Krark-Clan Grunt MTG Card


Krark-Clan Grunt - Mirrodin
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Warrior
Released2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameMirrodin
Set codeMRD
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number97
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byThomas M. Baxa

Key Takeaways

  1. Krark-Clan Grunt excels in multitasking, turning surplus artifacts into strategic advantages.
  2. Instant speed operations confer surprise tactics, enhancing flexibility in response to threats.
  3. Despite its power, the requisite artifact discard and red mana cost can limit versatility.

Text of card

Sacrifice an artifact: Krark-Clan Grunt gets +1/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn.

The more weapons a goblin breaks in battle, the more respected he becomes.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Krark-Clan Grunt offers tactical flexibility. While it doesn’t directly draw cards, it can multitask by providing you a way to utilize either surplus or specific artifacts in your graveyard to your advantage, essentially converting non-resource into potential card utility on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This card has a synergistic role in decks that capitalize on sacrificial mechanics. By sacrificing artifacts, you effectively convert idle or spent resources into an aggressive strategy, advancing your board state with greater speed and efficiency which can sometimes translate to gaining a mana advantage or increasing the power of other cards that benefit from these actions.

Instant Speed: The ability of the Krark-Clan Grunt to operate at instant speed gives players the advantage of surprise and flexibility during gameplay. You can respond to threats or tailor your plays reactively during your opponent’s turn, which can be pivotal in the flow of a match. This level of control could potentially disrupt an opponent’s strategy while bolstering your own position.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One limitation of the Krark-Clan Grunt is the necessity to discard an artifact card to activate its key ability. This can deplete your hand and hurt your overall game strategy, especially when your resources are already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires red mana to cast, which might restrict its integration exclusively in red or multicolored decks. Players focusing on different color combinations might find it challenging to incorporate the Krark-Clan Grunt into their strategies effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that involves two generic and one red mana, players may find the card to be somewhat expensive for the benefits it provides. In scenarios where tempo is key, there are other creatures and spells that could provide more immediate impact or versatility for the same or lower cost.


Reasons to Include Krark-Clan Grunt in Your Collection

Versatility: Krark-Clan Grunt offers a flexible role in decks centered around artifacts and sacrifice mechanics. Its ability to sacrifice artifacts for damage allows it to be a threat on the board while also fueling other synergistic strategies.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Krark-Clan Grunt can be a key piece in powerful combos. It can feed and catalyze engine-like interactions with cards that profit from artifacts being sacrificed or creatures dying, paving the way for explosive plays.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifacts are plentiful, whether in your deck or an opponent’s, having a creature that thrives off of using—and abusing—these resources can tip the scales in your favor. Krark-Clan Grunt can bring unexpected shifts in tempo and serve as a tactical asset against various popular deck types.


How to beat

Krark-Clan Grunt is a unique creature card that brings an interesting dynamic to Magic: The Gathering gameplay. This goblin’s ability to sacrifice artifacts and boost its power allows for some surprising turns, particularly in decks heavy with artifacts eager for the graveyard.

Overcoming Krark-Clan Grunt relies on disrupting the player’s artifact synergy. Artifact removal spells such as Naturalize or Shatter, especially those that can target multiple artifacts like Vandalblast, can be particularly effective. Additionally, preventing the Grunt from ever hitting the board is key. Counterspells play a pivotal role here, ensuring that your opponent’s strategy is halted before it gains traction.

Taking into account that creatures with small base power like the Grunt are susceptible to removal spells, one can employ Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push to keep the board clear. It’s important to consider that Krark-Clan Grunt demands immediate attention once active with enough artifacts to sacrifice and boost its power. Thus, swift removal or disruption is the best route to neutralizing this threat, maintaining board control, and preventing the gearshift in your opponent’s artifact strategy.


Cards like Krark-Clan Grunt

In the realm of creature cards within MTG, Krark-Clan Grunt stands out for its tactical sacrificial abilities. It finds a comparable peer in Furnace Celebration, a card that also capitalizes on sacrificing permanents, albeit for a different gain – the opportunity to inflict direct damage to opponents or their creatures. While Krark-Clan Grunt requires sacrificed artifacts to boost its own power, Furnace Celebration offers more flexibility by affecting multiple targets, despite being an enchantment that doesn’t add a creature presence to the battlefield.

Turning our attention to another artifact-friendly creature, Atog, a classic MTG staple, similarly thrives on artifact sacrifices for its own strength. Unlike Krark-Clan Grunt, Atog doesn’t offer additional combat effects, but it can rapidly become a formidable threat due to its proportional power and toughness gain. Considering the utility of each card, Krark-Clan Grunt may offer strategic defensive maneuvers during combat, while Atog leans towards an aggressive, size-based advantage.

Scrutinizing these interactions further, it’s evident that Krark-Clan Grunt holds its own within the artifact-centric arsenal of MTG creatures. It delivers a unique blend of offensive and defensive capabilities, making it a versatile inclusion in decks that rely on artifact synergies and tactical combat decisions.

Furnace Celebration - MTG Card versions
Atog - MTG Card versions
Furnace Celebration - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Atog - Antiquities (ATQ)

Cards similar to Krark-Clan Grunt by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Krark-Clan Grunt MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Krark-Clan Grunt and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Krark-Clan Grunt has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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