Cyclops Tyrant MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cyclops
Abilities	Intimidate
Released	2013-07-19
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2014
Set code	M14
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	135
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zack Stella

Key Takeaways

Cards like Cyclops Tyrant can lead to card advantage by making opponents overcommit resources.
Has a required discard upon entry and specific mana cost, which limits deck flexibility.
Versatility and meta-relevance make it a worthy addition to red or midrange decks.

Text of card

Intimidate (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)Cyclops Tyrant can't block creatures with power 2 or less.

A single eye, blinded by rage.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Cyclops Tyrant, you have the chance to dominate the field by forcing your opponent to dedicate more resources to handle this imposing creature. This can potentially lead to a card advantage as your adversaries commit multiple cards to deal with just one of yours.

Resource Acceleration: While Cyclops Tyrant doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its presence on the battlefield can pressure opponents into using removal spells earlier or more inefficiently, indirectly allowing you to maintain resource parity or even pull ahead as the game progresses.

Instant Speed: Although Cyclops Tyrant itself isn’t an instant, its impact encourages an MTG player to keep resources in reserve until they can safely cast it. This strategic deployment means the player can operate at instant speed with other cards up until the point they are ready to introduce their tyrant to the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to the Cyclops Tyrant is its entry condition that involves discarding a card. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if you are holding key elements that you would prefer to keep for the later stages of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The Cyclops Tyrant requires a specific mana combination to cast. This can be restrictive for players who want to integrate this card into a multicolor deck, as it demands a commitment to both the colors and the mana base necessary to play it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher end compared to other creatures of its caliber, the Cyclops Tyrant can be a costly addition to your deck. In faster-paced games where efficiency is key, investing such a large amount of mana may slow down your momentum.

Reasons to Include Cyclops Tyrant in Your Collection

Versatility: Cyclops Tyrant presents a solid choice for red-themed or midrange decks. Its challenging power level allows it to act as both a formidable blocker and a credible threat on the board, capable of swinging games in your favor.

Combo Potential: With its inherent ability to be unblockable by creatures with power 2 or less, Cyclops Tyrant works well in synergy with cards that can manipulate or reduce the power of potential blockers, ensuring it lands its damage consistently.

Meta-Relevance: Given that lighter creatures often populate the battlefield in various metagames, the Cyclops Tyrant’s unique evasion ability can give players an advantage by directly threatening an opponent’s life total or their planeswalkers without getting stalled by small chump blockers.

How to beat

Confronting a Cyclops Tyrant in Magic: The Gathering can pose a serious challenge on the battlefield. With a sturdy body and often a series of game-changing abilities, it can feel like a formidable opponent. Removing it efficiently requires strategic planning and the right cards. Board wipes are an excellent solution; spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the field of these massive creatures without targeting them directly, which is often crucial if the Cyclops Tyrant has shroud or hexproof.

Control decks have the upper hand here, as countering the spell before the Tyrant hits the field can prevent its potential havoc altogether. Alternatively, ensnaring it with enchantments like Pacifism, can neutralize the threat without having to destroy it. Lastly, exploiting its potential for high mana cost could work to your favor; using cards that punish your opponent for casting high-cost spells or with effects that increase the casting cost, making it difficult for your opponent to summon the Cyclops Tyrant in the first place.

Navigating around these giants requires patience and precision, but with the right strategy and disruption tools, even the mightiest Cyclops Tyrant can be tamed.

Cards like Cyclops Tyrant

Cyclops Tyrant offers MTG enthusiasts an interesting choice when it comes to powerful, red creatures. With similar traits to other formidable giants, it presents a unique skill set. The card shares attributes with Rumbling Sentry, which also has a high toughness, making it a resilient choice for defense. However, the Cyclops Tyrant adds value with its ability to be unblockable by smaller creatures, a trait Rumbling Sentry does not share.

Another comparable card in this category is the Ghor-Clan Rampager. Like the Cyclops Tyrant, it provides substantial power to overbear opponents. Yet the Rampager brings versatility with its bloodrush ability, potentially giving another creature a decisive power boost during combat. This is a stark contrast to the unwavering, static presence of the Tyrant on the battlefield.

When considering the integration of such heavy-hitters in your deck, Cyclops Tyrant stands out as a tough contender that can skirt past the enemy’s defense line unimpeded. While it might not have the flexible combat tricks of the Ghor-Clan Rampager, its ability to avoid being blocked by weaker creatures ensures it remains a considerable threat on any game board.

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

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cyclops Tyrant MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2014, 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 Cyclops Tyrant and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cyclops Tyrant has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-07-01	If Cyclops Tyrant blocks a creature with power 3 or greater, and then that creature’s power becomes 2 or less, Cyclops Tyrant continues to block that creature.