Neoform MTG Card


Neoform allows precise library searching, ensuring access to requisite creatures for winning strategies. It acts as acceleration, facilitating powerful plays earlier than traditional mana progression. Indirect instant-speed play via flash creatures provides disruptive and strategic advantages.
Neoform - War of the Spark
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameWar of the Spark
Set codeWAR
Number206
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBram Sels

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature. Search your library for a creature card with mana value equal to 1 plus the sacrificed creature's mana value, put that card onto the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it, then shuffle.


Cards like Neoform

Neoform represents a unique element within Magic: The Gathering’s treasure trove of creature search mechanics. Stacking up to the likes of Eldritch Evolution, it too permits a player to sacrifice a creature in search of another, albeit at a lower cost and with an easier casting combination of one blue and one green mana. What sets Neoform apart is its additional Alchemy—granting a +1/+1 counter to the creature fetched, which is not provided by Eldritch Evolution.

Greener pastures can be seen with Birthing Pod, which shares the concept of evolution in gameplay. This artifact allows a repetitive upgrade of creatures turn after turn without expenditure of mana after its initial cast. However, unlike Neoform, Birthing Pod’s activations hinge on a life payment and a higher startup cost. In addition, Birthing Pod is a reusable source, unlike the single-use nature of Neoform.

To sum up, while there are a number of cards in Magic: The Gathering that echo the sacrificial tutor theme, Neoform shines with its immediate impact, low-cost investment, and upside of empowering the fresh creature on the battlefield, making it a distinct and strategic choice for players looking to optimize their creature-based strategies.

Eldritch Evolution - MTG Card versions
Birthing Pod - MTG Card versions
Eldritch Evolution - MTG Card versions
Birthing Pod - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Neoform by color, type and mana cost

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Doppelgang - MTG Card versions
Tracker's Instincts - MTG Card versions
Fractal Summoning - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Neoform. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
NeobrandNeobrand ModernNeobrandModern Preliminary 2024-02-05
4c Rona Combo4c Rona Combo Pioneer4c Rona ComboPioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-27
Atraxa NeoformAtraxa Neoform PioneerAtraxa NeoformPioneer League 2024-04-07
Four-color MidrangeFour-color Midrange GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 08 2024
Four-color ComboFour-color Combo GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 08 2024
DecklistDecklist Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
Sultai ComboSultai Combo PioneerHBMO24 - GenX Comics and Games Pioneer 5k
Neoform AtraxaNeoform Atraxa PioneerAtraxa NeoformReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Philadelphia - Friday - 1:30 pm (Bronze)
Sultai TempoSultai Tempo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 09 2024
Bant ComboBant Combo LegacyLegacy League Pavia 23/24 - Tappa 35

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Neoform serves as a powerful enabler for deck manipulation, providing a way to search your library for a creature card of a higher converted mana cost. This translates into a significant form of card advantage allowing players to access key pieces of their strategy when needed.

Resource Acceleration: By enabling you to upgrade a creature into a more impactful one, Neoform effectively acts as a form of resource acceleration. This can potentially bypass normal mana progression, putting you ahead of your opponent in terms of board presence and effective mana utilization.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Neoform grants access to creatures that possess flash, thus offering indirect instant-speed play. This strategic benefit allows for unforeseen plays that can disrupt an opponent’s strategy while bolstering your own board state during crucial phases of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of the casting cost, Neoform necessitates the sacrifice of a creature. This prerequisite can potentially leave you at a disadvantage, especially if your board presence is scarce or if you’re depending on the sacrificed creature’s abilities for your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Neoform’s casting cost demands both blue and green mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks lacking a solid mana base. Decks that don’t run these colors or that have an inconsistent mana supply will find it challenging to leverage this card effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Besides the expenditure of two specific mana, the additional cost of sacrificing a creature can make Neoform’s effective mana cost feel higher than cards with similar effects. This can slow down your tempo and make this card a less appealing option in fast-paced matches where resources are at a premium and every turn counts.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Neoform serves as a linchpin for decks looking to evolve their creatures efficiently. It allows players to search for the exact piece needed at any moment, adapting to various in-game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combo-oriented decks, acting as a catalyst to bring key creatures into play that can immediately impact the game or set up a decisive victory.

Meta-Relevance: Given its role in enabling high-impact plays, Neoform has positioned itself as a relevant choice in environments where responsive deckbuilding and adaptive tactics are crucial to staying ahead of the competition.


How to Beat

Neoform is a dynamic card that brings a unique twist to creature deployment in Magic: The Gathering. This powerful tutor card allows you to sacrifice a creature and search your library for a creature card with one more converted mana cost to put onto the battlefield. To counteract Neoform’s impact, players should consider incorporating instant-speed removal in their decks. An adept strategist can anticipate a Neoform activation and respond by eliminating the target creature before the spell resolves, effectively nullifying the card search. Cards with flash also prove effective by providing surprise blockers or removal options.

Graveyard hate is another potent answer to Neoform, as cards like Tormod’s Crypt can disrupt any plans involving graveyard recursion, a common pattern for decks utilizing Neoform. Moreover, deploying counter spells specifically when Neoform is cast is a straightforward solution to prevent the search and creature advantage altogether. In essence, timing your removal, disruption, and counter strategies can ensure you stay one step ahead of Neoform’s transformative capabilities, maintaining control over the match’s flow.

While Neoform can certainly be a game-changer, readying your deck with these tactics makes the card much less daunting, allowing you to effectively manage and outmaneuver the opposition’s strategies in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves an ever-evolving strategy, especially with impactful cards like Neoform altering the battlefield. With its potential for card advantage, resource acceleration, and indirect instant-speed plays, Neoform demands consideration for any deck that values adaptability. As you refine your collection and enhance your gameplay, consider the power plays that Neoform can unlock. Whether you’re outpacing your opponent with a sudden creature upgrade or playing the long game with strategic sacrifices, this card could be a game-changer. Dive deeper into the synergy and combo possibilities Neoform presents. Join the ranks of savvy players who harness the transformative prowess of this card to clinch victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Neoform MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Neoform and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Neoform has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Neoform card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-05-03 A creature put onto the battlefield this way enters the battlefield with one +1/+1 counter if it would otherwise enter with no +1/+1 counters.
2019-05-03 If a creature or a creature card in your library has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
2019-05-03 Players can respond to Neoform only after it’s been cast and all its costs have been paid. No one can try to destroy the creature you sacrificed to stop you from casting this spell.
2019-05-03 Tokens that aren’t a copy of something else don’t have a mana cost. Anything without a mana cost normally has a converted mana cost of 0.
2019-05-03 You must sacrifice exactly one creature to cast this spell; you can’t cast it without sacrificing one, and you can’t sacrifice additional creatures.