Loxodon Punisher MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Elephant Soldier
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	14
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Terese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

Loxodon Punisher thrives in artifact-rich environments, scaling in power with every artifact played.
Its mono-white nature may limit versatility in multicolored decks due to mana constraints.
It’s a strategic pick in competitive play where artifact strategies are dominant.

Text of card

Loxodon Punisher gets +2/+2 for each Equipment attached to it.

The loxodons believe punishment comes in two steps: pain and atonement. They carry a weapon for each.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The power of Loxodon Punisher lies in its synergy with artifacts, rewarding you with an imposing board presence. Each artifact you control not only fortifies your strategy but also turns Loxodon Punisher into a more formidable creature, effectively allowing you to make the most out of each card on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although Loxodon Punisher doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, its very nature encourages a deck build that likely includes ways to ramp up your artifact count quickly. This indirect resource acceleration means that with a deck finely-tuned around artifacts, you can get Loxodon Punisher to an overwhelming power level sooner than your opponent can handle.

Instant Speed: Despite Loxodon Punisher not having instant speed capabilities itself, its passive ability can suddenly turn it into a massive threat during any phase of the game. This unpredictability, coupled with artifacts that can be played at instant speed, forces opponents to always consider the potential surge in power that Loxodon Punisher presents on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Loxodon Punisher can be very resource-intensive, as it requires careful planning to avoid being a liability, especially if you’re playing a strategy that can’t afford to discard at will.

Specific Mana Cost: Being a mono-white card means that Loxodon Punisher needs white mana. This could be restrictive in multicolored decks that might struggle to consistently produce the necessary white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its higher mana cost in relation to its base stats and abilities, some players may find Loxodon Punisher less appealing when there are options that provide more board presence or utility for the same or lower investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Loxodon Punisher proves its worth in multiple decks that capitalize on artifact proliferation. Its power grows with each artifact you control, making it a formidable creature in both aggressive and synergistic artifact strategies.

Combo Potential: Given its unique ability to grow stronger with your artifacts, Loxodon Punisher pairs well with decks that flood the board with cheap artifacts or tokens, creating opportunities for explosive turns and potent synergies with other cards that reward you for controlling artifacts.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifact decks are prevalent or in environments that enable artifact-based strategies, Loxodon Punisher can become a key player. It adapts well to various game states, and can often outsize opponents’ creatures quickly, making it a strategic addition to collections geared towards competitive play.

How to beat

The Loxodon Punisher can be quite the powerful presence on the battlefield. Its strength is reliant on the number of artifacts a player controls, making it a potential behemoth in artifact-heavy decks. To effectively counter this, it’s advised to focus on reducing artifact count. Artifact removal spells are key – ones like Shatter or Naturalize allow you to dismantle your opponent’s artifact base, thereby diminishing the Punisher’s power.

Alternatively, spells that can bypass its potentially enormous size are practical choices. For example, Path to Exile or Unmake offer definitive solutions by exiling the creature, regardless of how large it has grown. Another tactic is to avoid the situation altogether with counterspells such as Cancel or Mana Leak, which prevent the Punisher from hitting the field in the first place, circumventing the problem at its root.

Overall, in a game where adaptability can be as crucial as power, understanding how to neutralize threats like Loxodon Punisher is imperative. Employing the right removal at the opportune moment, or disrupting your opponent’s strategy with precision, goes a long way in maintaining control of the game and paving the way to victory.

Cards like Loxodon Punisher

Loxodon Punisher capitalizes on its synergy with artifacts, becoming a force to be reckoned with in artifact-heavy decks in Magic: The Gathering. A close counterpart is the Armored Ascension, giving a creature a power boost for each Plains you control. While Loxodon Punisher grows stronger with every artifact you amass, Armored Ascension leverages the number of Plains for a similar kind of scaling benefit, with the added advantage of providing flying, yet it lacks the flexibility across multiple land types.

When looking at other artifact-centric cards, we can’t overlook Ensoul Artifact. This spell turns any artifact into a creature with base power and toughness of 5/5, instantly making even the simplest artifact a significant threat. Loxodon Punisher can potentially surpass this as more artifacts enter the battlefield, but does so over time rather than immediately.

Finally, there’s Cranial Plating, a portable power-up that can instantly make a creature formidable dependent on the number of artifacts you control. Loxodon Punisher doesn’t offer the versatility of moving between creatures as Cranial Plating does, but it does provide a steady, consistent increase in power for as long as it remains on the battlefield and you continue to play artifacts.

Cards similar to Loxodon Punisher by color, type and mana cost

Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions

Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions

Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Loxodon Punisher 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 Loxodon Punisher and other MTG cards: