Underdark Basilisk MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 334
2021-07-23 - Number 208
2022-07-07 - Number 227
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Basilisk |
| Abilities | Deathtouch |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- The Basilisk’s blocking requirement can swing combat in your favor, creating substantial card advantage.
- Its low cost and deathtouch ability make it a formidable early defensive play, protecting your board.
- Instant speed synergies with the Basilisk enhance its threat level, altering your opponent’s tactics.
Text of card
Deathtouch
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Underdark Basilisk’s ability to require two creatures to block it can potentially dispatch multiple opponent’s creatures with just one of your own, creating a card advantage on the battlefield. Additionally, if it manages to destroy any creature with an ability that relies on it dying, like “whenever this creature dies, draw a card,” you gain even further card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While the Underdark Basilisk itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its low casting cost combined with its deathtouch ability makes it an ideal defensive play that can help you stabilize your board while you develop your mana base and ramp up to more significant threats.
Instant Speed: The abilities that pair well with the Underdark Basilisk often come in the form of instant speed spells or abilities that can be activated at any time, such as those that buff its power or give it indestructible during combat. This can turn the Basilisk into an even greater threat, dissuading attacks and forcing your opponents to reconsider their strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Underdark Basilisk often means having to discard another card to unleash its capabilities. This discard demand could set you back, especially if your hand is already dwindling and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Underdark Basilisk requires a precise blend of mana to cast, including green. This means it may not fit smoothly into a multicolored deck that struggles to generate the necessary green mana consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side for its stats and abilities, there may be other creatures or spells that provide more bang for your mana buck. Deckbuilders must weigh its battlefield presence against other options that might fit more efficiently into the curve.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Underdark Basilisk is a solid choice for diverse deck types, offering utility in controlling the board state by deterring attacks, thanks to its deathtouch ability. It can camouflage itself in multiple strategies, ranging from aggressive to control-oriented gameplay.
Combo Potential: This creature is known for synergizing well with cards that capitalize on its lethal touch. Whether it’s pairing with equipment that allows it to deal damage without being blocked or with effects that force your opponent to block it, the Underdark Basilisk can be a key piece in several potent combos.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment fluctuates, creatures with deathtouch like the Underdark Basilisk retain value. They serve as a deterrent to large threats that populate the battlefield, making them especially useful in metas dominated by creature-based strategies. This ensures your collection remains adaptable and competitive across various matchups.
How to Beat Underdark Basilisk
Underdark Basilisk presents a unique challenge in MTG due to its death touch ability, making it seem formidable in combat. This creature can turn the tide of a game by deterring incoming attacks, as opponents may be hesitant to lose their valuable creatures. However, having the right strategy in place can neutralize this pesky reptile’s advantage on the battlefield.
To maneuver around the basilisk’s potent defense, favor spells that remove creatures without triggering combat, such as Direct Removal spells. Moreover, consider employing flying creatures, as the basilisk lacks reach and cannot block those aerial threats. Mass removal spells are another effective tactic – wiping the board clean prevents the basilisk from singling out and destroying your key creatures in one-on-one fights. The key to success is implementing a game plan that either bypasses or invalidates Underdark Basilisk’s combat-oriented abilities entirely.
Ultimately, while Underdark Basilisk may at first appear to be a challenging adversary, a well-considered approach that includes non-combat-related creature removal or evasion tactics will let players turn the tables and maintain control over the game board.
Cards like Underdark Basilisk
Underdark Basilisk is a creature card that brings a unique tactical advantage to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This card may remind seasoned players of Deadly Recluse, another creature with deathtouch; a fearsome ability that instantly destroys any creature it deals damage to, regardless of toughness. While Deadly Recluse also possesses reach, allowing it to block flying creatures, Underdark Basilisk instead offers a lower mana cost, making it an attractive option for early game board control.
Moss Viper is also akin to Underdark Basilisk with its deathtouch trait and can be played with just one green mana, mirroring the Basilisk’s efficiency. On the other hand, Typhoid Rats brings deathtouch to the table as a one-black mana creature, potentially fitting into different deck archetypes that value early defensive options. However, these alternatives lack the Basilisk’s potential for certain combos and synergies within green-centered decks that can exploit creature types or specific battlefield conditions.
Comparing these options reveals that Underdark Basilisk holds a particular niche. Its balance between low cost and lethal combat presence makes it a potent choice for players looking to implement a strategic creature capable of threatening an opponent’s key creatures early on in the game.
Cards similar to Underdark Basilisk by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Underdark Basilisk MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Underdark Basilisk and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Underdark Basilisk Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 334 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pedro Potier | |
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 208 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brent Hollowell | |
| 3 | 2022-07-07 | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate | HBG | 227 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brent Hollowell |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Underdark Basilisk has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
