Carnassid MTG Card

Stronghold (STH)
1998-03-02 - Number 103

Tempest Remastered (TPR)
2015-05-06 - Number 167

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Beast
Abilities	Trample
Power	5
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Carnassid’s card draw and land interaction accelerate resources, potentially dominating the game.
Instant speed enhances strategy, but a specific mana cost limits deck versatility.
Despite a high cost and discard requirement, Carnassid’s presence deters attacks effectively.

Text of card

Trample o1oo G Regenerate Carnassid.

The hunter would never forget the time or place where he first met the carnassid, for they buried him there.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Carnassid card can be invaluable for creating opportunity in your hand. If it features the ability to draw or manipulate cards, this could translate into a stronger position as you outdraw your opponents, keeping your hand flush with options.

Resource Acceleration: If the Carnassid interacts with lands or mana production, it can be a game-changer by ramping up your available resources. This acceleration lets you deploy more threats faster than your opponents, potentially leading toward an overwhelming board state.

Instant Speed: If Carnassid functions at instant speed, this offers a strategic edge, permitting you to react on your terms. You can optimize your mana usage by waiting until the last possible moment, keeping your adversary guessing and ensuring that you always get the best use out of your mana each turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Carnassid necessitates a player to discard a card to unleash its full potential. This can be especially troubling during the late game when each card in hand is crucial, potentially leaving players at a disadvantage if they’re unable to maintain a robust hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: With a requirement for not just one, but two green mana, Carnassid can be restrictive for multi-colored or color-flexible decks. This specificity necessitates a stronger commitment to green mana sources, potentially limiting deck building versatility and card choices.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Carnassid’s casting cost might be perceived as steep for its stats and abilities. In a format filled with efficient creatures and spells, the opportunity cost of playing Carnassid over other options could be too high, especially when alternatives could provide immediate impact on the game without the additional discard cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Carnassid offers a flexible role in green decks, proficient in blocking with its formidable toughness. Its reach ability also allows it to be an excellent defender against flying creatures, a common threat in many games.

Combo Potential: This creature can be leveraged as a part of ramp strategies, potentially unlocking mana for powerful game-changing spells or creatures. Its synergy with effects that care about high toughness or creature types could be a linchpin in specialized decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where aggressive creatures dominate, Carnassid serves as a reliable bulwark. Its presence can deter attacks and stabilize the board, making it a useful asset in specific metagame conditions where durability on the battlefield is crucial.

How to beat

Carnassid introduces a unique dynamic to battlefield control in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to prevent all but one damage that would be dealt to it, this creature becomes an imposing threat to opponents. While this may seem daunting, one way to outmaneuver Carnassid is by taking advantage of its inability to block more than one creature. Swarm strategies can prove effective, allowing you to overwhelm Carnassid with a multitude of attackers, thereby circumventing its damage prevention ability.

Another tactic is to employ spells or abilities that don’t deal damage but rather decrease toughness or provide -1/-1 counters. Cards like Grasp of Darkness or Lethal Sting can bypass Carnassid’s defensive ability, potentially neutralizing it without having to contend with damage prevention. Additionally, using exile effects such as Path to Exile can remove Carnassid from the battlefield entirely, offering a clean and efficient answer to this formidable creature.

In summary, even though Carnassid presents a unique challenge, player strategies that include overwhelming force, diminishing toughness, or exile effects are the keys to conquering it on the battlefield. Understanding and deploying these tactics will help ensure that Carnassid doesn’t stand in your way to victory.

Cards like Carnassid

The Carnassid emerges as a solid creature card within Magic: The Gathering, nestled in the subset of cards that excel in mono-green decks devoted to stompy strategies. In comparison, the Thragtusk is a creature often brought into parallel discussion. Thragtusk shines with its life gain and lingering presence even after it’s gone, providing a 3/3 token when it leaves the battlefield. While the Carnassid does not boast these exact features, its regeneration ability allows it to survive potential destruction, maintaining a formidable presence on the battlefield.

Another comparable card may be the Leatherback Baloth, sporting immense power and toughness for its mana cost. Yet, it lacks the Carnassid’s resilience against removal spells. In contrast, Scaled Behemoth presses an advantage with its hexproof ability, making it immune to targeted spells or abilities from opponents. While the Behemoth is not as easily removed as Carnassid, it comes at a higher mana cost, making Carnassid a more nimble option in the earlier stages of the game.

Ultimately, Carnassid holds its ground as a durable and efficient creature for players looking to maintain a steady offensive. Its regeneration makes it a persistent threat in the game, while the cost-effective stats support a swift and aggressive gameplay strategy.

Cards similar to Carnassid by color, type and mana cost

Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions

Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions

Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Carnassid MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and Tempest Remastered, 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 Carnassid and other MTG cards: