Gnathosaur MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Dinosaur
Released	2011-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin Besieged
Set code	MBS
Power	5
Toughness	4
Number	63
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jason Chan

Key Takeaways

Gnathosaur enhances card advantage by trading favorably with opponent spells.
Its high power shortens games, prompting opponents to expend resources.
Sacrificing creatures to give Gnathosaur haste offers game-ending combos.

Text of card

Sacrifice an artifact: Gnathosaur gains trample until end of turn.

Mirran creatures that could withstand the Phyrexian oil found an abundance of crunchy snacks.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Gnathosaur itself may not directly allow you to draw additional cards, it can contribute to card advantage by being a potential threat that your opponent must answer. If Gnathosaur demands a removal spell from your opponent, you effectively gain card advantage by trading one card for a potential key piece of their strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Gnathosaur’s robust mana cost is offset by its high power, which may lead to quicker victories or force your opponent to block—and thus lose—crucial creatures. Although it does not provide direct mana acceleration, in the broader sense, it accelerates the usage of your mana resources by offering a sizeable threat that can shorten games.

Instant Speed: While Gnathosaur lacks the instant speed trait, its sheer power level compels immediate attention on the battlefield. It pressures opponents into using their instant-speed responses, potentially clearing the way for your other spells. Additionally, Gnathosaur synergizes well with cards that can grant it flash, offering the unexpected combat advantage of a mid to late-game high-power creature.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gnathosaur demands that you discard a card to activate its ability. This can lead to a depletion of your hand, potentially leaving you vulnerable if you run out of options to play.

Specific Mana Cost: A significant downside of Gnathosaur is its reliance on a specifically red mana cost, making it less flexible across a variety of deck types that may not focus heavily on red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana to cast, Gnathosaur can be a bit of a gamble. Other creatures or spells in the same mana range might bring immediate impact to the board, whereas Gnathosaur’s utility is conditional and could be seen as a less optimal use of those crucial mid-game turns.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gnathosaur offers the flexibility to fit into various deck types, primarily appealing to those looking for a solid creature with a substantial power level that can act as a reliable threat in multiple stages of the game.

Combo Potential: With its ability to sacrifice another creature to gain haste, Gnathosaur can be an unexpected game-ender in combo decks, synergizing well with strategies that revolve around sacrificing creatures for value or as a cost for powerful effects.

Meta-Relevance: Given its size and cost, Gnathosaur can be quite relevant in metas that favor aggressive strategies. It stands out in an environment where the focus is on quickly overwhelming opponents with potent creatures at a reasonable mana investment.

How to beat

Gnathosaur adds an intriguing layer to strategic combat in Magic: The Gathering. As a dinosaur with the potential to become a significant threat due to its sizable power, players may initially find it challenging to handle. The key to overcoming Gnathosaur lies in understanding its abilities and limitations. With a requirement to sacrifice an artifact to prevent it from attacking or blocking, Gnathosaur’s effectiveness is directly tied to the player’s available artifacts.

To counter Gnathosaur, one could control the battlefield with removal spells before the opponent accumulates sufficient artifacts. Instant-speed removal, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, can effectively deal with Gnathosaur before it becomes active. Players may also opt for enchantment-based strategies, using cards like Pacifism or Lignify to neutralize it without needing to target it directly during combat phases.

Ultimately, staying one step ahead and managing the field with timely removals or control enchantments ensures Gnathosaur doesn’t trample over your strategies. By doing so, you preserve board superiority and maintain the upper hand against your opponent’s threats in the match.

Cards like Gnathosaur

The Gnathosaur steps into the MTG arena as a formidable creature card. It shares the landscape with other high-impact creatures such as Baloth Woodcrasher. Both cards command a presence with their significant power and toughness, but the Gnathosaur is singular in its requirement for a sacrifice to unleash its potential. Unlike the Gnathosaur, Baloth Woodcrasher harbors no such stipulation and instead capitalizes on landfall triggers to increase its might.

When looking at cards like Ember Swallower, players are drawn to compare their abilities to disrupt the opponent’s board. Ember Swallower offers a massive land destruction ability, which is a different flavor of board impact compared to Gnathosaur’s straightforward aggressive approach. On a mana efficiency scale, the Gnathosaur stands out due to its lower cost of entry, providing significant pressure in earlier game turns. Lastly, the Shivan Wumpus presents an interesting parallel with its potential to recur from the graveyard. However, it demands a more substantial setup for board presence, contrasting with the immediate imposition of Gnathosaur’s attack demand.

Such comparisons within MTG’s vast card pool illustrate the unique spot Gnathosaur holds, appealing to players who favor aggressive strategies with high-risk-high-reward dynamics.

Cards similar to Gnathosaur by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gnathosaur MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, 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 Gnathosaur and other MTG cards: