Outmuscle MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Outmuscle not only helps remove an opposing creature but also often ensures your own creature survives the encounter due to the card’s +1/+1 counter application when played with adamant. This can create a significant swing in card advantage by preserving your resources while depleting your opponent’s.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially removing a blocker or a creature that could be a threat to your mana-producing creatures, Outmuscle indirectly accelerates your resource development. Keeping your mana dorks or other important creatures alive means more resources and potentially a quicker path to victory.

Instant Speed: While Outmuscle does not operate at instant speed, the advantage it provides during your main phase can set the stage for stronger plays at instant speed later in the game. It’s all about setting up a board state that allows you to capitalize on your instant speed spells without worry.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Outmuscle card does not necessitate a discard as part of casting it, which can be seen as a plus for conserving hand resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Outmuscle requires one green mana as part of its casting cost. Players running multi-color decks might find it challenging to consistently have the right mana at the right time, potentially leading to situations where Outmuscle is uncastable when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three and a green mana, Outmuscle can be seen as an investment, particularly when competing with other efficient removal spells within the same mana range. Other cards might provide more immediate or versatile board control for a similar or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Outmuscle in Your Collection

Versatility: Outmuscle is a solid addition to green decks that focus on creature-based strategies. Its ability to act as both a removal and a combat trick makes it adaptable to various situations on the battlefield, enhancing your deck’s responsiveness against opponents.

Combo Potential: With Outmuscle, you can exploit synergies in decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters. It can be effectively combined with cards that interact with counters or use them to empower creatures, further extending your strategic options during a game.

Meta-Relevance: As creature interactions are a core part of many meta-games, Outmuscle maintains its relevance. It serves as a practical tool in matchups where board control is vital, potentially swinging games in your favor by eliminating key threats while bolstering your own creatures’ survival.

How to beat

Outmuscle represents a solid piece of removal in Magic: The Gathering, offering the dual advantage of bolstering your creature and potentially clearing out an opponent’s threat. However, strategies exist to diminish Outmuscle’s impact. One such tactic involves maintaining a low creature count on your side, thereby minimizing Outmuscle’s targets for a fight. Another effective technique is running instant-speed removal or counterspells to disrupt the spell before it resolves, eliminating its capacity to affect the board.

Hexproof or indestructible creatures also serve as efficient foils to Outmuscle’s effectiveness. By deploying these types of creatures, you ensure that even if Outmuscle resolves, it fails to eliminate its intended target. Lastly, remember that Outmuscle requires a creature with power greater than that of the opponent’s creature for a successful elimination. Keeping higher-powered creatures on the board, or using combat tricks to increase power in response, can turn the tables on an Outmuscle attempt. In sum, clever deck construction and thoughtful in-game decisions can adeptly navigate the challenges posed by Outmuscle.