Cragganwick Cremator MTG Card
2008-05-02 - Number 87
2019-11-07 - Number 892
2020-08-07 - Number 122
2020-09-26 - Number SHM-87
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Giant Shaman |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Offers unique card advantage by converting creatures in hand into direct opponent life-point reduction.
- Acts as a resource accelerator, using hand cards for damage, hastening the path to victory.
- Combines well with instant spells to ensure ability usage, vital in tight gameplay situations.
Text of card
When Cragganwick Cremator comes into play, discard a card at random. If you discard a creature card this way, Cragganwick Cremator deals damage equal to that card's power to target player.
Each night that his bowl fills, a village mourns.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Cragganwick Cremator allows for a unique form of card advantage in MTG. By discarding a creature card with a high power, you can deal substantial damage to an opponent, effectively turning a card in your hand into direct life-point reduction for your adversary. This process can tip the scales in matchups where each card’s impact is pivotal to winning.
Resource Acceleration: Though it might not produce mana or tokens directly, Cragganwick Cremator can act as a form of resource acceleration. By enabling you to utilize the creature cards in your hand as direct damage sources, it accelerates your game plan and potentially reduces the number of turns needed to reach victory. This type of resource use, converting hand cards to damage, can be seen as accelerating towards your end-game condition.
Instant Speed: While the Cragganwick Cremator itself is a creature and doesn’t have instant speed, its unique ability can synergize with instant speed spells. For example, in response to a removal spell aimed at Cragganwick Cremator, you can cast an instant that draws and discards, ensuring you get to use its ability effectively at least once, which is crucial in tight gameplay situations.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Cragganwick Cremator obliges players to discard a creature card if you want to utilize its ability. This can often put you at a card disadvantage, particularly if your hand is already depleted or if you’re depending on maintaining a certain number of cards in hand for other strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a blend of both generic and red mana to cast. With a cost of 1RRR, it could prove challenging to play in multicolor decks that might not consistently generate the required red mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring four mana to cast, and three of which is dedicated red mana, means that Cragganwick Cremator may not hit the battlefield until the mid-game. This relatively steep cost highlights that there are alternative creatures or spells in red that might deliver immediate board impact or provide more cost-effective damage output.
Reasons to Include Cragganwick Cremator in Your Collection
Versatility: Cragganwick Cremator provides a unique mechanism that can adapt to a wide array of deck builds. Used in a deck designed around big creatures, it enables you to turn an unfortunate hand filled with giants into direct damage against your opponent.
Combo Potential: This card is a linchpin in combos that can unexpectedly end games. When paired with cards that manipulate your hand or the battlefield, Cragganwick Cremator can turn a stalled board state into a winning advantage with its ability to deal damage equivalent to the discarded creature’s power.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its capability to bypass counter spells and board-state control by dealing damage directly to an opponent, Cragganwick Cremator holds a strategic position within the current meta. It’s particularly effective against control decks that seek to limit battlefield presence but are vulnerable to hand-based strategies.
How to beat
Cragganwick Cremator is a unique force on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its formidable combination of body and ability makes it capable of dealing massive damage in one fell swoop. When it goes uncontested, it can be the pivot around which a game swings in a player’s favor. However, with strategic play, this creature can be managed effectively.
When facing a deck featuring Cragganwick Cremator, it’s crucial to prevent it from establishing board presence. Counter spells are a player’s first line of defense, nipping the threat in the bud before it ever hits the table. Should it resolve, having removal in hand is key. Instant-speed removal allows you to respond before its ability can be used, thus minimizing potential damage. Enchantment-based control, like Pacifism or Lignify, can also neutralize the Cremator without triggering its ability.
Prioritizing hand disruption can also limit Cremator’s impact, as it relies on the player holding a creature card with high power. Duress or Thoughtseize out of your hand diminishes that power, making the Cremator’s ability less threatening. By focusing on these strategies, players can contain the blaze set by Cragganwick Cremator and keep the upper hand in their MTG matches.
Cards like Cragganwick Cremator
When evaluating the impact of Cragganwick Cremator in MTG, it’s compelling to draw parallels with other creatures that capitalize on discarding cards for value. The Cremator shines due to its unique ability to deal damage to an opponent by discarding a creature card with a high power stat. This trait is somewhat mirrored by the likes of Flameblade Adept, which rewards the player for each card they discard by boosting its own power for the turn. However, the potential damage output of the Cremator is generally higher and can be a game-ending move.
Another creature that operates on discard synergy is Guul Draz Specter, gaining power and evasive capabilities as your opponent’s hand size decreases, arguably a more gradual and controlling tactic compared to the direct burst of the Cremator. Additionally, we find the widely known Avatar of Woe, which doesn’t discard cards but rather benefits from cards being in all graveyards, becoming easier to cast and offering a potent control ability.
Ultimately, Cragganwick Cremator asserts itself as a significant threat amongst its peers, providing a distinct niche in MTG. Its ability to turn card disadvantage into a powerful offensive tool sets it apart, making it a formidable card in the right deck construct.
Cards similar to Cragganwick Cremator by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cragganwick Cremator MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Mystery Booster, 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 Cragganwick Cremator and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Cragganwick Cremator Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Jeremy Enecio.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008-05-02 | Shadowmoor | SHM | 87 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jeremy Enecio | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 892 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jeremy Enecio | |
| 3 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 122 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jeremy Enecio | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | SHM-87 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jeremy Enecio |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cragganwick Cremator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cragganwick Cremator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-08-07 | Cragganwick Cremator deals damage equal to the discarded creature card's power as it exists in your graveyard. |
| 2020-08-07 | If the target player or planeswalker is an illegal target by the time the ability tries to resolve, the ability won't resolve. You won't discard a card. |
| 2020-08-07 | If you have no cards in hand when Cragganwick Cremator's ability resolves, you don't discard anything. |
| 2020-08-07 | You choose the target player or planeswalker when the ability is put onto the stack. You won't know how much damage will be dealt until the ability resolves. |
