Bull Cerodon MTG Card

Shards of Alara (ALA)
2008-10-03 - Number 161

Planechase (HOP)
2009-09-04 - Number 84

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Beast
Abilities	Haste, Vigilance
Power	5
Toughness	5

Key Takeaways

Vigilance and haste allow Bull Cerodon to influence the battlefield immediately upon casting.
The specific red and white mana cost can be restrictive, demanding careful deck construction.
Despite high mana demands, its presence can decisively tilt the game in your favor.

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Vigilance, haste

It holds motionless vigil, watching Naya in silence through the screen of the whitecover. When it senses anything amiss, it launches forward with the uncanny sound of torn fog.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Bull Cerodon itself does not directly draw cards, its substantial presence on the battlefield can lead to card advantage by pressuring your opponent into unfavorable trades or resource-intensive removals.

Resource Acceleration: Bull Cerodon doesn’t inherently accelerate resources, yet its effectiveness in the mid-to-late game can capitalize on an already established mana base, allowing you to deploy multiple threats in a single turn.

Instant Speed: This powerhouse isn’t an instant, but its vigilance and haste abilities allow for immediate impact on the game—both offensively and defensively—once cast, providing a sort of ‘tactical speed’ in your gameplay.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Bull Cerodon doesn’t specifically ask you to discard a card, it’s important for players to be aware of the potential field or hand disruption that could leave them unable to cast this creature due to its specific mana requirements.

Specific Mana Cost: Bull Cerodon’s mana cost is hybrid and specific, needing both red and white mana. This can pose a challenge in multicolored decks which may not always have the right mana combination at the crucial moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six total mana required to summon Bull Cerodon can be steep, especially when considering that it can be deployed only later in the game, potentially giving faster decks an advantage over you.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bull Cerodon stands out for its flexibility in various deck builds. Its solid power and toughness make it a formidable creature in both aggressive and control strategies. With vigilance and haste, it can immediately impact the board and remain a defensive asset.

Combo Potential: This creature complements strategies that are centered around both attacking and defending in the same turn. Its abilities can synergize with cards that reward players for having untapped creatures, as well as those that can capitalize on immediate board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape crowded with midrange decks, Bull Cerodon can potentially shift the balance in your favor. It can bypass slower setups and offer immediate pressure, demanding an answer from opponents while standing ready to block when the tables turn.

How to beat

Bull Cerodon is a formidable presence on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering with its Vigilance and Haste abilities, enabling it to attack without tapping and be an immediate threat respectively. However, like all cards, it has its vulnerabilities. When facing this beast, one efficient strategy is to employ removal spells that can bypass its abilities. Utilizing cards like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can cleanly remove the Cerodon from play without it dealing damage.

Control decks can leverage counter spells to never let Bull Cerodon hit the field in the first place. Countering it with a Mana Leak or a Dovin’s Veto can prevent your opponent from gaining its powerful presence. If the Cerodon does enter the battlefield, you can also consider bounce spells to reset its progress, using options like Unsummon or Brazen Borrower’s Petty Theft. This tactic not only removes the immediate threat but also forces your opponent to spend another turn recasting it, giving you an opportunity to draw into a more permanent answer.

In summary, while Bull Cerodon may initially intimidate with its power and aggression, well-prepared players can overcome this challenge with strategic use of removal, countermeasures, and tempo plays, maintaining control over the game state.

Cards like Bull Cerodon

Bull Cerodon stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable creature with its vigilance and haste attributes. Its closest rivals include creatures like Loxodon Smiter. The Smiter, though lacking haste, compensates with a no-discards clause, ensuring it stays in your hand against targeted discard spells. Additionally, it’s a sizable creature for its mana cost and has its place in decks that value resilience over speed.

Another creature often compared with Bull Cerodon is Spark Trooper. This card also has trample alongside lifelink, a combination that can swing life totals significantly in a single attack. However, it is a one-time effect due to the sacrifice at the end of turn, unlike the continuing board presence offered by Bull Cerodon. Furthermore, players might consider Skyknight Legionnaire, a creature with a flying attribute coupled with haste. Although it has less power, its evasion offers utility in getting past ground-blockers, something Bull Cerodon can’t do despite its raw strength.

Ultimately, Bull Cerodon may not possess some of the specialized advantages of these similar cards, but its balance of speed and power enables it to hold a solid position in the realm of Magic: The Gathering aggressive creature cards.

Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bull Cerodon MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Planechase, 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 Bull Cerodon and other MTG cards: