This week's Planeswalker Duel Deck is all about the dinosaurs. Fortunately, if you missed the beginning of the series, you don't have to go quite so far back in time! Check it out below.
Due to a combination of factors (extensive work commitments and not being compelled by the sets), I didn't end up playing much Limited during Ixalan Block. But with regards to this project, I think that ends up being a benefit, since all of those themes (mostly tribal) are still fresh!
Huatli is a member of the Dinosaur civilization, in case you couldn't already tell. And since she makes Dinosaurs, and Red/White's theme in that block was Dinosaurs...well, I think you see where I'm going with this.
Check out her lineup of large lizards:
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Huatli, Warrior Poet by Andy Hurst
'Huatli, Warrior Poet' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: Andy Hurst
Event:
Rank:
Freeform (Casual)
Market Price: $33.11
Mountain
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.99
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230467_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {R}.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/kaldheim/mountain
Boros Guildgate
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $0.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227338_200w.jpg
Boros Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped.
{T}: Add {R} or {W}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/boros-guildgate
Wear // Tear
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $0.39
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227383_200w.jpg
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/wear-tear
Territorial Hammerskull
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.13
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145735_200w.jpg
Whenever Territorial Hammerskull attacks, tap target creature an opponent controls.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/territorial-hammerskull
Raptor Hatchling
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.17
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145255_200w.jpg
Enrage — Whenever Raptor Hatchling is dealt damage, create a 3/3 green Dinosaur creature token with trample.
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Imperial Ceratops
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155721_200w.jpg
Enrage — Whenever Imperial Ceratops is dealt damage, you gain 2 life.
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Zetalpa, Primal Dawn
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.30
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212456_200w.jpg
Flying, double strike, vigilance, trample, indestructible
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2020/zetalpa-primal-dawn
Frilled Deathspitter
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155573_200w.jpg
Enrage — Whenever Frilled Deathspitter is dealt damage, it deals 2 damage to target opponent or planeswalker.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/frilled-deathspitter
Baffling End
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.20
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155676_200w.jpg
When Baffling End enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls with converted mana cost 3 or less. When Baffling End leaves the battlefield, target opponent creates a 3/3 green Dinosaur creature token with trample.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/baffling-end
Steadfast Armasaur
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145731_200w.jpg
Vigilance
{1}{W}, {T}: Steadfast Armasaur deals damage equal to its toughness to target creature blocking or blocked by it.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/steadfast-armasaur
Warleader's Helix
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/180918_200w.jpg
Warleader's Helix deals 4 damage to any target and you gain 4 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ultimate-masters/warleaders-helix
Imperial Aerosaur
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.05
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145703_200w.jpg
Flying When Imperial Aerosaur enters the battlefield, another target creature you control gets +1/+1 and gains flying until end of turn.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/imperial-aerosaur
Slice and Dice
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212451_200w.jpg
Slice and Dice deals 4 damage to each creature.
Cycling {2}{R} ({2}{R}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
When you cycle Slice and Dice, you may have it deal 1 damage to each creature.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2020/slice-and-dice
Burning Sun's Avatar
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.24
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/142016_200w.jpg
When Burning Sun's Avatar enters the battlefield, it deals 3 damage to target opponent or planeswalker and 3 damage to up to one target creature.
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Charging Monstrosaur
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145585_200w.jpg
Trample, haste
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Temple Altisaur
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.94
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155648_200w.jpg
If a source would deal damage to another Dinosaur you control, prevent all but 1 of that damage.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/temple-altisaur
Stone Quarry
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $0.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227302_200w.jpg
Stone Quarry enters the battlefield tapped.
{T}: Add {R} or {W}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/stone-quarry
Lightning Helix
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $0.68
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145597_200w.jpg
Lightning Helix deals 3 damage to any target and you gain 3 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/iconic-masters/lightning-helix
Goring Ceratops
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.37
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/141994_200w.jpg
Double strike Whenever Goring Ceratops attacks, other creatures you control gain double strike until end of turn.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/goring-ceratops
Sky Terror
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $0.20
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145722_200w.jpg
Flying, menace
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/sky-terror
Kinjalli's Caller
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.14
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145707_200w.jpg
Dinosaur spells you cast cost {1} less to cast.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/kinjallis-caller
Looming Spires
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.05
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/105371_200w.jpg
Looming Spires enters the battlefield tapped.
When Looming Spires enters the battlefield, target creature gets +1/+1 and gains first strike until end of turn.
{T}: Add {R}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/battle-for-zendikar/looming-spires
Huatli, Warrior Poet
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $2.44
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/144814_200w.jpg
+2: You gain life equal to the greatest power among creatures you control. 0: Create a 3/3 green Dinosaur creature token with trample. −X: Huatli, Warrior Poet deals X damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures. Creatures dealt damage this way can't block this turn.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/huatli-warrior-poet
Otepec Huntmaster
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $1.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145268_200w.jpg
Dinosaur spells you cast cost {1} less to cast.
{T}: Target Dinosaur gains haste until end of turn.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/otepec-huntmaster
Wind-Scarred Crag
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $0.06
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227285_200w.jpg
Wind-Scarred Crag enters the battlefield tapped.
When Wind-Scarred Crag enters the battlefield, you gain 1 life.
{T}: Add {R} or {W}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/wind-scarred-crag
Tormenting Voice
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.05
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222435_200w.jpg
As an additional cost to cast this spell, discard a card. Draw two cards.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/zendikar-rising/tormenting-voice
Blighted Gorge
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/149285_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{4}{R}, {T}, Sacrifice Blighted Gorge: It deals 2 damage to any target.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/duel-decks-merfolk-vs-goblins/blighted-gorge
Nest Robber
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.03
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145809_200w.jpg
Haste
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/nest-robber
Dinosaur Stampede
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145264_200w.jpg
Attacking creatures get +2/+0 until end of turn. Dinosaurs you control gain trample until end of turn.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/dinosaur-stampede
Needletooth Raptor
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.25
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155709_200w.jpg
Enrage — Whenever Needletooth Raptor is dealt damage, it deals 5 damage to target creature an opponent controls.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/needletooth-raptor
Forerunner of the Empire
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.62
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155683_200w.jpg
When Forerunner of the Empire enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a Dinosaur card, reveal it, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it. Whenever a Dinosaur enters the battlefield under your control, you may have Forerunner of the Empire deal 1 damage to each creature.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/forerunner-of-the-empire
Shining Aerosaur
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.03
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145724_200w.jpg
Flying
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/shining-aerosaur
Bellowing Aegisaur
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.15
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/144667_200w.jpg
Enrage — Whenever Bellowing Aegisaur is dealt damage, put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/bellowing-aegisaur
Pyrohemia
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $5.94
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/132127_200w.jpg
At the beginning of the end step, if no creatures are on the battlefield, sacrifice Pyrohemia.
{R}: Pyrohemia deals 1 damage to each creature and each player.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-anthology/pyrohemia
Thrash of Raptors
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.06
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145805_200w.jpg
As long as you control another Dinosaur, Thrash of Raptors gets +2/+0 and has trample.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/thrash-of-raptors
Boros Garrison
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $0.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227341_200w.jpg
Boros Garrison enters the battlefield tapped.
When Boros Garrison enters the battlefield, return a land you control to its owner's hand.
{T}: Add {R}{W}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/boros-garrison
Relentless Raptor
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155731_200w.jpg
Vigilance Relentless Raptor attacks or blocks each combat if able.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/relentless-raptor
Arc Lightning
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/93191_200w.jpg
Arc Lightning deals 3 damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three targets.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/khans-of-tarkir/arc-lightning
Sandstone Bridge
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/105377_200w.jpg
Sandstone Bridge enters the battlefield tapped.
When Sandstone Bridge enters the battlefield, target creature gets +1/+1 and gains vigilance until end of turn.
{T}: Add {W}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/battle-for-zendikar/sandstone-bridge
Charging Tuskodon
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155705_200w.jpg
Trample If Charging Tuskodon would deal combat damage to a player, it deals double that damage to that player instead.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/charging-tuskodon
Plains
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.99
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230464_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {W}.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/kaldheim/plains
Sun-Crowned Hunters
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.12
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/144534_200w.jpg
Enrage — Whenever Sun-Crowned Hunters is dealt damage, it deals 3 damage to target opponent or planeswalker.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/sun-crowned-hunters
Soul's Fire
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.02
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/226936_200w.jpg
Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to any target.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/souls-fire
Snubhorn Sentry
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155749_200w.jpg
Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) Snubhorn Sentry gets +3/+0 as long as you have the city's blessing.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/snubhorn-sentry
We're looking to hit extremely hard with our big fat dinos, and occasionally make use of the enrage triggers to gain a ton of incidental advantages. At pretty much every spot up the curve, we've got a dangerous dino to play, and like a typical Large Creature type, our best monsters are also our biggest. That said, some of our early plays are weird, like the Relentless Raptors that are forced into every combat. Try to sequence your plays such that you can leave up for tricks or incentivize bad combats for your opponent, so that the raptors live to be relentless for another day. Our removal, I'm proud to report, is fantastic. Both Lightning Helix and Warleader's Helix are flexible, powerful, and can be cast at instant speed. Slice and Dice can clear the board. Pyrohemia can manage the board as well as constantly set off lots of enrage triggers. Arc Lightning can do the same on a smaller scale or eliminate multiple opposing creatures.
Altisaur supports a plan: allowing Enrage triggers to put in the work while not letting too many of our creatures die in the process. The body is meh for the cost, but that ability is too clutch to pass up.
Decent stats, plus some built-in removal, and the good creature type all add up to a no-brainer for one of our Rare slots.
This creature does not have a large body, and it does have a large casting cost. Not ideal. BUT! Fortunately for us, the Ceratops here has a backbreaking ability. Giving our entire team Double Strike when it attacks can swing an entire game around, especially given that many of our other Dinos pack a bigger punch. If your opponent lets Ceratops swing with 1-2 other creatures, they're in trouble.
When I look at Zetalpa, I picture it as some sort of Used Keyword Salesman in a local commercial, shouting at us about trying to unload his stock of extra abilities while his arms look like those inflatable tube men. When I play with Zetalpa, I silently keep the count until I get to 8 and then slam this monster, daring the opponent to come up with something to stop the Keyword Soup. I'm a buyer here either way.
They've explored the design space around Cycling well at this point, and I'm glad they have, because it means they keep bringing it back as a mechanic. It's one of my favorites, and it also happens to make for welcome inclusions in these decks, as they let me play hate cards that can get cashed in when not needed.
But back in the day when Onslaught Block was around, cycling triggers were new territory. And boy, were they awesome. They couldn't be countered (except in the corner case Stifle, which then became a pet card in our group), they were useful at various points in the game, and they still drew the card!
In this deck, Slice and Dice serves two functions. The first is as a reset button; our deck has several big late game plays and is in no rush to end things early, so we may need to clear the board at some point. Keep in mind that if we have the Altisaur in play, casting Slice and Dice will only ping your squad while (presumably) wiping out the opponent's. The cycling effect is similar in this case, except that we can do it at instant speed and trigger all of our Enrage abilities when the opponent least expects it. Either way, expect the opponent to be cut up about it.
