Gruul Spellbreaker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Ogre Warrior
Abilities Riot,Trample
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers board presence and trades resources favorably, outpacing opponents in resource management.
  2. Riot ability grants useful versatility, mimicking instant speed by enabling haste or a power boost.
  3. Specific mana and moderate cost are potential deck-building constraints but provide unique advantages.

Text of card

Riot (This creature enters the battlefield with your choice of a +1/+1 counter or haste.) Trample As long as it's your turn, you and Gruul Spellbreaker have hexproof.

She displays her scars with pride.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gruul Spellbreaker stands out by providing a dual aspect of board presence and immediate impact when played. While it doesn’t directly allow for drawing extra cards, the fact that it’s a hearty threat the moment it hits the battlefield means your opponents must react, often expending more resources than you did. It’s an advantageous trade-off, keeping you ahead in resource management.

Resource Acceleration: Though Gruul Spellbreaker doesn’t directly generate mana or enable resource acceleration, its reasonable casting cost coupled with the substantial impact makes it a key player in ramp strategies. Dropping a Gruul Spellbreaker often signifies an immediate shift in battlefield dynamics, forcing the game’s pace to quicken and demanding answers from your opponent.

Instant Speed: Gruul Spellbreaker may not be an instant itself, but its Riot ability offers an element of flexibility reminiscent of instant speed play. You can choose to give it haste, allowing you to strike swiftly and unexpectedly, or a +1/+1 counter, setting up a more formidable threat on subsequent turns. This versatility allows you to adapt on the fly, keeping opponents on their toes much like instant speed interactions would.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though not applicable to Gruul Spellbreaker, having a discard requirement as part of a card’s mechanism can deplete your hand and reduce your options for follow-up plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Gruul Spellbreaker requires a specific combination of red and green mana, which can limit flexibility in deck building and may not fit into all types of multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana for a 3/3 creature, the Gruul Spellbreaker comes with a moderate cost. While it offers considerable advantages with its unique abilities, some players might opt for lower cost creatures to speed up their game strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gruul Spellbreaker is a dynamic card that can seamlessly integrate into various Gruul decks or any strategy that appreciates a tough, aggressive creature. Its unique blend of power, haste, and hexproof on your turn ensures it’s a threat that adapts to different play styles.

Combo Potential: This powerful card not only hits hard but can work wonders with synergistic pieces. A deck that harnesses both the power of creatures and spells can leverage Gruul Spellbreaker for maximum impact, utilizing its riot ability for either immediate threat or a long-term power boost.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy with targeted removal, Gruul Spellbreaker stands out. Its innate protection from spells during your turn makes it a resilient contender. Whether you’re facing down control decks or trading blows with other creature-focused strategies, Gruul Spellbreaker holds its ground effectively.


How to beat

Gruul Spellbreaker is a formidable force in the MTG arena, thriving in decks that favor aggression and beefy creatures. With its potent combination of trample and the ability to grant its controller hexproof on their turn, this card challenges opponents to think strategically. Overcoming the Gruul Spellbreaker requires a clever approach as traditional spot removal spells won’t always work due to its hexproof ability during your turn.

To gain the upper hand against this card, consider employing board wipes that don’t target individual creatures, such as “Shatter the Sky” or “Wrath of God”. These spells can effectively clear the board regardless of hexproof, leveling the playing field. Moreover, setting up blockers with equal or greater power can stymie the Spellbreaker’s onslaught, nullifying its trample ability.

Another strategy is to wait for your turn when the hexproof ability is inactive, allowing you to use targeted removal spells like “Doom Blade” or “Path to Exile” to safely dispatch the Gruul Spellbreaker. In conclusion, defeating this powerful card revolves around timing, patience, and the right spell selection, making every encounter a thrilling challenge for MTG players.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of the Gruul Spellbreaker can be a game-changer in MTG. This robust card has proven its worth in various strategies, offering a rare mix of power and protection. Adopting such a card can significantly impact your deck’s performance, tipping the scales in your favor. Whether you’re an aggressive player wanting to press the advantage or a strategic mind aiming for versatile plays, Gruul Spellbreaker is a valuable addition to your arsenal. Join our community to explore deeper insights, practical tips, and to unlock the full potential of your decks with cards like Gruul Spellbreaker at your side.


Cards like Gruul Spellbreaker

Gruul Spellbreaker is a standout creature in MTG that brings versatility to the battlefield. It draws parallels to Loxodon Smiter, which also can’t be countered and brings considerable power to play. However, Gruul Spellbreaker goes a step further with its trample ability and the added boon of granting you hexproof on your turn, a shield against instant speed interactions from opponents.

When looking at Zhur-Taa Druid, there’s an overlap in the Gruul ethos of combining creatures with direct impact. The Druid differs by focusing on ramping and dealing damage to each opponent as you tap for mana. While not as directly aggressive, it plays a unique role in a Gruul deck’s curve. Similarly, Rhythm of the Wild is an enchantment echoing the Gruul anti-counter theme. It doesn’t bash through for damage itself but empowers creatures to come into play with an extra kick, offering either haste or a +1/+1 counter.

Ultimately, Gruul Spellbreaker carves out its niche for fans of MTG who covet creatures that deliver immediate board presence and robust defenses against control strategies, cementing its place within Gruul-colored decks as a force to be reckoned with.

Loxodon Smiter - MTG Card versions
Zhur-Taa Druid - MTG Card versions
Rhythm of the Wild - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Smiter - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Zhur-Taa Druid - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Rhythm of the Wild - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gruul Spellbreaker MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Ravnica Allegiance 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 Gruul Spellbreaker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gruul Spellbreaker Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2019-01-25. Illustrated by Zoltan Boros.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 1792015normalblackZoltan Boros
22019-01-25Ravnica Allegiance PromosPRNA 179p2015normalblackZoltan Boros
32019-01-25Ravnica Allegiance PromosPRNA 179s2015normalblackZoltan Boros

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gruul Spellbreaker has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-01-25 If a creature entering the battlefield has riot but can’t have a +1/+1 counter put onto it, it gains haste.
2019-01-25 If you choose for the creature to gain haste, it gains haste indefinitely. It won’t lose it as the turn ends or as another player gains control of it.
2019-01-25 Riot is a replacement effect. Players can’t respond to your choice of +1/+1 counter or haste, and they can’t take actions while the creature is on the battlefield without one or the other.

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