How to counter Celaray — matchups and answers
Counter Celaray like this: Blockers that kill a 400-Power body on the swing, which denies the loot entirely — the trigger only fires when Celaray attacks.
Updated 2026-07-31
- ✓Best answers
- ✓Denying the enabler
- ✓Combat maths
- ✓Sideboard thinking
Best answers
Targeted removal is the cleanest answer. Purple Nocturnal lists shrink it with a global Power debuff.
Denying the enabler
Celaray depends on the surrounding shell more than on its own stat line. Remove the enabler and the card becomes a vanilla body.
Combat maths
Remember the strike count: 1 strike at 400 base Power. Blocking with a body that survives is usually better than trading down.
Sideboard thinking
There is no official sideboard in the current format, so counters must be maindeckable. Prefer flexible removal over narrow hate cards.
Matchup summary
Favoured into slow structure decks, even against Purple Nocturnal, and unfavoured against dedicated removal builds.
Official turn structure, keyword and timing rules.