It may be true that one can do better with seven mana. Especially when you consider seven mana going towards a combo. I love that M10 has new cards in it. It's certainly an exciting new base set. I see this card as filling the Verdant Force slot. Having said that, I must admit that I see more playablity in Verdant Force than this card. Automated tolken creation is just so dynamic. Not that this is a bad card; it certainly seems apt at playing the role of a finisher with more longevity than most large creatures due to Shroud.
TroglodyteJB
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(7 votes)
I can't speak to this card in constructed; sure, 7 for a 9/9 shroud is pretty solid, if not part of a pro combo engine. What I can say is that this gentleman is an absolute BOMB in limited play. Turn 1 Llanowars, turn 6 shrouded 9/9... The only way to clear him is to gang block and lose all your men, or to throw down a Righteousness. Made a huge splash in our friendly draft-- all of a sudden the Ball Lightning and Lightning Elementals I'd pulled to beat down opposing creatures don't seem so big!
bigsexxy36
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(11 votes)
umm people, Garruk and overrun say hello
magog360
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(6 votes)
The name sucks. It would be just as devastating by calling it 9/9 w/shroud.
Talshor
★☆☆☆☆ (1.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Hey look! A 9/9 to which you can't give trample! You'll kill a saproling every turn, maybe even a wolf! Have a cookie! Tokens. It happens. Until they play an overrun.
GrimGorgonBC
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Solid beast, trample or vigilance would have been better than shroud. But green has a hateon for blue/black, which is good, so whatever.
SocialExperiment
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
You can't give him trample, true, but your opponent can't simply play Terminate for five mana less than what you payed, and not many mass damage cards will bring him down without dealing lots of damage to your opponents creatures. He would be downright brutal with Overrun or Titanic Ultimatum.
Grimn777
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(5 votes)
very solid 7 drop. you can certainly give it trample, as was mentioned. both garruk and overrun give trample to your creatures boardwide, not targeted, and both are perfectly in line in terms of colors =). As I said, solid 7 drop, even better on turn 3 =P, pulled off that once, and only once. turn 1 llanowar elves. turn 2, 3 more llanowar elves (3 in opening hand, drew 4th). turn 3, tap 3 lands and 4 elves for 9/9 shroud.
MasterOfEtherium
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(10 votes)
Lestat13 Sucks This Card Is Awesome Good Job Wizards. Because In Draft No One Has Enough Tokens Or Chump Blockers To Last Against This Guy In Less You Have An Ant Queen Or A Planar Cleansing Which Are Rares, I Think This Guy Is Great.
Fade_To_Black
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(7 votes)
It's a solid 7-drop, and paired with a Prized Unicorn in Limited, it's hilarious.
Also, it's a great card to teach new players the ups-and-downs of shroud, and the importance of evasion. 3.5/5.
BobMcDoodle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(5 votes)
For 7 mana, it's a decent deal; Kalonian Behemoth + Asha's Favor = 0 life for your unlucky opponent. Almost no way to block a 9/9 with Shroud, Vigilance, Flying and First Strike. Almost as good as Inkwell Leviathan.
shadow1235
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
ok got a ? for ya, it says it has shroud which means cant be targeted by a spell or ablilites, so i i am taping my mana and placeing him out and then u cast a Spell card and destroy him and sind him to the
grave yard is that possible since he has shroud or is he still not concidered summoned yet?!
slightly worse then an Enormous Baloth, as shroud in this case is not protecting another ability. this is harder to pay for, and can not easily be given trample because shroud only begins to be useful once a creature has another ability worth protecting. only a few cards can even unlock this dudes full potential.
zpfriem
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Get this guy in early with Elvish Piper and Thousand-Year Elixer.
Gezus82
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
plated slagworm is strictly better
Donovan_Fabian
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Good for just being huge, but otherwise not very impressive. Strictly speaking, he's a better enormous baloth, without question. Most of the things your giving to a rampaging baloth are the same things your giving to a kalonian to activate trample, and so it really doesn't matter, including that 1 mana enchantment that gives all your creatures trample. On the other hand, kalonian is strictly worse than simic skyswallower in extended. Also for 7 mana you could have played a uril miststalker followed by a shield of the oversoul on the same turn for 9/9 flying indestructible troll shroud creature. So, not the best for the mana cost, but better than other creatures for pure size. Shroud is also pretty underestimated.. the anti trample problem is only relevant vs. black and green who have regeneration or a lot of token creation, against blue for example a 9/9 that you can't unsummon or kill once it hits the field is incredibly destructive.
U-caster
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(7 votes)
Man, this guy is pretty interesting. I'd hate to go up against one.
kittyspit
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
7 MANA FOR F****** 9/9 WITH SHROUD??!! WHAT THE F***!!!! GOD I HATE GREEN SO MUCH
Alex123321
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
7 for 9/9 shroud is a decent card if u dont have cards like elvish piper and cards that r mana boost like lanowar elves. So i always get 2 use kalonian behemeth every time and its killer.
AbyssalManZero
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.9/5.0)(4 votes)
... This card doesn't seem to quite get all the respect it deserves.. I mean combine a card like GRUUL WAR PLOW with it XD Now you got a 9/9 shrouding trampler!!
"I can do better with seven man. Yes sir I can." - Lestat13 (7/11/2009 1:40:42 AM)
You can play something can can stand with a 9/9 SHOUDer?? For only SEVEN mana?
I don't see how anyone for ONLY seven mana can even begin to say it's anything less than awesome. What do you honestly exspect?? Just a 9/9 no abilities for only seven mana or less?? Or a 9/9 trampler for only seven or less?? The 9/9 shouder to only be five or less?? In either instance you're asking for a broken card!
Granted, most don't want to play with a creature that costs over 5, BUT for seven mana, can anyone honestly do better with a single card play??
For only seven man can you honestly exspect better??
I mean, Wizards of the coast could have given it a cumunative upkeep or made it a creature that you have to give up a creature or more of your own creatures... They could have done many different things but instead they gave it SHOUD which is just as much a perk as a draw back, more a perk if you ask me!
When I saw him I thought Wizards was nuts to make a 9/9 THIS good!
Diachronos
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@AbyssalManZero: You actually can do better with 7 mana, if you think about how you can improve it with your other cards.
Plated Slagwurm is 7 mana; it's an 8/8, with a "shroud" ability that only affects what your opponent tries to use on it. Meaning that you can still give him things like Blanchwood Armor, Giant Growth, Beacon Behemoth's ability, etc.
RyanFisher
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
In a sonstructed format with TONS of removal, this guy is pretty nice. Terminate, Path to Exile, O-ring, Journey to Nowhere, Lightning Bolt, Into the Roil, etc... The only way your opponent can get rid of it is to play Gatekeeper of Malakir, DoJ, Planar Cleansing, Kederekt Leviathan, Deathtouch, as well as some others. An extremely potent creature.
Ae00111
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
9/9?! holy crap, thats huge!
StrikeLancer
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
My friend played this once, it was the only creature in his field. Then I played Thraximundar the next turn and him sacrifice it. :P
Kurhan
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(5 votes)
Plated Slagwurm is not strickly better or worse for those saying otherwise.
I take that your misuse of the term means a lack of understanding. "Strickly better" means in all cases it is better. "Stricktly worse" means in all cases it is worse.
If there are absolutely no cards in the field other than this and the wurm, this is better. If there are cards that pump up beasts on the field, this is better. If your opponent is attacking you with a 10/10 trample and you have 1 life left, this is better.
On the other hand, if you have a rancor in your hand, the wurm is better. If you have a giant growth in your hand, the wurm is better. If you have soul's might in your hand, the wurm is better. If you have a Naya Battlemage the wurm is better.
Both of them have their advantages, both have their draw backs, and both are amazing. Neither is "Strickly" anything over the other.
If you can't decide on which one you like better, use them both.
ratrase
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
While i love this card it's not really effective. The lack of trample really hurts him.
If your opponent have any regenerator or deathtouch creature you can't even atack them. Even if they don't, he's easy enough to chump block.
He works great with overrun, but wolfbriar elemental/howl of the night back/bestial menace works so much better.
SleetFox
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like solid, straightforward shrouded creatures like this, Deft Duelist and Wall of Denial. It's a shame so much good spot removal is decreasing the chances of big guys from being played, but until that changes, shroud is nice to have. Plus a 9/9 for 7 is pretty good.
VoidedNote
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
7 mana for a 9/9, almost unheard of. 7 mana for a 9/9 with SHROUD, omfg need. 7 mana for a 9/9 with SHROUD in GREEN, *grabs wallet and goes to Game Empire*
5/5 for excellent mana ratio and the lack of invulnerability in green
Btw my power creep senses are tingling.
Maikeru-san
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I LOVE THIS CARD, But...HE CAN BE COUNTERED T^T
BrutalJim
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(9 votes)
@Kurhan
When you looked up the definition of "strictly" you should of looked up how to spell it. Also if you were getting attacked by a 10/10 with trample and you had 1 life left this wouldn't be better than Plated Slagwurm considering you'd be dead either way. If anything the wurm would be better in that case because it at least gives you a chance to throw a Giant Growth on it or something.
Otherwise in most cases Plated Slagwurm is better, especially if you run mono green. Anyway still a good card in any case, use with Primal Rage to give it trample. I also like the art on this card.
thrallallmighty
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
plated slagwurm is much worse -it costs more -it has 1/1 less -this one is a beast,wich is primary green type(exept elfes)
Zefaris
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Can you even sacrifice scrouded creatures? Since you can't target them.
Selez
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Will nobody please abuse this card?? Does NOBODY see the ridiculousness of a fattie immune to spot removal? That's like, the main reason people avoid fatties in the first place. Pair with the anti-counter behemoth from Alara Reborn and you've got yourself one heck of a difficult-to-deal-with threat
statiefreez
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Here are the three reasons this card is better than the Slagwurm.
1. This guy is legal in Standard.
2. Overrun/Garuuk.
3. Last time I checked, most people playing competitively in any format didn't use Giant Growth (discounting Limited and EDH). Furthermore, most mono-green ramp decks use relatively few targeted buffs, unless they don't invest much into Magic.
Aun
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I anyhow love this card, from the first view. can't explain it...
stille_nacht
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
i personally think this card is ridiculous, in a casual setting, a 9/9 for 7 is already ridiculuos, but by throwing shroud in there, all the newbies will buy the green starter deck. How did this even happen anyway? i am not aware of any 9/9 that easy to summon, let alone 9/9s with protective abilities
IanI
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
A 9/9 like this would work well with a red treason card. I think that would be hard to beat.
Kerchoff
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
this is just a wicked card, the eldrazi kinda reminded me of this card a little and can help him come out, when it comes into play most plays react with an "a s**t". He can be played on a turn 4-5, and you basicly have to beat him down, and your the size of his teeth
IshubarashI
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Oh hi there Kalonian behemoth, allow me to introduce you to my sprouting phytohydra, something tells me you two will be meeting a lot on the battlefield.
wizard413
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I'm admittedly new to magic but was recently playing with someone when this card came up. we decided that since it cannot be the target of spells or enchantments, then it therefore couldnt be boosted by overrun. it seems like this point is being "stampeded" over in this discussion. why is that? am i misunderstanding something? any helpful response would be greatly appreciated.
frida939
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
This is a great card considering it only costs 7 mana.
Carkki
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Hmm, Plated Slagwurm sure is better, but sometimes 4 of those isn't enough. That's when this thing kicks in. 4½
HPS
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I used to play this with my mono green and it was not that good, slows my deck and seldom see plays. I've been more effective with the Terra Stomper than this one.
When I found out about Primalcrux and Woodland Primus. I've stopped using this card.
EvilCleavage
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This guy was my little brothers favorite along with Plated Slagwurm, Molimo, Maro Sorcerer and Terra Stomper when I first got him to start playing Magic with me. He was a green fanatic for a while, until he discovered the lovely combination of haha.
sarroth
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Wizards413: This comes up all the time for newer players. Shroud specifically reads "can't be the target of spells or abilties" and only refers to cards that target; you know if a card targets because it usually says "target" in the text, like on Giant Growth. Auras also target. Overrun does not read target; it just gives an effect to everything. In the same way, this card can be bounced with Evacuation and destroyed with Wrath of God.
I've only played against this card once. I was very happy it didn't have trample.
TheSwarm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This.. seems pretty good. I mean it breaks the mana to PT ratio pretty handidly, plus an awesome ability. I like.
humor_love
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card - as a card (and not as a big creature in a mono-green deck) - is being underrated in these comments.
This card (card - not creature) really shows its worth when it's played in a multi-color deck. It's a bit difficult to make cards like Primalcrux or Force of Nature work in decks that don't emphasize or operate purely with green. This card, however, works well with multi-colored decks that employ mana-boost (like Sol Ring or Thran Dynamo) and rainbow-type-source (like Jungle Shrine) strategies. With 5 of its 7 mana being castable with or without any color (and considering green's mana-boost), it can get into play pretty quickly. This discussion even applies to Plated Slagwurm, which, on the whole, might be a better creature, but is not always a preferable card.
A 9/9 that needs board-sweepers to be destroyed with much ease at all is really fun to see on your side by like turn 4, 5, or 6. Great card. I can't decide whether to rate it 4 or 4.5 out of 5.
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
God-Damn! That's good! That's exactly what anyone wants in a mono-green deck!
Maybe not an aura deck, but...
good.beats.for.all
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
token strategies can block him all day long. Trample is really necessary on a creature that big
InvaderJoe1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
shroud vs hex proof?
jfre81
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Shroud here might be as much as a downside as an advantage. I'd just rather give Terra Stomper shroud or hexproof if I was looking for something big and hard to get rid of. Asceticism can do this. In some cases I'm not even sure I'd take this over Pelakka Wurm or Engulfing Slagwurm as 7-drop green beaters go.
One of two of these could be a good finisher with Overrun and/or Garruk Wildspeaker third ability. It's not bad by any means, and with just two green in the CC it could be splashed into something else. Blue decks are always looking for an efficient, hard-to-remove beatstick and it has options to give it evasion of some sort.
shotoku64
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
7 mana might be a lot... Then again we're talking about a green deck and that you get a 9/9 for 7!
I have no idea why Wizards thinks shroud is a big enough drawback
DarthParallax
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I love the flavortext on this card!!! Bad luck to fire upon it indeed...xD
"I'm not superstitious- I just like not being eaten!" Elvish disclaimer
FirstPrime
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy makes friends with Dragon Wings and Dragon Fangs in my blue green deck. 10/10 flying, trample, shroud creature? Sign me up please. The rest of that cycle is great with this guy too.
TheJord01
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@FirstPrime Except he has Shroud, so how do you plan to target him with those enchantments?
Jake1991
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@TheJord01
Auras only target when they are being cast. Once they are attached to a permanent after resolving, they stop targeting.
When Kalonian Behemoth enters the battlefield, those auras' abilities will trigger and will return from the graveyard to the battlefield. Since the auras' triggered abilities do not target, they will attach to the Behemoth, regardless of Shroud.
atemu1234
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Ok... just a 9/9 for that cost would be good. Add shroud? Epicness. let's face it. For its cost, a 7/7 for 7 is common. A 9/9 for 7 is uncommon. a 9/9 with shroud for 7 is rare. They should make something like this but also with reach and make it mythic rare.
Totema
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(5 votes)
@TheWrathOfShane: Do you understand what "Shroud" means? S-H-R-O-U-D? I know it's tough because they didn't print the exact instructions on the card like they do with the lower rarity cards.
Anzu-chan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Well, if you don't run a card that need to target a creature, the +1/+1 is nice.
If you have, consider Plated Slagwurm. It is a 8/8, but it has Troll shroud.
Lord_of_Gelectrodes
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Shroud is both a blessing and a curse. A black mage would be somewhat screwed playing against one of these, yet I, a blue/green mage controlling one, cannot make it unblockable or put +1/+1 counters on it.
Also, the more intimidating a card is, the more strictly people judge it, and visa versa.
Comments (65)
Tokens. It happens. Until they play an overrun.
Also, it's a great card to teach new players the ups-and-downs of shroud, and the importance of evasion. 3.5/5.
grave yard is that possible since he has shroud or is he still not concidered summoned yet?!
"I can do better with seven man. Yes sir I can." - Lestat13 (7/11/2009 1:40:42 AM)
You can play something can can stand with a 9/9 SHOUDer?? For only SEVEN mana?
I don't see how anyone for ONLY seven mana can even begin to say it's anything less than awesome. What do you honestly exspect?? Just a 9/9 no abilities for only seven mana or less?? Or a 9/9 trampler for only seven or less?? The 9/9 shouder to only be five or less?? In either instance you're asking for a broken card!
Granted, most don't want to play with a creature that costs over 5, BUT for seven mana, can anyone honestly do better with a single card play??
For only seven man can you honestly exspect better??
I mean, Wizards of the coast could have given it a cumunative upkeep or made it a creature that you have to give up a creature or more of your own creatures... They could have done many different things but instead they gave it SHOUD which is just as much a perk as a draw back, more a perk if you ask me!
When I saw him I thought Wizards was nuts to make a 9/9 THIS good!
You actually can do better with 7 mana, if you think about how you can improve it with your other cards.
Plated Slagwurm is 7 mana; it's an 8/8, with a "shroud" ability that only affects what your opponent tries to use on it. Meaning that you can still give him things like Blanchwood Armor, Giant Growth, Beacon Behemoth's ability, etc.
I take that your misuse of the term means a lack of understanding. "Strickly better" means in all cases it is better. "Stricktly worse" means in all cases it is worse.
If there are absolutely no cards in the field other than this and the wurm, this is better. If there are cards that pump up beasts on the field, this is better. If your opponent is attacking you with a 10/10 trample and you have 1 life left, this is better.
On the other hand, if you have a rancor in your hand, the wurm is better. If you have a giant growth in your hand, the wurm is better. If you have soul's might in your hand, the wurm is better. If you have a
Naya Battlemage the wurm is better.
Both of them have their advantages, both have their draw backs, and both are amazing. Neither is "Strickly" anything over the other.
If you can't decide on which one you like better, use them both.
If your opponent have any regenerator or deathtouch creature you can't even atack them. Even if they don't, he's easy enough to chump block.
He works great with overrun, but wolfbriar elemental/howl of the night back/bestial menace works so much better.
5/5 for excellent mana ratio and the lack of invulnerability in green
Btw my power creep senses are tingling.
When you looked up the definition of "strictly" you should of looked up how to spell it. Also if you were getting attacked by a 10/10 with trample and you had 1 life left this wouldn't be better than Plated Slagwurm considering you'd be dead either way. If anything the wurm would be better in that case because it at least gives you a chance to throw a Giant Growth on it or something.
Otherwise in most cases Plated Slagwurm is better, especially if you run mono green. Anyway still a good card in any case, use with Primal Rage to give it trample. I also like the art on this card.
-it costs more
-it has 1/1 less
-this one is a beast,wich is primary green type(exept elfes)
1. This guy is legal in Standard.
2. Overrun/Garuuk.
3. Last time I checked, most people playing competitively in any format didn't use Giant Growth (discounting Limited and EDH). Furthermore, most mono-green ramp decks use relatively few targeted buffs, unless they don't invest much into Magic.
When I found out about Primalcrux and Woodland Primus. I've stopped using this card.
I've only played against this card once. I was very happy it didn't have trample.
One person even contrasted it with Primalcrux.
This card (card - not creature) really shows its worth when it's played in a multi-color deck. It's a bit difficult to make cards like Primalcrux or Force of Nature work in decks that don't emphasize or operate purely with green. This card, however, works well with multi-colored decks that employ mana-boost (like Sol Ring or Thran Dynamo) and rainbow-type-source (like Jungle Shrine) strategies. With 5 of its 7 mana being castable with or without any color (and considering green's mana-boost), it can get into play pretty quickly. This discussion even applies to Plated Slagwurm, which, on the whole, might be a better creature, but is not always a preferable card.
A 9/9 that needs board-sweepers to be destroyed with much ease at all is really fun to see on your side by like turn 4, 5, or 6. Great card. I can't decide whether to rate it 4 or 4.5 out of 5.
That's exactly what anyone wants in a mono-green deck!
Maybe not an aura deck, but...
One of two of these could be a good finisher with Overrun and/or Garruk Wildspeaker third ability. It's not bad by any means, and with just two green in the CC it could be splashed into something else. Blue decks are always looking for an efficient, hard-to-remove beatstick and it has options to give it evasion of some sort.
I have no idea why Wizards thinks shroud is a big enough drawback
"I'm not superstitious- I just like not being eaten!" Elvish disclaimer
Except he has Shroud, so how do you plan to target him with those enchantments?
Auras only target when they are being cast. Once they are attached to a permanent after resolving, they stop targeting.
When Kalonian Behemoth enters the battlefield, those auras' abilities will trigger and will return from the graveyard to the battlefield. Since the auras' triggered abilities do not target, they will attach to the Behemoth, regardless of Shroud.
If you have, consider Plated Slagwurm. It is a 8/8, but it has Troll shroud.
Also, the more intimidating a card is, the more strictly people judge it, and visa versa.
Edit: I meant using lure on a dummy attacker.
@Totema
Do you understand what "Dumbass" means? D-U-M-B-A-S-S. I know its tough because you failed 5th grade, but google it ghee-sh.