Bat Colony MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2023-11-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
| Set code | LCI |
| Number | 5 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Cristi Balanescu |
Key Takeaways
- Effortless flying army creation can significantly boost a player’s board advantage in MTG matches.
- Instant speed casting of Bat Colony allows strategic flexibility, disrupting opponent’s gameplay effectively.
- The potential for exponential growth of threats on the board makes Bat Colony a dynamic card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bat Colony MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Bat Colony 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
Text of card
When Bat Colony enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 black Bat creature token with flying for each mana from a Cave spent to cast it. Whenever a Cave enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bat Colony enables you to effortlessly build a flying army. In MTG, having multiple creatures with evasion such as flying can pressure opponents, potentially outpacing their ability to play removal or blockers. This contributes greatly to sustaining card advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: As Bat Colony hits the field, it offers immediate value. The card’s ability to multiply creates additional threat presence without the need for extra mana investment, effectively accelerating your resources in terms of board presence.
Instant Speed: The capability to cast this card at instant speed gives you the flexibility to deploy your flying threats at the most opportune moments. This unpredictability can hinder your adversaries’ strategies, disrupting their plans at critical junctures of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the demands Bat Colony places on the player is the need to discard another card. This cost adds a layer of complexity as players must choose wisely when their hand size is dwindling, to avoid depleting their future options.
Specific Mana Cost: Bat Colony’s casting requirements include a very particular mana setup, which could potentially restrict its inclusion in a range of decks. This limitation might deter players who are crafting a diverse deck from various colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Additionally, Bat Colony comes with a higher mana cost compared to other cards with similar abilities. Players could find themselves at a pivotal game moment unable to summon it promptly, which may influence its overall effectiveness in gameplay.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Bat Colony is a unique addition to decks that thrive on creature swarming tactics, and its nocturnal flair fits well into any black deck’s theme or strategy that focuses on overwhelming opponents with an ever-growing number of creatures.
Combo Potential: This card has the inherent ability to synergize with mechanics that capitalize on the number of creatures you control or that benefit from sacrificing creatures for greater effects.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence can be pivotal, Bat Colony’s ability to potentially multiply can tip the scales in your favor, making it a useful ally in black-centric or multi-colored decks contending with various playstyles.
How to beat
Delving into the world of MTG card counterplays, Bat Colony emerges as a creature card that players should approach with strategic caution. This card, like any other in MTG, comes with its own set of challenges and weaknesses. To circumvent the potential swarm that Bat Colony represents, consider leveraging spot removal spells. Cards like Doom Blade or Go for the Throat can efficiently take down the creature before the colony grows out of control.
Another effective technique is to make use of board wipes. Cards such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the battlefield of multiple creatures, including a burgeoning number of bats. It’s essential to manage your resources wisely and time these spells for the most impact. Additionally, using flying blockers can stymie the offensive capabilities of Bat Colony, ensuring you have defenses in place against aerial assaults.
Gauging the appropriate response hinges on understanding the colony’s dynamics and neutralizing it before it overwhelms you. A blend of removal, strategic blocking, and keeping a tight rein on the board state will give players a fighting chance against the nocturnal threat that is Bat Colony in their MTG endeavors.
Cards like Bat Colony
The Bat Colony card carves its niche in the creature-swarms universe of Magic: The Gathering, reminiscing of the persistent threat similar to cards like Rat Swarm. However, Bat Colony distinctively takes to the skies, a vertical dominance granting it evasion abilities. Rat Swarm, tucked in the alleys and sewers, lacks this particular trait and operates solely on the ground.
On the wingbeat of comparison soars Cloud of Faeries, a card that also lays claims to the aerial routes of the playfield. It flits with an economy in mana cost, and although it doesn’t proliferate like Bat Colony, it offers the benefit of untapping lands, subtly augmenting your mana pool. Then there’s Thrummingbird, a specimen in the same flight pattern, yet with a synergy towards proliferating counters, diverging from Bat Colony’s straightforward numerical swarm tactic.
In reviewing the attributes and strategic imprints left across the MTG landscape by these cards, Bat Colony emerges with an inherent appeal for enthusiasts of overhead assault strategies, complemented by its potential for exponential creature multiplication under the right conditions.
Cards similar to Bat Colony by color, type and mana cost
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bat Colony has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |