Sparkhunter Masticore – Core Set 2021 MTG Review

David
Fanany
Player
since
1995

They’re evolving. Previous members of the species are not exactly bad at killing planeswalkers, due to their great combat stats and usual ability to destroy blockers, but this guy is a specialized predator. Despite the spectacular nature of making planeswalkers’ self-protection abilities entirely irrelevant, plus potential resilience against the planeswalker user’s support spells, he might not always be maindeck material. Some opponents won’t have targets for him, and others won’t be as impressed by his combat stats. A devastating tournament sideboard card is not a bad role to have, though, and given the popularity of planeswalker strategies in casual and their diversification with War of the Spark, he’ll surely have a role there too.

Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 3/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Commander: 3/5 

It may not be “subtle”, but who cares about that? Sparkhunter Masticore is definitely designed as a nifty way to tear apart planeswalkers across all five colors, and it even has conditional indestructibility for when its more precise abilities aren’t demanded. The discard is a bit of a mixed bag, but you’re getting a solid body with the ability to ping problematic planeswalkers on demand (as long as you have the mana to do so). I’m not sure if it’ll be the answer to them, but it is an answer every deck has the ability to tech into, and a 3/4 body isn’t half bad in the process.

Constructed: 3.75 (definitely a precise answer, but given how strong planeswalkers are…)
Casual: 4.25
Limited: 3.25 (still playable for the body, with occasional upside)
Multiplayer: 3
Commander: 3.25 (planeswalkers are usually less of a force in Commander, but this is an answer to them any deck can trot out)