Stone Catapult MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Released | 1999-05-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Portal Three Kingdoms |
| Set code | PTK |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 84 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | White |
| Illustred by | Shang Huitong |
Key Takeaways
- Stone Catapult offers indirect card advantage by selectively removing opponent creatures from play.
- Instant cast speed allows Stone Catapult to disrupt enemy strategies at critical moments.
- Despite its removal utility, the card demands a specific mana combination and self-discard to activate.
Text of card
On your turn, before you attack, you may tap Stone Catapult to destroy any one tapped creature that isn't black.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Stone Catapult card can be a tactical addition for players looking to disrupt their opponent’s strategy by selectively removing their creatures from the game. This can lead to indirect card advantage as you dismantle the synergies your opponent has developed, potentially wasting their resources while preserving your own.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to resource acceleration, Stone Catapult’s low mana cost allows for an efficient use of your mana pool. This enables you to develop your board presence or keep up mana for other critical responses without sacrificing the ability to interact with the game state.
Instant Speed: The utility of this card is heightened by its casting speed. Being an instant means you have the flexibility to wait until the most opportune moment within a turn cycle to utilize this effect. This unpredictability can give you an upper hand as opponents must always consider the possibility of the Stone Catapult disrupting their combat calculations or strategic plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Casting Stone Catapult demands that you forfeit another card from your hand. In intense games where every card matters, this prerequisite can tip the scales unfavorably, leaving you with fewer options on future turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Stone Catapult requires a precise blend of mana to play, including both colorless and black mana. This can complicate your game plan if your mana base isn’t perfectly aligned, limiting its seamless inclusion only to decks that can easily meet this requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Stone Catapult can disrupt your opponent’s battlefield, it comes with a steep mana cost. In the fast-paced world of Magic, where efficiency is key, there are alternative removal actions that can accomplish the same for less, making it a less attractive option for players looking to optimize their mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Stone Catapult card is a flexible option for decks that require a robust defense mechanism. Its ability to thwart attacking creatures makes it an asset across various game scenarios.
Combo Potential: Its unique tapping ability to destroy target tapped creature allows smart players to devise clever combinations with cards that tap opponents’ creatures, enhancing both control and attrition strategies.
Meta-Relevance: With a shifting landscape in competitive play, Stone Catapult can serve as a situational answer to decks that capitalize on aggressive, creature-forward approaches, helping to maintain board stability.
How to beat
Stone Catapult might not ring as many bells as some of the more infamous cards in MTG, but underestimating its disruptive potential can cost you the game. This particular card can be a significant obstacle, specifically in formats where creatures play a central role. Its ability to tap and destroy target tapped creature is a specific deterrent against aggressively paced strategies and requires a thoughtful approach if you wish to outmaneuver an opponent utilizing this card.
To outplay Stone Catapult, adaptive tactics become crucial. One strategy is to employ creatures with vigilance, as they don’t need to tap to attack, thereby evading the Catapult’s ability. Another effective countermeasure is to incorporate instant-speed removal or bounce spells, so you can respond to the activation of Stone Catapult’s ability. This defense turns it into a liability for your opponent as the card’s activation can effectively be negated, leaving the way clear for your creatures to press the attack.
Considering the card’s limitation to only destroy tapped creatures, another angle is to manage the pacing of your attacks. By carefully selecting which creatures to commit to each assault, you can mitigate the potential losses caused by Stone Catapult and maintain a formidable presence on the battlefield.
Cards like Stone Catapult
The Stone Catapult card carves its niche in the world of creature removal within Magic: The Gathering. This old-school monoblack card from Legends shares its basic removal utility with cards like Terror, which also destroys target creatures without regeneration. However, Stone Catapult stands out by targeting tapped creatures specifically, offering a strategic advantage by removing blockers or attackers post-combat.
Looking at Royal Assassin, another card with a sharp edge in creature control, we see a different approach. The Assassin, unlike Stone Catapult, can destroy any tapped creature regardless of its size or abilities, and it does so as a repeatable creature ability rather than a once-off spell. On the flip side, Dark Banishing offers a similar effect to Stone Catapult but can affect untapped creatures as well. However, it can’t hit black or artifact creatures, showcasing the nuanced decision-making players need to consider.
Ultimately, Stone Catapult may not be as versatile as some modern removal options, but it remains a tactical choice for those piloting decks that capitalize on opponent’s tapped creatures. For players evaluating removal spells, considering timing and restrictions is key to finding the right fit for their deck strategy.
Cards similar to Stone Catapult by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stone Catapult MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms, 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 Stone Catapult 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stone Catapult has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Predh | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stone Catapult card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-09-20 | If a turn has multiple combat phases, the ability can only be activated before the beginning of the declare attackers step of the first combat phase in that turn. |
