Carnage Tyrant MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Dinosaur
Abilities Hexproof,Trample
Power 7
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Its hexproof and bulk size make Carnage Tyrant a persistent threat, causing unfavorable trades for opponents.
  2. Its immense power offers a strong finisher, maximizing the value of your mana and accelerating your win condition.
  3. Carnage Tyrant’s trample forces immediate battlefield impact, remaining unaffected by the majority of instant speed control spells.

Text of card

This spell can't be countered. Trample, hexproof

Sun Empire commanders are well versed in advanced martial strategy. Still, the correct maneuver is usually to deploy the giant, implacable death lizard.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The sheer presence of Carnage Tyrant on the battlefield can often secure card advantage for its controller. Because it’s hard to remove due to its hexproof ability, opponents may have to use multiple resources or trade several cards just to deal with it, assuming they can overcome its sizable 7/6 stats. This card naturally encourages 1-for-1 unprofitable exchanges or forces over-commitment from your opponent, leading to a card advantage for you.

Resource Acceleration: While Carnage Tyrant itself doesn’t generate direct resource acceleration, its ability to close games quickly can accelerate your path to victory, effectively making every resource you’ve put into play more valuable. Its sheer power level means it’s often a top-end play that maximizes the utility of your previous mana investments, affirming the wisdom of your resource acceleration strategies earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Carnage Tyrant isn’t an instant-speed spell, but its impact is felt immediately due to its ability to dodge most forms of control magic commonly played at instant speed. Its achilles heel—being board wipes—are often sorcery speed, meaning by the time your opponent can wipe the board on their turn, you’ve already made an indelible mark on the game with Carnage Tyrant’s unmatched battlefield presence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some other creatures that offer a benefit upon being discarded or when they’re in the graveyard, Carnage Tyrant doesn’t provide any advantage if you’re forced to discard it. This can make it a painful loss if you’re up against hand disruption strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Carnage Tyrant requires a hefty sum of six mana to cast, including no less than two green mana symbols. This specific requirement can be restrictive and necessitates a commitment to green mana-producing lands or resources in your deck build.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With such a significant mana investment, Carnage Tyrant’s cost is high when compared to other creatures. Although it’s a formidable force on the battlefield, this dinosaur’s cost means it won’t impact the game until the later stages, potentially giving faster-paced decks an edge in the early-to-mid game.


Reasons to Include Carnage Tyrant in Your Collection

Versatility: Carnage Tyrant is a powerhouse in various deck types, thriving in midrange builds and as a control breaker. Its resilience against counterspells and abilities make it a reliable play in unpredictable environments.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its hexproof and trample, the card synergizes well with effects that buff creatures or require a sturdy battler on the field. It meshes with a range of strategies, amplifying the impact of your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In metas dominated by control decks, Carnage Tyrant stands out as a formidable opponent. Its sheer might and protection from targeted spells often make it the deciding factor in late-game scenarios.


How to beat

Carnage Tyrant is a tour de force on the battlefield, known for its uncounterable nature and trample ability, making it a formidable opponent in MTG. This hexproof juggernaut evades targeted spells or abilities, often putting players on the back foot. However, not all hope is lost when tackling this prehistoric powerhouse. Board wipes like Supreme Verdict or Wrath of God can clear the field, as they don’t target and Carnage Tyrant’s hexproof offers no protection. Single-target removal isn’t effective, but a strategy using global effects can level the playing field.

Edict effects that force players to sacrifice creatures also provide a solution, albeit indirectly, to the Carnage Tyrant conundrum. For example, a well-timed Diabolic Edict can make an opponent sacrifice the Tyrant if it’s their only creature on the board. Moreover, going wide with creature tokens can turn the tide, as Carnage Tyrant can only block one creature, leaving avenues for multiple smaller threats to pierce through your opponent’s defenses.

Relying on these tactics may shift the balance in your favor, transforming Carnage Tyrant from a feared predator to a challenge you are well-prepared to overcome.


Cards like Carnage Tyrant

Carnage Tyrant stands out as a powerhouse among creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, much in the same league as other resilient threats. It shares traits with creatures such as Gaea’s Revenge, which also can’t be countered and has protection from non-green spells. However, Carnage Tyrant brings an additionally devastating board presence with its trample ability, ensuring that damage bleeds through blockers to reach the opponent.

Another comparable behemoth is Thrun, the Last Troll. Thrun offers regeneration and the same uncounterable quality, but it lacks the impactful trample and sheer size, sitting at 4/4 compared to Carnage Tyrant’s crushing 7/6 stat line. Sigarda, Host of Herons presents a challenge as well with its ability to evade sacrifices and also hexproof, though it too falls short in overall power and the inability to be easily blocked that Carnage Tyrant offers.

While examining these formidably designed MTG creatures, Carnage Tyrant is particularly notable for its immunity to counterspells and direct removal – a trait that forms a strategic cornerstone for many player decks in the game. With its combination of hexproof, trample, and substantial power/toughness, Carnage Tyrant secures a commanding presence on the battlefield that is hard to match.

Gaea's Revenge - MTG Card versions
Thrun, the Last Troll - MTG Card versions
Sigarda, Host of Herons - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Revenge - Magic 2011 (M11)
Thrun, the Last Troll - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Sigarda, Host of Herons - Open the Helvault (PHEL)

Cards similar to Carnage Tyrant by color, type and mana cost

Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
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Craw Wurm - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Gaea's Liege - Revised Edition (3ED)
Wiitigo - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Autumn Willow - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Ancient Silverback - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Sulam Djinn - Invasion (INV)
Verdeloth the Ancient - Modern Masters (MMA)
Nemata, Grove Guardian - The List (PLST)
Gang of Elk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Kavu Howler - Apocalypse (APC)
Crashing Centaur - Odyssey (ODY)
Giant Warthog - Judgment (JUD)
Rhox - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Kodama of the East Tree - Commander Legends (CMR)
Terra Stomper - Zendikar (ZEN)
Feral Throwback - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Brontotherium - Legions (LGN)
Elvish Aberration - Masters 25 (A25)
Force of Nature - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Fangren Pathcutter - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Carnage Tyrant MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan Promos and Ixalan, 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 Carnage Tyrant and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Carnage Tyrant Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 179s2015normalblackYeong-Hao Han
22017-09-29IxalanXLN 1792015normalblackYeong-Hao Han
32017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 179p2015normalblackYeong-Hao Han
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 11742015normalblackKev Walker
52023-11-17Special GuestsSPG 102015normalborderlessMonztre

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Carnage Tyrant has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

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