Card Talk 18

Cactuar card art

Time for Card Talk! Reminder how this works:

• I go to Scryfall and select 'Random Card'
• I present and blog about the card. I could discuss any aspect: the art, abilities, cost, set, impact on the game, and so on. Stream of consciousness.

Card Talk is a fun, uncurated way to look at Magic's cards, mechanics, history, art, sets, and so on. And of course it exposes some of my own preferences, biases, and memories of the game.

Today's card is . . .
Thrashing Brontodon—a common creature from Lost Caverns of Ixalan.

Thrashing Brontodon (TB) originally appeared in Rivals of Ixalan, the 2018 release and second in the Ixalan block—a fun plane that featured dinosaurs, vampires, merfolk, and pirates in a land influenced by Aztec/Mayan culture. It was a cool time to be playing; I enjoyed standard during that era.

TB is a good card. A 3/4 creature for three mana is fine, but it shines in its ability—pay one mana and sacrifice it to destroy target artifact or enchantment. This 'creature/targeted removal' combo is handy to have for the flexibility it provides. That is probably why it has since been reprinted in several sets:

- Core Set 2020

- Core Set 2021

- Lost Cavarns of Ixalan

- Foundations

- plus other special releases

Pay attention to reprints—cards released frequently often indicate utility/value. 

Final comment: art. The original release, and most reprints to date, feature the below artwork:

I prefer this variant, as it is more playful. Magic used to have a whimsical feel to it, even when portraying supposedly scary creatures. In recent years, that has given way to more serious representations. I miss how it used to be.

Until next time . . . keep exploring.