Ivorytusk Fortress MTG Card


Ivorytusk Fortress offers versatile untapping, granting continuous board presence and potential card advantage. While enabling reactive play, its restrictive mana cost may limit deck flexibility. Despite its higher mana cost, the card’s uniqueness adds tactical depth to certain MTG decks.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elephant
Power 5
Toughness 7

Text of card

Untap each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it during each other player's untap step.

Abzan soldiers march to war confident that their Houses march with them.


Cards like Ivorytusk Fortress

Ivorytusk Fortress invites a comparison with a host of other creatures in Magic: The Gathering that enable players to manipulate and take advantage of the untapping mechanic. Abzan Beastmaster, for instance, may not provide the untapping benefit directly, but it offers a related synergy by allowing card draw in proportion to the creature with the greatest toughness — a strategy that can be enhanced by Ivorytusk Fortress’s untapping ability.

Another card worth mentioning is Prophet of Kruphix, a potent piece that not only untaps all your creatures on each player’s turn but also allows you to play creatures as though they had flash. While not identical, it occupies a similar space of maximizing utility of creatures during untap phases. Conversely, Seedborn Muse follows a more parallel function to Ivorytusk Fortress by unlocking your creatures and lands during each other player’s untap step, multiplying your opportunities for strategic plays and bolstering your offensive and defensive capabilities.

Scrutiny of these cards reveals that while they each have their own distinctive advantages, Ivorytusk Fortress holds a unique place, especially within decks built around the Outlast mechanic, extending your tactical possibilities on the battlefield every turn.

Abzan Beastmaster - MTG Card versions
Prophet of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Seedborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Abzan Beastmaster - MTG Card versions
Prophet of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Seedborn Muse - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Ivorytusk Fortress itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its untapping ability can synergize with other abilities or effects that activate during each player’s turn, potentially offering multiple uses of abilities that can give you card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: The Fortress’s strength lies in its unique ability to untap each of your creatures with a +1/+1 counter on them during each other player’s untap step. This ability can lead to resource acceleration, as you are able to leverage more actions from the same set of creatures, not just on your turn but also during each of your opponents’ turns.

Instant Speed: Although Ivorytusk Fortress operates at a continuous effect rather than instant speed, the creatures you untap with its ability can be used for instant speed spells or abilities. This gives you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn, after you’ve already had the opportunity to use your creatures in your own turn.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Ivorytusk Fortress requires a specific blend of mana colors—white, black, and green—to cast. This can restrict deck-building flexibility, necessitating a dedicated base of all three colors which might not align with every player’s strategy or available card pool.

Discard Requirement: While Ivorytusk Fortress itself doesn’t have a discard requirement, its Abzan synergy often comes with cards in the same mechanic that could necessitate discarding as part of their cost. This isn’t always ideal, especially in games where hand advantage is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Ivorytusk Fortress competes with other high-impact creatures and spells in the five-mana slot. Because of its defensive nature, it might not have the immediate board impact other five-cost cards possess, potentially setting you behind in more aggressive or tempo-driven games.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ivorytusk Fortress offers a unique ability to untap all your tapped creatures during every player’s untap step. This capability allows for defensive agility and surprise offense, fitting nicely into decks that capitalize on tap and untap mechanics.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with creatures that have tap abilities, essentially doubling their usage. It’s a formidable partner in strategies built around creature abilities or those that employ vigilance and control elements.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creatures command the board, Ivorytusk Fortress can help maintain board presence and exert continuous pressure on opponents. It’s particularly useful in a meta where being able to react on every turn is crucial.


How to beat

Ivorytusk Fortress is a unique card in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering, offering a powerful ability that untaps all your creatures with +1/+1 counters during each player’s untap step. This effect can give you significant advantages by allowing blockers during your opponent’s turn or enabling repeated activated abilities that require tapping. However, there are strategies to undermine its effectiveness on the battlefield.

To effectively neutralize the threat of Ivorytusk Fortress, consider cards that can remove counters, such as Vampire Hexmage, which can target creatures with +1/+1 counters directly, stripping the fortress of its utility. Another approach is to employ board wipes like Supreme Verdict, which bypasses the creatures’ untapped state and removes them regardless of how many counters they have. Furthermore, exploit the power of exile effects found in cards like Path to Exile, removing the troublesome creature without the need to deal with it on the board. Lastly, playing around the Ivorytusk Fortress’ strengths by focusing on non-creature strategies or utilizing flying creatures can also mitigate its potential impact.

Devising a tactic that anticipates and counters this resilient fortress will lead to a more controlled and manageable game state, keeping your adversaries on the defensive and paving your way to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG is a perfect arena to put Ivorytusk Fortress’s unique abilities to the test. As an exceptional architect of both combat and utility strategies, it’s a card that beckons for inventive playstyles and synergistic deck builds. The fortress’s ability to untap creatures with +1/+1 counters during each player’s untap step can unlock potent combos and create new defensive opportunities. Whether you’re aiming to maximize the use of tap abilities or simply want a reliable way to keep your creatures ready at all times, this might be a card worth adding to your arsenal. Discover more ways to harness the full potential of this dynamic card and refine your deck’s performance. Dive in with us and explore the endless possibilities that MTG offers.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ivorytusk Fortress MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Khans of Tarkir Promos, 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 Ivorytusk Fortress and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ivorytusk Fortress Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2014-09-26. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 545102015NormalBlackMatt Stewart
22014-09-26Khans of Tarkir PromosPKTK 179s2015NormalBlackJasper Sandner
32014-09-26Khans of Tarkir PromosPKTK 1792015NormalBlackMatt Stewart
42014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 1792015NormalBlackJasper Sandner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ivorytusk Fortress has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ivorytusk Fortress card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2014-09-20 Controlling more than one Ivorytusk Fortress doesn’t allow you to untap any creature more than once during a single untap step.
2014-09-20 Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it untaps at the same time as the active player’s permanents. You can’t choose to not untap them at that time.
2014-09-20 Effects that state a creature you control doesn’t untap during your untap step won’t apply during another player’s untap step.