Groundbreaker
Creature — Elemental
Trample, haste
At the beginning of the end step, sacrifice this creature.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- G
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Magic Online Promos
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #15374
Groundbreaker puts 6 power of trample into play for three mana — one of the most efficient green threats ever printed — then leaves at end of turn. Under Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder, that drawback evaporates: the damage is dealt before the sacrifice matters, making this a clean three-mana, six-damage spell stapled to a body.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder
Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder doubles Groundbreaker's combat damage, turning a six-power trampler into a twelve-damage swing for three mana — the end-of-turn sacrifice is irrelevant when the game is already over.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Groundbreaker fills a specific role: high-pressure, low-cost damage in decks that want to close games fast rather than grind. Legacy and Vintage see it occasionally in green stompy shells as a Rancor-adjacent threat — cheap, immediate, and threatening enough to demand an answer. Modern offers it the same home in aggressive green creature builds, though Collected Company-style value decks typically want permanents that stick. Groundbreaker's Pioneer and Standard illegality is irrelevant to where it actually sees play — the card lives in formats where three mana for 6 power is a legitimate offer.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Price data isn't available at time of writing, so check current listings on Scryfall or TCGPlayer before buying. Groundbreaker has never been a high-demand staple, so it typically sits in budget range — worth picking up if you're building any aggressive green Commander shell.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.