Beast MTG Card

Beast cards can provide card draw, giving players a consistent resource flow. Many Beasts accelerate your mana, allowing for quicker, more impactful plays. Instant speed abilities of Beasts add flexibility and surprise elements in matches.
Card setsReleased in 73 setsSee all
TypeToken Creature — Beast
Power 3
Toughness 3

Cards like Beast

Beast cards in Magic: The Gathering hold a revered place for their raw power and thrilling effects that bolster the game’s dynamic. A particularly eminent beast card that players often consider when building their decks is Thragtusk. Noted for its resilience, it not only provides life gain but also leaves behind a sizeable creature token upon its exit from the battlefield. This leaves it virtually a step ahead of other creatures in the trust of players looking for longevity and impact.

Comparable beastly might can be found in cards like Leatherback Baloth, with its sheer strength as a 4/5 for only three mana, providing substantial value early on. However, it lacks the utility and staying power of Thragtusk. Another noteworthy comparison can be made to Ripjaw Raptor, which shares the trait of durability thanks to its enrage ability that draws a card upon being damaged. While Ripjaw Raptor rewards aggressive play and can be a card advantage engine, it does not offer the direct life gain or the token generation of Thragtusk.

In essence, while there are numerous compelling beasts in the game, the blend of life gain, token generation, and battlefield presence makes beast cards like Thragtusk particularly distinguished among similar alternatives for players seeking a formidable presence in their MTG matchups.

Thragtusk - MTG Card versions
Leatherback Baloth - MTG Card versions
Ripjaw Raptor - MTG Card versions
Thragtusk - MTG Card versions
Leatherback Baloth - MTG Card versions
Ripjaw Raptor - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Introducing a Beast card into your deck can significantly tilt the scales in your favor when it comes to card advantage. Many Beast cards feature mechanics that allow you to draw additional cards upon entering the battlefield or when certain conditions are met, providing a steady stream of resources and maintaining your hand’s superiority.

Resource Acceleration: Beasts often come with considerable power, which can lead to quicker victories. Additionally, some come etched with abilities that boost your mana pool, ramping up your capability to cast high-cost spells earlier in the game. These towering creatures can help you outpace your opponent by accelerating your resource pool, paving the way for a dominating presence on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: While Beasts may typically shine in the main phases of a turn, the integration of instant speed abilities associated with these cards cannot be overlooked. Those that can be summoned or trigger abilities at instant speed give players the flexibility to react during an opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their strategies and securing a more favorable position.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Some Beast cards necessitate discarding another card to unleash their full potential or simply to be cast, which can potentially disrupt your hand and strategy, especially if you’re already facing resource constraints.

Specific Mana Cost: Beast cards often require a good amount of green mana, tying them closely to green-focused decks and making them less flexible for multicolor deck strategies that might not have the necessary mana accessibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The powerful nature of many Beasts comes with a higher mana cost. This can slow down your momentum as you may find yourself waiting an extra turn or two to gather the resources needed, potentially giving faster, low-cost decks an advantage over you.

Reasons to Include Beast Cards in Your Collection

Versatility: Beast cards in MTG are typically known for their adaptability across various decks. Their robust stat lines make them competitive in creature-based strategies and synergize well with green’s creature-focused mechanics.

Combo Potential: These creatures often come with impactful triggers or activated abilities that can be the cornerstone of powerful combos. Whether it’s by ramping up mana or utilizing enter-the-battlefield effects, Beasts provide numerous options for synergy.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, so does the significance of Beasts within the meta. Their presence can be especially formidable in formats where large creatures dominate and in metas that reward creature-heavy tactics.

How to Beat Beast Cards

Beast cards in Magic: The Gathering are known for their brute strength and often formidable presence on the battlefield. These creatures usually come with high power and toughness, which can present a challenge for any player facing them. To overcome Beast cards, it’s crucial to strategize efficiently and employ removal or control tactics.

Effective removal spells are key when dealing with Beasts. Cards like “Doom Blade” or “Murder” can eliminate these threats at a relatively low cost. Moreover, utilizing board wipes such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation” can clear out multiple Beasts at once, disrupting your opponent’s board state. It’s also helpful to consider counter-play options like enchantments that reduce the power of opponent’s creatures or spells that prevent Beasts from attacking or blocking.

Another strategy is to outrun them with an aggressive deck that puts pressure on your opponent early on, before Beasts can establish dominance. A well-timed “Counterspell” can also do wonders in preventing high-cost Beasts from ever entering play. Ultimately, while Beast cards can be daunting, with the right mixture of removal, board control, and quick aggression, you can tame these wild threats and maintain control of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Beast MTG card by a specific set like Magic Player Rewards 2001 and Magic Player Rewards 2004, 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 Beast and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Beast Magic the Gathering card was released in 60 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 24 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-01-02Magic Player Rewards 2001MPR 81997TokenBlackLarry Elmore
22004-01-01Magic Player Rewards 2004P04 52003TokenBlackEdward P. Beard, Jr.
32007-10-12LorwynLRW 72003TokenBlackJohn Donahue
42008-07-25EventideEVE 32003TokenBlackWilliam O'Connor
52008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 102003TokenBlackPaolo Parente
62009-07-17Magic 2010M10 52003TokenBlackJohn Donahue
72009-10-02ZendikarZEN 92003TokenBlackSteve Prescott
82010-07-16Magic 2011M11 42003TokenBlackJohn Donahue
92011-05-13New PhyrexiaNPH 12003TokenBlackDave Allsop
102011-07-15Magic 2012M12 42003TokenBlackJohn Donahue
112012-07-13Magic 2013M13 82003TokenBlackJohn Donahue
122013-07-19Magic 2014M14 92003TokenBlackJohn Donahue
132013-09-06Duel Decks: Heroes vs. MonstersDDL 22003TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
142014-07-18Magic 2015M15 52015TokenBlackDave Kendall
152014-07-18Magic 2015M15 92015TokenBlackJohn Donahue
162014-11-07Commander 2014C14 202015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
172014-11-07Commander 2014C14 192015TokenBlackDave Allsop
182014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. LilianaGVL 92015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
192014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. LilianaGVL 82015TokenBlackJohn Donahue
202015-11-13Commander 2015C15 132015TokenBlackSvetlin Velinov
212016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 102015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
222016-09-30KaladeshKLD 12015TokenBlackSara Winters
232016-11-11Commander 2016C16 142015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
242016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 132015TokenBlackDave Allsop
252017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 102015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
262017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 92015TokenBlackJohn Donahue
272017-03-31Duel Decks: Mind vs. MightDDS 42015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
282017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 212015TokenBlackKieran Yanner
292017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 82015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
302017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 72015TokenBlackDave Allsop
312017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 42015TokenBlackJohn Donahue
322017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 52015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
332017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 72015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
342017-12-08UnstableUST 132015Double Faced TokenBlackJohn Donahue
352018-06-08BattlebondBBD 52015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
362018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 122015TokenBlackJason Felix
372018-08-09Commander 2018C18 142015TokenBlackVincent Proce
382018-08-09Commander 2018C18 132015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
392018-10-05Mythic EditionMED W12015TokenBlackDave Kendall
402019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 82015TokenBlackWinona Nelson
412019-08-23Commander 2019C19 142015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
422019-08-23Commander 2019C19 132015TokenBlackDave Allsop
432020-04-17Commander 2020C20 112015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
442020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 102015TokenBlackAaron Miller
452020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 102015TokenBlackJohn Donahue
462020-08-07Double Masters2XM 132015TokenBlackJason Felix
472020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 72015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
482020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 182015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
492020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 192015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
502021-04-23Commander 2021C21 102015TokenBlackDave Allsop
512021-04-23Commander 2021C21 112015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
522021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 92015TokenBlackLucas Graciano
532021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 72015TokenBlackJohn Donahue
542021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 72015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
552021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 82015TokenBlackPiotr Foksowicz
562022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 72015TokenBlackDave Allsop
572022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 212015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
582022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 382015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
592022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 162015TokenBlackEric Deschamps
602022-09-09Dominaria United Japanese Promo TokensWDMU 52015TokenBlackKohei Hayama
612022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 82015TokenBlackMark Poole
622023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 132015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
632023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 282015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
642023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 102015TokenBlackWarren Mahy
652023-09-08Wilds of EldraineWOE 82015TokenBlackVincent Christiaens
662023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine Art SeriesAWOE 562015Art seriesBorderlessVincent Christiaens
672023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 172015TokenBlackHelge C. Balzer
682023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 492015TokenBlackHelge C. Balzer
692023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 82015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
702024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 142015TokenBlackWinona Nelson
712024-06-14Modern Horizons 3 CommanderM3C 152015TokenBlackJesper Ejsing
722024-06-14Modern Horizons 3 CommanderM3C 162015TokenBlackSteve Prescott
732024-06-14Modern Horizons 3 CommanderM3C 102015TokenBlackDave Kendall