Spellbreaker Behemoth MTG Card


Forces opponents to overcommit resources, potentially leading to card advantage in your favor. Accelerates big creature plays, synergizes with mana ramp, enhancing early game board presence. Safeguards instant-speed large creature plays, ensuring your strategic reactions are successfully executed.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Beast
Power 5
Toughness 5

Text of card

Spellbreaker Behemoth can't be countered. Creature spells you control with power 5 or greater can't be countered.

"Some think its immunity to countermagic evolved because of the constant mage attacks on Naya. I think it just ate a bunch of wizards." —Broka, drumhunter


Cards like Spellbreaker Behemoth

Spellbreaker Behemoth carves its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable creature spell, rivaling others such as Carnage Tyrant. The Behemoth stands out with its ability to make creature spells with power 5 or greater uncounterable. In contrast, Carnage Tyrant is inherently uncounterable and has trample and hexproof but doesn’t offer the same safeguard to other creatures.

Another comparable card is Gaea’s Herald. This card similarly plays a defensive role against counterspells by protecting creature spells. However, the Behemoth edges out with its impressive 5/5 body, making it a substantial threat on the board in addition to its protective ability. Surrak Dragonclaw also prevents your creatures from being countered and grants them trample, yet it’s pivotal to note that this bonus comes at a higher casting cost compared to the Behemoth.

The strategic inclusion of Spellbreaker Behemoth can bolster a deck centered around heavy-hitters, ensuring your key creatures land on the battlefield with certainty. Its unique blend of power and protective traits makes it a valuable asset, especially in a metagame filled with controlling strategies.

Carnage Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Herald - MTG Card versions
Surrak Dragonclaw - MTG Card versions
Carnage Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Herald - MTG Card versions
Surrak Dragonclaw - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Spellbreaker Behemoth by color, type and mana cost

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Tuknir Deathlock - MTG Card versions
Jungle Patrol - MTG Card versions
Yavimaya Kavu - MTG Card versions
Voracious Cobra - MTG Card versions
Chishiro, the Shattered Blade - MTG Card versions
Hans Eriksson - MTG Card versions
Bloodbraid Elf - MTG Card versions
Goblin Clearcutter - MTG Card versions
Giant Solifuge - MTG Card versions
Gruul Scrapper - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Slum - MTG Card versions
Yule Ooze - MTG Card versions
Rosheen Meanderer - MTG Card versions
Hellkite Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Rhox Brute - MTG Card versions
Huntmaster of the Fells // Ravager of the Fells - MTG Card versions
Thorn-Thrash Viashino - MTG Card versions
Polis Crusher - MTG Card versions
Kird Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Grove Rumbler - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spellbreaker Behemoth may not draw you cards directly, but its presence on the board compels opponents to use multiple resources to handle it. This could lead to card advantage as your opponents are often forced to trade more than one of their cards to deal with the behemoth.

Resource Acceleration: While not a traditional acceleration card, Spellbreaker Behemoth can play a critical role in decks that focus on bringing big creatures into play early. It synergizes with mana ramps and other acceleration tools that help you cast high-cost creatures sooner.

Instant Speed: Despite being a creature, Spellbreaker Behemoth has an ability that greatly benefits spells at instant speed. By making your large creatures uncounterable, it ensures your instant-speed reactions, such as creature abilities and other surprise plays, are more likely to go off without a hitch.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Spellbreaker Behemoth demands a specific arrangement of mana, including requiring green mana, which can limit its inclusion to strictly green or multicolored decks that can accommodate its mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana including three that must be green, Spellbreaker Behemoth can be resource-intensive to cast, especially early in the game. This mana cost can seem steep when compared to other creatures that might offer similar board presence for less investment.

Discard Requirement: While Spellbreaker Behemoth itself does not have a discard requirement, in a deck that utilizes this creature, you might face situations where handling or discarding cards becomes necessary to cater to its mana needs or to protect it with other spells.


Reasons to Include Spellbreaker Behemoth in Your Collection

Versatility: Spellbreaker Behemoth finds a home in many green or red-based creature decks. Its ability to avoid counterspells is ideal for those who enjoy the battle-focused elements of gameplay, ensuring your massive creatures hit the battlefield without interruption.

Combo Potential: Appreciated for its synergy with other behemoths, this card has an inherent combo potential in decks that harness the power of large creatures. With various mechanics that capitalize on behemoths entering the battlefield or attacking, this card bolsters strategies built around overwhelming power.

Meta-Relevance: With a steady presence in the Commander format, Spellbreaker Behemoth remains relevant, especially since control decks with numerous counterspells are common. This behemoth ensures that your key creatures can be safely played, maintaining your pace and pressure on opponents within the evolving meta.


How to beat

Confronted with the Spellbreaker Behemoth on the battlefield, Magic: The Gathering players must adapt their strategies to overcome this colossal adversary. Known for its ability to make creatures uncounterable alongside its substantial 5/5 body, Spellbreaker Behemoth demands specific answers. Removal spells that bypass the “cannot be countered” clause are crucial. Consider deploying Board Wipes like Wrath of God, which can clear the board regardless of counter prevention mechanics. Additionally, exile effects such as Path to Exile provide a no-fuss solution, neatly handling the creature without triggering its protections.

Another angle of approach is to utilize cards and abilities that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures. Since the Behemoth’s gift focuses solely on countering, it becomes vulnerable to an Edict effect like Liliana of the Veil’s sacrifice ability. Furthermore, never underestimate the value of direct player damage or alternative win conditions. These strategies can circumvent the behemoth’s protective aura, pressing for victory without addressing the card directly. By carefully selecting your tactics and timing your removal, you can reclaim the upper hand against Spellbreaker Behemoth’s imposing presence.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the MTG battleground hinges on a well-constructed deck and the tactical edge provided by powerhouse cards like Spellbreaker Behemoth. Recognizing the strategic strengths this card brings to your green or multicolored decks can be a game-changer, allowing you to exert relentless pressure on control players. Whether you’re advancing your Commander gameplay or elevating your pool of giant creatures, this behemoth’s abilities to ensure your heavy hitters make it to the battlefield cannot be understated. For those seeking to refine their deck’s offensive capabilities and outsmart counter-heavy opponents, adding Spellbreaker Behemoth could be the strategic advantage you need. Join us to dive deeper into optimizing your MTG deck strategies.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spellbreaker Behemoth MTG card by a specific set like Magic Player Rewards 2009 and Alara Reborn, 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 Spellbreaker Behemoth and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spellbreaker Behemoth Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2013-11-01. Illustrated by Jason Chan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-01-01Magic Player Rewards 2009P09 602015NormalBlackJason Chan
22009-04-30Alara RebornARB 602003NormalBlackJason Chan
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2162003NormalBlackJason Chan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spellbreaker Behemoth has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-05-01 Any spells or abilities that would counter Spellbreaker Behemoth or (once it’s on the battlefield) a creature spell you control with power 5 or greater can still be cast or activated and will still resolve. They just won’t counter that spell. Any other effects they have will happen as normal.
2009-05-01 Effects that affect a creature’s power (such as the one from Glorious Anthem, for example) apply only to creatures on the battlefield, not to creature spells on the stack.
2009-05-01 If a creature card has “*” in its power, the ability that defines “*” works in all zones, including the stack.