Generous Stray MTG Card


Generous Stray grants card advantage immediately upon entering the battlefield, enhancing your strategic options. Despite a higher mana cost, it fits well in decks leveraging creature counts or feline synergies. Effective counter strategies include preemptive removal or disruption of creature-based synergies.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Cat
Power 1
Toughness 2

Text of card

When Generous Stray enters the battlefield, draw a card.

Cats place their gifts with care, so that a bare foot will step on them in the middle of the night.


Cards like Generous Stray

If you’re fond of the card-drawing mechanics in MTG, Generous Stray will undoubtedly catch your interest. Within the family of creature cards that allow you to draw, Elvish Visionary stands out for its resemblance. Both creatures are cost-effective, with Generous Stray and Elvish Visionary requiring just three and two mana respectively. Each offers the upside of drawing a card when they enter the battlefield, providing an immediate return on your mana investment.

Where Generous Stray offers additional value is with its creature type – a Cat, which can be advantageous in tribal decks looking to capitalize on that synergy. Meanwhile, Wall of Blossoms is another comparable card, with a similar draw effect upon entering the battlefield. However, Wall of Blossoms leans more towards defense with its higher toughness and lacks the tribal synergies that Generous Stray enjoys. Then there’s Fibblethip, the Lost, a creature that not only when it enters the battlefield but also when it becomes the target of a spell, lets you draw a card, adding flexibility and potential for additional card draw.

Analyzing these options, Generous Stray holds a position of utility within the MTG universe. It’s not just about the card draw—its creature type and the synergies it enables are also significant, making it a card that can find its place in various deck builds.

Elvish Visionary - MTG Card versions
Wall of Blossoms - MTG Card versions
Elvish Visionary - MTG Card versions
Wall of Blossoms - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Generous Stray by color, type and mana cost

Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
Rysorian Badger - MTG Card versions
Sabertooth Cobra - MTG Card versions
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Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions
Timberwatch Elf - MTG Card versions
Pincher Beetles - MTG Card versions
Awakener Druid - MTG Card versions
Brindle Boar - MTG Card versions
Wood Elves - MTG Card versions
Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
Rysorian Badger - MTG Card versions
Sabertooth Cobra - MTG Card versions
Quirion Druid - MTG Card versions
Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions
Titania's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Taoist Mystic - MTG Card versions
Femeref Archers - MTG Card versions
Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Champion - MTG Card versions
Realmwalker - MTG Card versions
Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions
Timberwatch Elf - MTG Card versions
Pincher Beetles - MTG Card versions
Awakener Druid - MTG Card versions
Brindle Boar - MTG Card versions
Wood Elves - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Generous Stray lets you draw a card upon entering the battlefield, contributing to your hand resources and giving you an additional edge against your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources through additional mana, the drawn card can potentially unlock your access to further lands or spells, thereby indirectly aiding in accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Generous Stray itself does not have instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that are playable at instant speed. This means you can potentially benefit from the stray cat’s card draw then respond accordingly with other instant responses during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Generous Stray doesn’t require a discard on its own, it may not synergize well with cards that have discard requirements, which can devalue its presence on the battlefield if your strategy relies on card retention.

Specific Mana Cost: Generous Stray demands one green mana as part of its casting cost, potentially limited to decks heavily featuring or compatible with green mana resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Generous Stray has a casting cost of three mana, including one green, which can be considered high for a 1/2 creature. Cards at a similar mana cost might offer greater battlefield presence or more substantial effects.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Generous Stray offers widespread utility in decks that require additional card draw. Its relatively low casting cost and creature type harmonize with strategies that capitalize on maximizing creature count or synergize with feline tribal themes.

Combo Potential: This unassuming common has potential in combos that thrive on casting low-cost creatures. Pairing Generous Stray with engines like “Aluren” lets you draw cards repeatedly, fueling your hand for further plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with an influx of aggressive strategies, the added card draw from Generous Stray can help control setups stabilize by digging for answers. Its presence cuts across formats where low-cost utility creatures can shape the battlefield significantly.


How to beat Generous Stray

Generous Stray, a modest creature card, joins the lineup of Magic: The Gathering with a simple yet beneficial ability to draw a card upon entering the battlefield. The card’s presence might appear negligible, yet it can be an integral part of an opponent’s strategy by providing card advantage and board presence in one fell swoop. Cognizant of its role in decks that capitalize on creature synergy or enchantment strategies, such as Constellation, beating it is about undermining these synergies.

A strategic move to counter Generous Stray would be to inhibit its card drawing effect. This can be achieved by utilizing counterspells that prevent creature spells from resolving, like Essence Scatter or cards with flash that allow for combat tricks which discourage the creature from entering combat effectively. Another method is to reduce its utility directly through removal spells, such as Shock or Fatal Push, which dismantle the opponent’s board before the benefits can accumulate. These solutions are cost-effective, thereby maintaining tempo and card advantage in your favor.

In essence, to triumph over Generous Stray and its potential impact, it is essential to disrupt your opponent’s strategy early on. By focusing on removal and counter spells, you can effectively neutralize the threat posed by this unassuming cat and prevent your opponent from gaining the upper hand they seek through additional card draw.


BurnMana Recommendations

Navigating MTG strategies can make all the difference in your gameplay. With our analysis of Generous Stray, you now understand its card draw benefits, potential downsides, and strategic use in both aggressive and control decks. Remember, it’s the synergies and interactions that truly empower your deck, and Generous Stray can be a subtle yet pivotal addition to your arsenal. We encourage you to delve deeper into the strategies that make MTG a compelling and intricate experience. Whether you’re looking to refine your deck or expand your collection, there’s much to explore. For more insights and in-depth guides, join us and elevate your MTG journey.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Generous Stray MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Arena Beginner Set, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Generous Stray and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Generous Stray Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Milivoj Ćeran.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 1292015NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran
22020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 952015NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Generous Stray has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal