Ancient Brontodon MTG Card
2017-09-29 - Number 175
2019-11-07 - Number 1120
2020-09-26 - Number XLN-175
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 8 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dinosaur |
| Power | 9 |
| Toughness | 9 |
Key Takeaways
- An impressive 9/9 stat line makes Ancient Brontodon a formidable force, requiring opponents to use valuable removal spells.
- Limited deck strategies benefit from its sheer size, often turning the tide in creature-driven games.
- Despite its power, the Brontodon’s lack of abilities makes it susceptible to common battlefield control tactics.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although the Ancient Brontodon doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its sheer presence on the battlefield demands an answer from your opponent, potentially leading to a two-for-one scenario where they have to use multiple resources to handle this colossal threat.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, having a large creature like the Ancient Brontodon can deter enemies from attacking, effectively giving you more time to build up your lands and cast high-cost spells undisrupted.
Instant Speed: The Ancient Brontodon is a creature and thus not cast at instant speed, but its formidable size can influence the tempo of the game. The considerable investment to get Brontodon onto the battlefield may pay off by altering the pace of your opponent’s plays, as they may need to hold back removal spells they would prefer to play at instant speed.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Ancient Brontodon doesn’t require a discard upon casting, having it in your hand can necessitate tough decisions, potentially discarding other valuable cards to keep it.
Specific Mana Cost: This hefty creature demands three green mana, which can be a stretch for multicolor or splash decks that don’t heavily focus on green resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of seven mana to hit the battlefield, Ancient Brontodon’s cost is on the higher side. This often means delaying your game tempo when you could be executing more impactful plays with lower cost creatures or spells.
Reasons to Include Ancient Brontodon in Your Collection
Versatility: Ancient Brontodon, thanks to its colossal size, serves as a formidable blocker or attacker that can be a game-changer in Limited formats or creature-heavy decks. Its sheer presence on the battlefield demands an answer from opponents.
Combo Potential: With its high power, this dinosaur pairs well with cards that harness the strength of creatures for various effects, such as those that might convert power to direct damage or utilize power-based card draw.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where games are drawn out and reaching high mana counts is common, Ancient Brontodon can become a significant threat. Its ability to dominate the board can never be underestimated, especially in a meta that’s heavy on creature strategies.
How to beat
Ancient Brontodon is a colossal creature in Magic the Gathering, known for its formidable 9/9 stats that can dominate the battlefield. However, don’t let its size intimidate you—there are strategic ways to handle this giant. Direct removal spells such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile can swiftly deal with the Brontodon before it has the chance to make an impact. Counteracting its might doesn’t always necessitate force; a well-timed Pacifism or similar enchantment can neutralize it without the need for a direct confrontation.
Combat tricks also serve as an efficient method to overcome the Brontodon. Since it lacks trample, chump blocking with smaller creatures can buy precious time. Enhancing your own creatures with buffs or leveraging cards that allow multiple creatures to block one attacker can level the playing field. Moreover, engaging in favorable trades or using tactics that tap down the Brontodon will prevent it from dealing damage while you assemble the resources or strategies needed to ultimately remove it or outpace it in the race for victory.
Consequently, despite the Ancient Brontodon’s raw power, its lack of evasion or additional abilities leaves it vulnerable to a variety of common and easily accessible answers in Magic the Gathering. By playing smartly and resourcefully, you can transform what seems to be a significant threat into a manageable obstacle.
Cards like Ancient Brontodon
Ancient Brontodon makes its presence known in MTG as a colossal creature with pure muscular might. It stands tall when sized up against other behemoths such as Colossal Dreadmaw, which also boasts an intimidating 6/6 body. Where the Ancient Brontodon gains a foothold is in its sheer bulk, arriving on the battlefield with a whopping 9/9 stat line – ensuring it trumps in most mano-a-mano encounters.
Another card worth noting is Craw Wurm, yet another power-packed creature. What Craw Wurm has in its favor is efficiency, demanding less mana to be played. Yet, it tends to fade when the sheer size and impact of Ancient Brontodon are considered. Despite its lower casting cost, Craw Wurm brings a 6/4 creature into play, which does not quite dominate the board like the Brontodon does.
The bulk of Ancient Brontodon sets it apart within its category, allowing it to overshadow many other traditional creatures of similar mana cost. It is a testament to the value of brute strength in MTG and how it can shape the board state and dictate the pace of gameplay.
Cards similar to Ancient Brontodon by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ancient Brontodon MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Mystery Booster, 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 Ancient Brontodon and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Ancient Brontodon Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Jakub Kasper.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 175 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jakub Kasper | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jakub Kasper | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | XLN-175 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jakub Kasper |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ancient Brontodon has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
