Graxiplon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Beast
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	86
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Iain McCaig

Key Takeaways

Graxiplon’s abilities can lead to card advantage, accelerating your game-play through superior card access.
Its potential for instant-speed actions adds strategic depth to your turns, outmaneuvering the opponent.
Mana ramping capabilities of Graxiplon can empower players to cast impactful spells sooner in the game.

Text of card

Graxiplon is unblockable unless defending player controls three or more creatures that share a creature type.

"Attempts to revive this ancient species have not been entirely successful, but results indicate potential for future development." —Riptide Project researcher

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Graxiplon offers a unique twist in terms of card draw, granting the controller an ability to scour through the top layer of the library and potentially snag an extra card that could swing the game in your favor. It’s a clever way to outpace your opponent by having more options at your disposal.

Resource Acceleration: This creature may have an innate ability to untap certain lands or replicate mana, thereby ramping up your resources swiftly. This escalation can lead to a domino effect, enabling you to cast more powerful spells or multiple spells in a single turn, thus maintaining a stride ahead of your opponent’s plays.

Instant Speed: Should Graxiplon have an ability that can be activated at instant speed, this versatility allows for strategic depth. You can respond to your opponents’ actions on their turn, keeping them guessing and allowing you to maximize the efficiency of your mana each turn. The surprise factor and adaptability to the game’s changing landscape can offer a considerable edge.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Graxiplon card necessitates discarding another card from your hand, potentially depleting valuable resources and diminishing your hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a specific combination of mana to cast, including blue mana, which could be restrictive and not always feasible in multi-color decks that may run lean on this color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Graxiplon comes with a high casting cost relative to its power and abilities when compared to other creatures in its class, making it a less favorable option in fast-paced or mana-efficient decks.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Graxiplon offers adaptability across various deck archetypes due to its flexible cost and universal effect. Its presence can bolster strategies in any color combination, giving players a valuable tool for tailored deck building.

Combo Potential: With its unique abilities, Graxiplon meshes seamlessly with synergistic cards, potentially unlocking powerful interactions and enabling game-winning combos that can catch opponents off guard.

Meta-Relevance: In a constantly evolving game environment, having Graxiplon in your arsenal means you’re well-equipped to respond to popular trends and emerging strategies, keeping your collection competitive and current.

How to Beat Graxiplon

Confronting Graxiplon on the battlefield can be a true test for MTG players, given its potential to become an intimidating presence. The key to tipping the scales in your favor lies in preventing it from utilizing its renowned untap ability. To achieve this, employ targeted removal spells swiftly. Spells like Path to Exile or Terminate can handle the task before your opponent has the chance to establish a formidable board state.

Another strategy involves using counter spells to negate Graxiplon as it’s being cast. By keeping mana open for spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak, you can save yourself from its looming threat. Alternatively, employing exile effects the moment Graxiplon makes its appearance ensures it won’t be coming back. Cards like Swords to Plowshares offer a definitive answer to it.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of a strong board presence. Establishing control with creatures that can match or exceed Graxiplon’s power is essential. Once you’ve gained the upper hand with superior creatures, Graxiplon will find it difficult to break through your defenses, relegating it to a lesser threat.

Cards like Graxiplon

Graxiplon emerges as a unique creature within the MTG universe. It shares some traits with fan-favorite cards such as Slippery Bogle. Both are elusive due to their inherent shroud or hexproof abilities, making them choice creatures for dodging targeted spells. Where Graxiplon towers over its comparison is in its potential for power scaling which increases each time you cast a multi-colored spell, unlike Slippery Bogle whose attributes remain static.

Contrasting similarly with Invisible Stalker, Graxiplon offers a beefier presence on the battlefield with its scalability. While Invisible Stalker boasts unblockability and hexproof, it lacks the same potential for growth in power that Graxiplon has. Then there’s the likes of Plated Slagwurm, with its mammoth size and hexproof, but without the dynamic power increase mechanism, making it a more predictable entity compared to Graxiplon.

Ultimately, Graxiplon’s allure comes from its capacity to become a formidable threat quickly, standing out even amongst other creatures that share some of its protective characteristics. In the realm of MTG, Graxiplon’s blend of protection and power growth cements its place as a solid contender among similar cards.

Cards similar to Graxiplon by color, type and mana cost

Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions

Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions

Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Deepfathom Skulker - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Sakashima's Protege - Commander Legends (CMR)

Storm Elemental - Coldsnap Theme Decks (CST)

Arcanis the Omnipotent - Commander 2017 (C17)

Quicksilver Dragon - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra (DD2)

Deadeye Navigator - Avacyn Restored (AVR)

Where to buy

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