Kurgadon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Beast
Released	2003-05-26
Set symbol
Set name	Scourge
Set code	SCG
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	124
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Carl Critchlow

Key Takeaways

Draw extra cards with Kurgadon’s power increase when playing your second card each turn.
Mana demands and a five mana cost may limit Kurgadon’s utility in diverse decks.
Despite high costs, Kurgadon’s adaptability makes it a flexible battlefield contender.

Text of card

Whenever you play a creature spell with converted mana cost 6 or more, put three +1/+1 counters on Kurgadon.

When it walks through Krosa, trees step aside, leaves take wing, and the ground shudders.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kurgadon allows you to potentially draw multiple cards by getting +1/+1 counters whenever you draw your second card each turn. This synergy bolsters your hand while steadily growing a threat on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana acceleration, Kurgadon’s increasing size can dissuade opponents from attacking, effectively giving you more turns to access your resources and play higher-cost cards.

Instant Speed: While Kurgadon itself isn’t an instant, it benefits from any instant-speed card drawing you might execute during your opponent’s turn. This can result in surprise growth and a significant shift in board presence between your opponent’s end step and your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kurgadon necessitates the discarding of a creature card to trigger its ability. This can diminish your hand when you might need a broad selection of options to respond to the evolving state of play.

Specific Mana Cost: Kurgadon’s casting cost is stringent, requiring not just four mana but a commitment to both green and red sources. This makes it a potentially challenging fit in decks that have a broader mana base or that are more color-diverse.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its substantial requirement of five mana, Kurgadon competes with other high-impact creatures and spells in the same range. Given this investment, players often expect a more immediate or game-changing effect.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kurgadon, with its scalable mana cost, can be easily slotted into different types of decks. Its adaptable nature allows it to be effective both in the early game as a formidable creature and in the late game as a substantial threat.

Combo Potential: This creature’s ability to grow with each spell cast makes it a promising candidate for spell-slinger decks, potentially turning each instant and sorcery into a dual purpose tool – for its intended effect and for beefing up Kurgadon’s power.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the pace of current metagames, a versatile creature like Kurgadon can be crucial. It provides a dynamic response to ever-changing battlefield states, holding its ground in a landscape that values adaptability and resilience.

How to beat

Kurgadon is a unique creature card that can pose a significant challenge on the battlefield. With its imposing presence and ability to grow in power, it demands a strategic approach to overcome. One effective tactic is to leverage removal spells that can target it regardless of its size. Cards such as Path to Exile or Murder can quickly deal with the Kurgadon without having to engage in combat.

Control decks may also find success by countering Kurgadon before it even hits the play. Denying your opponent the chance to cast the creature breaks their momentum and keeps you out of reach from its escalating threat. Alternatively, forcing your opponent to sacrifice creatures can be a subtle yet powerful way to bypass Kurgadon’s growing power. Edict effects from cards like Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil can navigate around even the most formidable creatures.

Moreover, keeping pressure with aggressive creatures can be equally effective. If you can outpace the mana investment needed for Kurgadon to become a threat, you can close the game before it becomes relevant. Remember, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the Kurgadon is key in crafting a winning strategy against this formidable MTG card.

Cards like Kurgadon

Within the realm of MTG, creatures like Kurgadon bring a unique twist to the battlefield. As a card with formidable stats and the potential to grow rapidly, it’s often compared to the likes of Leatherback Baloth, a creature known for its sheer size for its mana cost. Leatherback Baloth offers a straightforward approach, providing a significant power and toughness without any strings attached.

Splinterfright is another card that shares thematic similarities, thriving on the number of creatures in the graveyard. Though while Splinterfright gains its strength directly from graveyard size, Kurgadon’s potential grows through exiling cards, showcasing a different avenue for power accumulation, and impact on game dynamics. Primordial Hydra also falls into this category, with a scalable growth mechanic that doubles its +1/+1 counters each turn, but lacks the immediate board presence that Kurgadon provides upon casting.

In essence, all of these creatures have the shared goal of dominating the board by becoming increasingly threatening to the opponent. But Kurgadon stands out with its unique angle of growth by card exile, marking its territory in MTG as a creature that can quickly spiral out of control if left unchecked.

Cards similar to Kurgadon by color, type and mana cost

Ashaya, Soul of the Wild - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kurgadon MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Kurgadon and other MTG cards: