Crush of Tentacles MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeSorcery
Abilities Surge

Key Takeaways

  1. Reset board state advantageously with Crush of Tentacles; an 8/8 Octopus emerges as a formidable ally.
  2. Cons leverage strategic planning, but specific mana costs may restrict inclusion in diverse deck types.
  3. Crush stands resilient in meta play with vital reset capability against creature-heavy board states.

Text of card

Surge (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.) Return all nonland permanents to their owners' hands. If Crush of Tentacles's surge cost was paid, put an 8/8 blue Octopus creature token onto the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you cast Crush of Tentacles, you often gain substantial card advantage by resetting the board and clearing away all nonland permanents. This can effectively negate any card advantage your opponent has built up over the course of the game, putting you in a strong position moving forward.

Resource Acceleration: Although Crush of Tentacles itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it synergizes well with decks that include resource acceleration mechanics. By bouncing permanents back to hand, it can allow you to redeploy cards with enter-the-battlefield effects, essentially doubling their initial value.

Instant Speed: While Crush of Tentacles is a sorcery, its surge cost mechanic can be played as though at instant speed if you or another player has cast another spell before it in the same turn. This allows for unpredictable and potentially game-turning plays by letting you adapt your strategy right before your turn begins, surprising your opponent and upsetting the tempo of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Crush of Tentacles does not outright require a card to be discarded, it does necessitate returning all nonland permanents to their owners’ hands, which can sometimes feel akin to a discard if you’re unable to replay those cards quickly, leading to a potential loss of field presence and momentum.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a specific mana cost that includes double blue, making it somewhat restrictive, as it primarily fits into blue or blue-centric decks. This limits the card’s versatility across various deck archetypes that might not be able to efficiently produce the required blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of six mana, which includes the specific double blue, makes Crush of Tentacles a pricey option. Considering its mana value, it competes with other high-impact spells that might offer immediate game-winning advantages without the prerequisite of having to bounce your own permanents back to your hand.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Crush of Tentacles offers a broad spectrum of utility, working wonders in decks that are designed around spells with high impacts or needing to reset the board. Its ability to clear the battlefield and provide a sizable creature in the form of an 8/8 Octopus makes it a flexible choice for various strategies.

Combo Potential: This card perfectly aligns with strategies that take advantage of casting spells with high mana costs. It can serve as a pivotal piece in combo decks aiming to turn the tide of the game with a single, powerful spell. Additionally, the surge ability can be exploited for an earlier game-changing play if the setup is right.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment dominated by creature-based strategies or where the board state can quickly become overwhelming, Crush of Tentacles can function as a critical reset button. It remains a relevant choice to outmaneuver opponents who’ve built up significant threats on the board.


How to beat

The Crush of Tentacles card poses a unique challenge on the battlefield. Its power lies in its ability to reset the game state by bouncing all nonland permanents to their owners’ hands. This can be a daunting effect to face, as it potentially clears your hard-earned board presence. However, there are strategic ways to undermine its impact.

One effective method is to build a deck with cards that benefit from entering or leaving the battlefield, hence capitalizing on the bounce back to your hand. Moreover, focusing on instant-speed spells and abilities allows you to wait until Crush of Tentacles has resolved before playing your threats. Additionally, utilizing lands or creatures that can become lands will help you bypass the nonland permanents limitation and retain some board control. Finally, having countermeasures like counterspells ready, specifically for big plays like Crush of Tentacles, ensures you can halt its tide before it sweeps across your plans.

Remember, timing and strategy are key when playing against powerful cards like Crush of Tentacles. By maintaining a diverse set of responses and a calm approach to the potential upheaval, you can come out on top even when faced with this game-changing spell.


BurnMana Recommendations

Crush of Tentacles is more than just a game piece; it’s a strategic powerhouse that can dictate the pace of play. Its ability to clear the board and provide a formidable 8/8 Octopus token positions it as a card of choice for players looking to swing the momentum in their favor. While it shines in blue-dominated decks, its power is undeniable across various MTG formats. Whether you’re constructing a new deck or evolving your current lineup, considering the inclusion of Crush of Tentacles could be the game-changer you’re seeking. Dive deeper with us to unlock the full potential of your MTG collection and emerge victorious in your next match.


Cards like Crush of Tentacles

Crush of Tentacles is a powerful sorcery in MTG that draws clear parallels with other game resetters like Cyclonic Rift and Devastation Tide. While Cyclonic Rift offers flexibility with its overload ability, affecting only opponents’ nonland permanents, Crush of Tentacles resets the board entirely and brings an 8/8 Octopus to seal the deal. Devastation Tide also sweeps the battlefield but misses the creature bonus that Crush excels at.

In the same realm of board clearances, we also see River’s Rebuke, which, similar to Cyclonic Rift, targets a single opponent. This strategy can be crucial in multiplayer formats. Despite that, it does not offer the permanency of an 8/8 creature that could turn the tide of the game. Meanwhile, Engulf the Shore operates with a dependency on Island counts, which could selectively clear the board but lacks the raw power of Crush of Tentacles’ octopus.

When comparing these options, MTG players must weigh the board-resetting power against mana costs and additional benefits. Crush of Tentacles may have a higher casting cost, but the significant impact of an extra large creature can justify the expense in the right deck.

Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Devastation Tide - MTG Card versions
River's Rebuke - MTG Card versions
Engulf the Shore - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Devastation Tide - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
River's Rebuke - Ixalan Promos (PXLN)
Engulf the Shore - Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crush of Tentacles MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch and Oath of the Gatewatch Promos, 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 Crush of Tentacles and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Crush of Tentacles Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2016-01-22. Illustrated by Jama Jurabaev.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 532015normalblackJama Jurabaev
22016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 53s2015normalblackJama Jurabaev

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crush of Tentacles has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crush of Tentacles card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2016-01-22 All other nonland permanents will already be in their owners’ hands by the time the Octopus token is created. Any triggered abilities or abilities that would have otherwise affected that Octopus won’t be around to matter.
2016-01-22 Casting a spell for its surge cost doesn’t change its mana cost or its converted mana cost.
2016-01-22 For some cards, surge represents only an alternative cost, a discount that applies if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn. Other cards, like Reckless Bushwhacker, have additional abilities or effects if you paid the surge cost to cast the spell.
2016-01-22 If an instant or sorcery spell cast for its surge cost is copied, the copy is also considered to have had its surge cost paid.
2016-01-22 The other spell that you or a teammate cast can be one that’s resolved, one that was countered, or (for instants with surge) one that’s still on the stack.

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