Battering Craghorn MTG Card

Onslaught (ONS)
2002-10-07 - Number 188

Archenemy (ARC)
2010-06-18 - Number 30

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goat Beast
Abilities	First strike,Morph
Power	3
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Morph ability of Battering Craghorn can shift board dynamics, providing surprise attacks or defenses.
This card’s specific mana requirement makes it a staple in red-focused decks and strategies.
Despite a higher mana cost, its first-strike capability can prove decisive in combat.

Text of card

First strike Morph o1o Ro R (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for o3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

Their skeletons can be found all over Skirk Ridge, tangled in each other's horns.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Battering Craghorn itself doesn’t directly give you extra cards, the morph ability can lead to advantageous board states. When flipped for its morph cost, it can eliminate an unsuspecting blocker, potentially giving you an indirect edge in card advantage by preserving your other important creatures during combat.

Resource Acceleration: As a 4/4 for five mana in red, Battering Craghorn doesn’t inherently accelerate resources. However, by fitting efficiently in curve, it complements mana development smoothly, ensuring that all mana can be utilized effectively every turn. This can be crucial in midrange and aggressive strategies that seek to use all available resources whenever possible.

Instant Speed: The real edge of Battering Craghorn lies in its Morph ability which can be activated at instant speed. This allows players to surprise opponents by turning a seemingly harmless face-down creature into a 4/4 attacker or blocker during the combat phase. This sudden shift can disrupt the opponent’s strategy, forcing them to reconsider their attacks or blocks, and can occasionally lead to favourable trades.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides of playing Battering Craghorn is its morph feature. While turning this creature face up for its morph cost can be a surprise tactic, remember that it necessitates discarding a card. This discard requirement could be a strategic setback especially when you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: It’s important to note that Battering Craghorn comes with a specific mana demand. To cast this spell, you need not just any mana, but specifically red. This can be a bit restrictive since it anchors the card firmly in red-based decks or those that can accommodate a red mana curve, potentially limiting its versatility in multicolored or other deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When examining mana efficiency, Battering Craghorn may not come out on top. With a cost of three and one red mana, it’s critical to weigh its battlefield impact against other cards with similar mana costs. Players might find that there are more impactful four-mana creatures or spells that could align better with their deck’s overall game plan and provide greater value.

Reasons to Include Battering Craghorn in Your Collection

Versatility: Battering Craghorn offers significant flexibility for red-based decks needing aggressive creatures. Its morph ability allows for tactical surprises or saving mana for other spells early in the game.

Combo Potential: As a creature with haste, Battering Craghorn can be a key component in combos that capitalize on attacking quickly. Combining it with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or dealing combat damage can be particularly effective.

Meta-Relevance: In meta environments where speed is of the essence, Battering Craghorn stands out by providing immediate board presence. It’s especially relevant when the meta foresees a lot of decks lacking in early creature removal capabilities.

How to beat

Battering Craghorn is a red creature card that can be quite formidable in the right circumstances in Magic: The Gathering. This creature boasts an enabler for combat tricks thanks to its morph ability. When faced with it on the opposing side, the trick to prevailing against it involves disruption and timing. One effective strategy is to remove it before it can be a threat, using instant-speed removal such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile.

Another approach is to outpace it with more efficient creatures. Deploying a creature with a higher power and toughness can deter the Craghorn from attacking. Further, having creatures with reach or flying can also be a deterrent, rendering the Craghorn’s first strike less effective. Cards that force it to block, like Lure effects, can neutralize its combat advantage.

Lastly, keeping in mind the morph cost and avoiding leaving yourself open to a face-down morph turn of events is key. If you maintain control over the board state and anticipate your opponent’s potential moves, Battering Craghorn can be managed and conquered in your Magic: The Gathering matches.

Cards like Battering Craghorn

Battering Craghorn is an interesting creature card in MTG owing to its morph ability which allows it to be played face down as a 2/2 creature for three generic mana, then turned face up any time for its morph cost to reveal its true form. This mechanic is akin to the versatility seen in cards like Skirk Marauder. While Marauder can be morphed to deal damage, the Craghorn, when flipped, boasts first strike, potentially giving it an edge in combat.

Comparatively, Canyon Wildcat shares the first strike ability but lacks the morphing flexibility, making the Craghorn more adaptable during gameplay. In another vein, we have Ridgetop Raptor, which also has first strike but at a higher cost and without the morphing option, potentially limiting its sudden impact on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Blistering Firecat can be a powerful albeit temporary threat with its trample and morph, offering a different but punishing strategy.

Even though each card has its unique advantages, Battering Craghorn’s blend of surprise and combative prowess makes it a solid choice for players looking to incorporate a transformative element into their red creature decks.

Skirk Marauder - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)

Cards similar to Battering Craghorn by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Dragon Whelp - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)

Keldon Warlord - Collectors' Edition (CED)

Crimson Manticore - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)

Nalathni Dragon - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Everquill Phoenix - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Battering Craghorn MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Archenemy, 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 Battering Craghorn and other MTG cards: