Krosan Groundshaker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Beast
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Power	6
Toughness	6
Number	271
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Wayne England

Key Takeaways

Board dominance is achievable as Krosan Groundshaker tips the scales with trample, fortifying your creature presence.
Demands careful hand management due to discard requirement for its effect activation, making strategic plays essential.
High mana cost makes it a late-game play, ideal for decks capable of reaching the necessary resources efficiently.

Text of card

o G: Target Beast gains trample until end of turn.

You know it's coming when you hear the distant thunder. You know where it's been when you see the path of broken trees.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Krosan Groundshaker grants an enduring edge in board presence. When used effectively, it can become an asset that outmatches opponents in terms of creatures on the battlefield. Its ability to enable other creatures to gain trample ensures your dominant creatures can push through defenses, potentially leading to substantial card advantage as you systematically dismantle the opponent’s line of defense.

Resource Acceleration: Though Krosan Groundshaker itself does not directly accelerate resources, its hefty presence on the field serves as a form of indirect acceleration. By facilitating more efficient combat wins and potentially drawing out removal spells from your opponent, it can free up your other assets to focus on growth and board development.

Instant Speed: While Krosan Groundshaker doesn’t have instant speed interactions, its ability to give trample can be thought of as having a lasting impact that benefits instant speed combat tricks. It’s important to recognize the strategic planning required to maximize such effects, as timing the deployment of your large tramplers can swing the momentum in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This card necessitates players to discard another card to trigger its powerful effects. This can be particularly taxing in situations where your hand is already running thin, curtailing your ability to maintain card advantage and potentially leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Krosan Groundshaker demands a stringent combination of mana, including green mana. This specific requirement can be a hitch in multicolored decks that might struggle to consistently produce the necessary mana, thus relegating the card to mono-green decks or those with a heavy green influence.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher end of the spectrum, Krosan Groundshaker may not always align with the pace of your game plan. By the time you’re able to muster enough mana to play it, faster decks may have already established a commanding presence on the board or even set up their winning conditions.

Reasons to Include Krosan Groundshaker in Your Collection

Versatility: Krosan Groundshaker brings a dynamic element to green decks that can take advantage of its beefy stats and ability to enable your creatures to become unblockable by except by walls. This versatility allows it to be a formidable inclusion in both aggressive decks seeking a game-ending threat and more midrange decks looking for a solid late-game finisher.

Combo Potential: As an enabler for creature-based combos, the Krosan Groundshaker can be paired with creatures that have tap abilities or benefit from being unblockable. This opens up numerous opportunities for creative and potentially game-winning interactions, perfect for players who revel in constructing intricate combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where board stalls are common, Krosan Groundshaker can give you the edge by turning your creature army into an unstoppable force. Its ability to circumvent defenses aligns well with current strategies focused on creature-based aggression or evasion, making it a card worth considering for competitive play.

How to beat

Krosan Groundshaker is a formidable presence with its ability to give trample to other creatures, potentially tipping the scales of a standoff in your opponent’s favor. To counter this large beast, consider leveraging cards that can neutralize or bypass its effects. Ensnaring removals or spells that force sacrifice are highly effective against single heavy hitters such as the Groundshaker.

Spot removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can exile or destroy it before it can utilize its trample-giving ability. Alternatively, mass removal spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the field of multiple threats, including Krosan Groundshaker. Keeping up mana for counterspells is also a savvy move, deterring the Groundshaker from ever hitting the board.

Ultimately, the goal is to prevent or address the Groundshaker’s impact quickly. Whether it’s through targeted removal or global resets, stopping the Groundshaker before it gathers momentum with its trample-enabling ability is key. It’s also beneficial to maintain a flexible defense, adapting your strategy to manage both the creature itself and the enhanced threats it supports.

Cards like Krosan Groundshaker

The Krosan Groundshaker is an enthralling green creature in MTG with the ability to grant trample to other creatures. This effect is akin to the Nylea’s Colossus which also bestows a trampling advantage as well as a dynamic power increase. However, the Krosan Groundshaker differs in that it does not amplify power itself, focusing solely on enabling others.

Another comparable card is the Primal Rage enchantment, which gives all your creatures trample. The simplicity of it being an enchantment means it remains on the battlefield affecting all creatures, unlike the Krosan Groundshaker that must declare a single target each turn. However, that’s not to detract from the Groundshaker, as being a creature itself, it can also deliver hefty damage.

Lastly, there’s the Archetype of Aggression which exudes a similar vibe, providing creatures you control with trample. Unlike the previous two, it also strips opponents’ creatures of trample, presenting a strategic advantage. Analyzing these cards, the Krosan Groundshaker holds its own within this group, offering specific trample granting flexibility while also participating in the beating.

Archetype of Aggression - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Krosan Groundshaker by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Tongue Basilisk - MTG Card versions

Thriss, Nantuko Primus - MTG Card versions

Beanstalk Giant // Fertile Footsteps - MTG Card versions

Somberwald Beastmaster - MTG Card versions

Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Krosan Groundshaker 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 Krosan Groundshaker and other MTG cards: