Tuskguard Captain MTG Card


Tuskguard Captain enhances creatures with +1/+1 counters, improving combat results and board presence. It offers combo potential and becomes a must-have for decks focusing on the counter strategy. Despite being a mana-intensive investment, its trample granting ability can dictate battlefield dynamics.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Warrior
Abilities Outlast
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

Outlast (, : Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Outlast only as a sorcery.) Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it has trample.

One quiet word sets off the stampede.


Cards like Tuskguard Captain

Tuskguard Captain stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a versatile creature enhancing the board’s dynamics. This card invites comparison to other creatures like Ainok Bond-Kin. Both are centered around bolstering creatures with +1/+1 counters, providing a route to enhanced combat potential. Tuskguard Captain excels by granting those creatures with counters trample, effectively allowing excess damage to spill over to an opponent.

Examining another parallel, Abzan Falconer offers a different advantage by bestowing flying to creatures with +1/+1 counters, giving them an aerial edge. While trample enables a crushing ground assault, flying tactically bypasses it altogether. Each card offers a tactical advantage based on whether one aims to overpower or outmaneuver opponents.

Consequently, Tuskguard Captain holds its ground when pitted against similar creatures. Its ability to provide trample can turn the tide of a game by allowing formidable creatures to not only deal combat damage to creatures but also to the opponent’s life total. This strategic value renders Tuskguard Captain a noteworthy consideration for decks capitalizing on +1/+1 counters.

Ainok Bond-Kin - MTG Card versions
Abzan Falconer - MTG Card versions
Ainok Bond-Kin - MTG Card versions
Abzan Falconer - MTG Card versions

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Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
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Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Tuskguard Captain. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Abzan MidrangeAbzan Midrange GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tuskguard Captain helps to build up considerable card advantage as it equips your creatures with a powerful +1/+1 counter strategy. When your creatures are bolstered with additional counters, not only do they become more formidable in combat, but you also enhance the potential value of draw effects and other synergies within your deck.

Resource Acceleration: While Tuskguard Captain doesn’t directly produce mana, it accelerates your board presence and resource allocation by continuously empowering your creatures. This steady growth can lead to an overwhelming state where the resources at your disposal – in terms of creature power and toughness – greatly overshadow those of your opponent, setting up for an accelerated path to victory.

Instant Speed: Although Tuskguard Captain itself isn’t an instant speed spell, it does grant access to the Outlast ability which can be activated at a speed akin to that. This means during your turn, you can choose the most opportune time to enhance your creatures, carefully managing your resources while keeping mana available for other instant speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Tuskguard Captain doesn’t directly ask players to discard cards, its Outlast ability requires an action to be taken on your turn, potentially causing players to miss the chance to play other cards at optimal times.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Tuskguard Captain, you need both green mana and generic mana, which makes it slightly less flexible for multicolored decks that might struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana and an additional cost to activate its ability, Tuskguard Captain may come off as having a high investment for its effect, considering other creatures can provide more immediate board impact.


Reasons to Include Tuskguard Captain in Your Collection

Versatility: Tuskguard Captain is an adaptable addition to any collection, fitting seamlessly into decks that emphasize +1/+1 counter strategies. This card’s Outlast ability offers a straightforward way to strengthen your creatures over the course of a game.

Combo Potential: With its ability to grant creatures with +1/+1 counters trample, Tuskguard Captain works incredibly well in synergy-driven decks, opening the door to powerful combinations with cards meant to proliferate or double counters.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based combat is prevalent, having your enhanced creatures able to trample over blockers makes Tuskguard Captain a relevant choice, ensuring that your accumulated buffs translate into substantial damage.


How to beat

Tuskguard Captain has proven to be a resilient force on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to bolster other creatures by giving them +1/+1 counters, it quickly turns a modest team into a threatening crew. Its trample ability also serves to make sure that any excess damage is not wasted, making blocking decisions for your opponent more difficult.

To effectively handle Tuskguard Captain, removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their size are key. These can include Murder, Doom Blade, or Path to Exile. Since Tuskguard Captain relies on counters, you can also use spells that negate counter placement, like Solemnity, to stifle its effectiveness. Another strategy involves managing the battlefield with sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation, resetting the board and removing all the counters that may have accumulated. Engaging the Captain before it can distribute counters is also strategic, so instant speed removal plays a significant role. As a last resort, taking control of the Captain with spells like Control Magic can turn the tide, making its advantage yours.

Ultimately, staying ahead of the synergy that Tuskguard Captain aims to create by eliminating it swiftly or preventing its ability from activating is the best way to handle this powerful commander staple.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the strengths and vulnerabilities of Tuskguard Captain can be the edge you need in your MTG journey. A card that bolsters your creatures with +1/+1 counters and grants them the power to trample past blockers, it’s a crucial asset in counter-centric decks. Whether it’s facing off against other impressive creatures or weaving through metagames, Tuskguard Captain holds its own. Strategic removal and board management are key to countering this potent force, as with any MTG confrontation. Dive deeper with us, refine your tactics, and you’ll soon see the fruits of your labor as your creatures tower over the competition. Explore this MTG staple’s full potential and solidify your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tuskguard Captain MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir and Commander 2016, 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 Tuskguard Captain and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tuskguard Captain Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Aaron Miller.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 1562015NormalBlackAaron Miller
22016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1732015NormalBlackAaron Miller
32018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1472015NormalBlackAaron Miller
42020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 852015NormalBlackAaron Miller
52022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 1632015NormalBlackAaron Miller
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3282015NormalBlackAaron Miller
72023-08-04Commander Masters Art SeriesACMM 162015Art seriesBorderlessAaron Miller

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tuskguard Captain has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tuskguard Captain 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 Several creatures with outlast also grant an ability to creatures you control with +1/+1 counters on them, including themselves. These counters could come from an outlast ability, but any +1/+1 counter on the creature will count.
2014-09-20 The cost to activate a creature’s outlast ability includes the tap symbol (). A creature’s outlast ability can’t be activated unless that creature has been under your control continuously since the beginning of your turn.