synergies, enhancing creature-based strategic depth and board control.
  2. It’s a key mana accelerator in black mana strategies, useful for casting demanding spells efficiently.
  3. Despite limitations in versatility, it remains a valuable card for specific resource-centered decks.

Text of card

oc T: Sacrifice Basal Thrull to add o Bo B to your mana pool. Play this ability as an interrupt.

Initially bred for sacrifice, the Thrulls eventually turned on their masters, the Order of the Ebon Hand, with gruesome results. —*Sarpadian Empires, vol. II*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Basal Thrull may not let you draw cards directly, but it acts as recurring fodder for effects that require sacrificing a creature, helping maintain card utility and board presence.

Resource Acceleration: As a mana dork for black mana, Basal Thrull offers resource acceleration by tapping for an extra {B}, aiding in casting more demanding spells ahead of curve.

Instant Speed: While Basal Thrull itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes with spells and abilities that do, by providing additional mana through its sacrifice at any time, even during an opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside is the absence of a discard effect, which could be leveraged for strategical purposes in decks centered around card recursion or madness abilities.

Specific Mana Cost: Basal Thrull requires black mana for casting. This specific mana cost restricts it to black-inclusive decks, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-colored or colorless decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that provides mana acceleration, Basal Thrull’s two mana cost is on the higher side compared to other one-mana dorks. This can slow down your tempo, especially in formats where speed is crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Basal Thrull fits snugly into any deck that thrives on mana acceleration and creature strategies. With its ability to sacrifice for black mana, it facilitates a wide array of strategies from ramping into larger threats to enabling key spells ahead of your opponents.

Combo Potential: This creature enhances decks that capitalize on sacrificing mechanics or black mana sinks. Combine it with spells that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard or use the mana it generates to fuel potent abilities or hefty costs.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where mana efficiency can make or break a game, Basal Thrull offers a reliable source of resource acceleration. It can adapt to various meta-trends, contributing to strategies that require a steady flow of black mana to outpace the competition.


How to beat Basal Thrull

Battling against Basal Thrull on the Magic: The Gathering field, players need to understand its role in resource acceleration strategies. Basal Thrull can be a persistent nuisance due to its mana-generating ability, allowing opponents to ramp up their plays earlier than usual. To counteract this, pinpoint removal spells such as Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt are effective at removing the creature before it can be utilized for a significant advantage.

Another tactic involves employing board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation, which are particularly useful in clearing out multiple creatures including these pesky thrulls. Keeping the mana curve of your deck low also ensures you can deploy threats and answers quickly, thus diminishing the ramping edge Basal Thrull might provide your opponent. Additionally, graveyard disruption tools like Scavenging Ooze help suppress their potential return from the graveyard for repeated value.

In essence, staying proactive with removal or reactive with board control strategies are key methods to gain the upper hand against decks utilizing Basal Thrull. This approach ensures you maintain a balance between field presence and resource allocation—crucial aspects in overcoming decks that benefit from the thrull’s mana ramping capacity.


Cards like Basal Thrull

Basil Thrull finds its niche in the realm of mana acceleration and creature sacrifice within Magic: The Gathering. It shares common ground with Blood Pet, which similarly can be sacrificed for an immediate burst of black mana. Yet, Basal Thrull offers the advantage of regenerating, making it a persisting presence on the battlefield, unlike the single-use Blood Pet.

Another comparison is to Soldevi Adnate, which can also be used for mana generation. Soldevi Adnate boasts the ability to sacrifice other creatures for mana equal to the sacrificed creature’s casting cost, providing potentially more mana than Basal Thrull. However, the Thrull’s simpler, self-contained functionality can be advantageous in decks that value creature resilience over explosive mana gain.

Against the broader landscape of MTG creatures that tap for mana, Basal Thrull stands out for its versatility to either contribute to mana ramp or serve as a regenerable chump blocker. Its place in decks is secured by its ability to fulfill multiple roles, thereby underlining its value in certain strategies.

Blood Pet - MTG Card versions
Soldevi Adnate - MTG Card versions
Blood Pet - Tempest (TMP)
Soldevi Adnate - Alliances (ALL)

Cards similar to Basal Thrull by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Basal Thrull MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fallen Empires, 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 Basal Thrull and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Basal Thrull Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 34a1993normalblackKaja Foglio
21994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 34d1993normalblackChristopher Rush
31994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 34c1993normalblackRichard Kane Ferguson
41994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 34b1993normalblackPhil Foglio
52007-09-10Masters EditionME1 591997normalblackKaja Foglio

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Basal Thrull has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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