Hoof There it Is

Posted on April 1, 2025

Tarkir: Dragonstorm previews have begun and this looks like it's going to be a beast of a set. We're one day into previews as I write this, and I already think this might be my favorite set this year.

I've always been a big fan of reprints. As a die-hard Standard player, it feels great when I get to introduce a new cadre of Magic players to a card I loved in the past. It's one of the reasons I loved the Foundations set last year, and continue to enjoy the 1-2 high visibility reprints Wizards seem to be trying to slip into each set.

For Tarkir: Dragonstorm, that big name reprint is Craterhoof Behemoth. Or, Hoofie to his friends.

Craterhoof Behemoth has seen play in a variety of decks across a variety of formats. Its seen play in a variety of strategies, everything from ramp to reanimator. I've seen people doubting Hoofie, but I'm a firm believer that this reprint will have an impact on Standard.

So, let's look at a couple of ways we could take advantage of Ole Hoofie.

Crater Cage | TDM Standard | Travis Hall

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Collector's Cage is a card I've been toying with since its printing (and I've written about it twice). Hideaway is a powerful mechanic and one that can be broken if you find a way to meet the requirements. My first attempt at a Cage deck used Moonshaker Cavalry, and every time I cast the card I mumbled to myself, "Man, I wish this was Craterhoof Behemoth." Hoofie outclasses Moonshaker Cavalry, as Trample is often just as good as flying when it comes to dealing damage, and Hoofie himself having Haste gives you another influx of damage that hits immediately. It means you don't need as many creatures to hit lethal.

The Cage decks have teetered on the edge of Tier 1.5/2 since Brightglass Gearhulk was printed, so I'm trying to build off the existing version, but adding Tender Wildguide gives the deck another means of accelerating your mana and still meeting the decks core philosophy of trying to put multiple creatures on the board. It feels like a natural inclusion.

It may be that this deck is too cute, trying to meld the existing Brightglass Gearhulk version of Cage with a Craterhoof Behemoth version.

How about instead, we try to make an old deck new again.

Elfball in the Year of Our Lord 2025 | TDM Standard | Travis Hall

Instants (4)
4 Archdruid's Charm

Enchantments (2)
2 Growing Rites of Itlimoc

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Now we're talking! A genuine Elf deck in 2025!

Craterhoof Behemoth has long been the top end of explosive Elf decks, and it really feels like Wizards wants to push this deck to playability in either Standard or Pioneer. For Standard, we get the typical Elvish Archdruid explosive mana ability, paired with both Three Tree City and Growing Rites of Itlimoc as back up, a collection of lords in Leaf-Crowned Visionary/Imperious Perfect, and even Fierce Empath has been reprinted so we can search out Hoofie and don't have to force a full playset in the deck.

Archdruid's Charm might be too cute, but I feel like its versatility will give the deck some resilience. It can remove a problematic enchantment (like Temporary Lockdown) and the tutor ability stands out here. The only reason the card doesn't see more play is the mana cost, and this deck should make that almost irrelevant.

This will be one of the first decks I build when Tarkir: Dragonstorm is released.

Tarkir: Dragonstorm is off to an incredible start, and Craterhoof was just the first card to get my brewer senses tingling. I look forward to exploring the set as more cards are revealed!

You can find more of my Magic musings on Twitter/X @travishall456 and on Bluesky.