Canal Monitor MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Lizard
Released	2018-01-19
Set symbol
Set name	Rivals of Ixalan
Set code	RIX
Power	5
Toughness	3
Number	63
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zezhou Chen

Key Takeaways

Canal Monitor may indirectly offer card advantage when used in discard or reanimation strategies.
While not a mana accelerator, it synergizes with sacrifice-focused cards, enhancing play dynamics.
The creature’s presence impacts instant-speed interactions, pairing well with untap abilities.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Despite its initial appearance, Canal Monitor can occasionally lead to indirect card advantage when used effectively as fodder for discard or reanimation strategies in certain decks.

Resource Acceleration: While the Canal Monitor itself doesn’t offer acceleration, it can synergize well with cards that capitalize on having creatures to sacrifice, turning it into a resource for more powerful plays.

Instant Speed: While Canal Monitor isn’t an instant, its presence can affect instant-speed interactions, especially when combined with cards that untap creatures or use creatures as resources at instant speed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Canal Monitor doesn’t ask you to discard, it fails to provide additional leverage to your hand, missing a chance to build your advantage against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: Canal Monitor asks for one specific red mana, potentially clashing with multicolored deck strategies that might not always have red mana readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at four mana, Canal Monitor’s summoning cost is steep when you consider its stats and lack of impactful abilities, which might not always justify a spot in your deck when there are other creatures that offer more value for the same or lower cost.

Reasons to Include Canal Monitor in Your Collection

Versatility: While Canal Monitor might not be a staple in all formats, its lizard subtype can be a playful addition to tribal decks emphasizing creatures like Scaled Behemoth or River Serpent, fitting nicely within a theme.

Combo Potential: With its four power, Canal Monitor works well with cards that leverage high power creatures, such as Rishkar’s Expertise or Greater Good, allowing for impactful plays and board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a local game store or casual play environment where creature-heavy decks dominate, Canal Monitor can serve as a reliable blocker or an enforcer, especially due to its out-of-the-box inclusion in the Aether Revolt set.

How to beat

Canal Monitor may present a challenge in combat scenarios, given its ample size for its mana value. Its lizard form is a sturdy blocker and can be a formidable force when attacking. However, there are reliable methods to overpower this card in Magic: The Gathering. Red burn spells like Lightning Bolt can remove Canal Monitor effectively before it establishes board presence. White offers pacifism effects through enchantments like Pacifism or Exile effects such as Path to Exile to neutralize or permanently remove the creature without engaging in combat.

Control decks might favor counter spells to prevent the Monitor from hitting the field altogether. Blue players can keep mana open for counters like Mana Leak or Negate. Furthermore, black provides numerous creature removal options, including Doom Blade and Go for the Throat. Green, while not as direct, can outpace Canal Monitor by accelerating mana and deploying even larger threats swiftly.

Overcoming Canal Monitor requires tactical preparation and maintaining an awareness of your tools. Adaptability is key, and knowing the likely paths your opponent might take can inform the best course of action to ensure Canal Monitor doesn’t obstruct your path to victory.

Cards like Canal Monitor

The Canal Monitor is a creature card that finds its place within the vast menagerie of Magic: The Gathering’s reptilian beasts. It sits alongside comparable cards like the Raging Swordtooth and the Frilled Sandwalla. The Raging Swordtooth stands out with its ability to deal damage to each other creature when it enters the battlefield, a feature Canal Monitor lacks. However, Canal Monitor compensates with a more manageable casting cost and a straightforward 5/3 stat line for a four-mana investment.

Frilled Sandwalla, while smaller, brings a level of flexibility to the table. For a single green mana, you’re met with a creature that can grow stronger, albeit temporarily, offering a dynamic choice during combat. Canal Monitor doesn’t share this adaptability, but it does provide a consistent power level without additional mana investment.

Each of these reptiles holds potential in different styles of play, with the Canal Monitor being a viable option for those seeking a cost-effective and sturdy creature to hold the ground or push through some substantial damage. Indeed, in assessing similar creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, Canal Monitor is a simple yet reliable choice for the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Canal Monitor MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan, 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 Canal Monitor and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Canal Monitor has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal