Predatory MTG Card

Type	Card
Released	2020-06-18
Set symbol
Set name	Jumpstart Front Cards
Set code	FJMP
Number	29
Frame	2015
Layout	Token
Border	Black
Illustred by	Wayne Reynolds

Key Takeaways

Card advantage through disruption bolsters your hand while targeting opponent strategies effectively.
Instant speed play enhances flexibility, allowing strategic concealment of tactics and a surprise element.
Demands careful deck construction due to specific mana combinations and the risk of hand depletion.

Text of card

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Generating card advantage is pivotal in card games, and a predatory MTG card excels at this by dismantling an opponent’s strategies while bolstering your own hand, thereby tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Predatory cards in MTG not only disrupt the opponent’s resources but often accelerate your resources, providing an avenue for faster and stronger plays that can overwhelm the opposition.

Instant Speed: The power of predatory cards is further accentuated when they can be played at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to disrupt an opponent’s turn while keeping your strategies concealed until the most impactful moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A demanding aspect of predatory cards involves discarding, often as part of the casting cost or ability activation. This can backfire if you’re already struggling with card advantage, leaving you vulnerable to depleting your hand too quickly.

Specific Mana Cost: These cards tend to require a particular combination of mana types, which can be restrictive. If your deck isn’t built to generate the exact mana needed efficiently, you might find yourself unable to play the card when you need it most.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The power level of predatory cards is often offset by a higher mana cost. They can pack a punch, but the steep cost means they compete directly with other game-changing spells in your deck. You’ll need to carefully consider if they’re worth the potential tempo loss, especially in a game where speed can be everything.

Reasons to Include Predatory Cards in Your Collection

Versatility: Predatory cards in MTG offer a flexible approach to deck building, adaptable across multiple strategies. They can often act as game changers, with their ability to disrupt opponent plays or offer momentum in creature-based decks.

Combo Potential: These cards are key in constructing powerful combos, serving as either enablers or finishers. Their predatory nature can synergize with other cards to decimate opponents through well-planned sequences of play.

Meta-Relevance: Given that they can tilt the balance in a match, predatory cards remain relevant in various MTG metas. They help in tackling prevalent archetypes, keeping your deck competitive and capable of anticipating and overcoming common threats.

How to beat

The Predatory card’s imposing presence on the battlefield can turn the tide of a game, but it can be overcome with strategic play and the right countermeasures. When facing this type of card, it’s crucial to disrupt your opponent’s rhythm early. Removal spells that can bypass potential hexproof characteristics are instrumental. Cards that force sacrificing creatures take advantage of the fact that many Predatory cards rely on individual strength rather than numbers. Using versatile board wipes can also level the playing field, rendering singular threats less effective.

Another tactic is to limit the card’s impact by controlling the game’s tempo. Counterspells are a proven method to prevent these powerful creatures from ever entering play, ensuring that you maintain control. Ensuring a robust defense through creatures with high toughness or those that can regenerate will create obstacles that are tough for Predatory cards to overcome. Lastly, remember to play patiently, keeping mana open for reactionary plays instead of expending all resources at once. Through calculated decisions and resource management, even the mightiest Predatory cards can be subdued.

Cards like Predatory

The versatility of Predatory cards in Magic: The Gathering lends them a unique appeal in gameplay. These cards often share the theme of bolstering a player’s creatures, comparable to the likes of Overrun. Where Overrun provides a sweeping advantage by granting creatures a significant power boost and trample, Predatory cards might offer a more subtle but persistent advantage with conditional triggers or static effects that can turn the tide of combat in favor of the player with meticulous timing.

Considering Lure, it operates in the same domain by making a single creature irresistible to blockers, clearing the way for others. However, Predatory cards typically provide offensive stat enhancements, representing both an immediate and a continuous threat, unlike the singular focus of Lure. Another akin card, Giant Growth, gives a creature an instantaneous power spike, an effect that aligns with Predatory cards’ capacity to surprise opponents and swing combat phases substantially. Yet, Predatory mechanics shine in their potential to alter the board state over multiple turns, as opposed to the one-shot nature of Giant Growth.

When we weigh the merits and the strategic depth offered by Predatory cards against their counterparts, they hold a distinguished place in MTG for their ability to apply continuous pressure and force opponents into difficult decisions, turn after turn.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Predatory MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart Front Cards, 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 Predatory and other MTG cards: