by Can Tran

Created on: November 08, 2009

"Tarmogoyf" is an X/X+1 green lhurgoyf printed as a rare for the Magic the Gathering expansion set known as "Future Sight." This is one of the several lhurgoyf creatures printed in the Magic the Gathering card game. It is one of the two lhurgoyf creatures printed in the Time Spiral block. If you know what your opponents are going to be using, then you may want to use Tarmogoyf.

The converted mana cost for the Tarmogoyf is two. You are going to need one green mana and one colorless mana to play the Tarmogoyf. For what the Tarmogoyf can do, the converted mana cost is well worth it. Early in the game, you could bring Tarmogoyf onto the battlefield and do much damage as a result.

What does the Tarmogoyf do in the first place?

The Tarmogoyf has no special abilities. However, it does have one special effect. The power and toughness are equal to the number of card types in all graveyards. In the case of toughness, it would be plus one. The card types are: artifacts, creatures, enchantments, instants, lands, planeswalkers, sorceries, and tribal spells. So far, it would seem that the Tarmogoyf at most would be an 8/9 creature.

However, you would have to factor in the tribal dynamic. You have your tribal sorcery spells, your tribal enchantment spells, and your tribal instant spells. Depending on the ruling, that would give the Tarmogoyf an increase in power and toughness. Unfortunately, the ruling has yet to apply to the new types of instant spells known as "traps" which were introduced via "Zendikar."

But, being able to bring out a creature that could potentially swing for eight points of combat damage for only two mana is still a good thing. If you are playing aggressively with green, the Tarmogoyf is a good card to have. However, you would need to know what types of spells your opponents are using in order to get the most effect out of the Tarmogoyf. That is pretty much the only stipulation out of the Tarmogoyf.

Plus, you can still use enchantments and equipment artifacts on the Tarmogoyf. However, the Tarmogoyf could still get destroyed by a creature destruction spell. Regardless, a potentially powerful creature for only two mana is a good deal. If you can bring cards onto the battlefield that give creatures Trample, Flying, Double Strike, and so forth, you can really mess up an opponent with the Tarmogoyf.

Overall, Tarmogoyf seems to be an interesting card. Despite the stipulations, one should have Tarmogoyf in a green deck simply because of the two mana casting cost. A potentially powerful creature for two mana without any major drawbacks is a good thing to have.

Learn more about this author, Can Tran.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.