Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Saga |
| Abilities | Flying,Transform |
| Released | 2022-02-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty |
| Set code | NEO |
| Number | 4 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Transform |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Matt Stewart |
Key Takeaways
- Generates card advantage and creature tokens, bolstering both your hand and board presence simultaneously.
- Resource acceleration from treasure tokens can catapult you ahead, setting pace over your opponent.
- Instant speed allows for tactical surprises during combat or your opponent’s turn, affecting game flow.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth 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
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Text of card
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.) I, II — Target creature you control gets +1/+1 and gains flying until end of turn. III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Befriending the Moths not only recruits a flutter of insect tokens to your side but also has the potential to draw a card. This mechanic can swarm the field and keep your hand bustling with options, giving players a double benefit each time it’s played.
Resource Acceleration: As Imperial Moth flits onto the battlefield, it brightens your mana pool by offering up transient treasure tokens. This burst of resources can propel your game forward, allowing you to deploy threats or answers ahead of the usual curve.
Instant Speed: The true strength of these moths lies in their nocturnal nature. At instant speed, the ability to unleash a flurry of winged allies or a sudden surge of treasure can completely alter the tapestry of the game, all at the most opportune moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth requires a player to discard a card, which necessitates having a card to spare. The act of discarding as part of the cost can deplete your hand, making it a risky play for those who might already be struggling with card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: The card features a specific mana requirement to cast. The cost is split between generic and colored mana, which can be a hindrance in a deck not focused on those particular colors. If your mana base isn’t properly tuned, you could find yourself unable to cast it when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is on the high end, Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth may be less attractive compared to other options. Its combined mana cost can be burdensome in fast-paced games where lower-cost cards could provide a quicker advantage or where players have to be efficient with their mana each turn.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth in your arsenal lets you pivot between aggressive and control tactics. This card’s ability to foster creature and enchantment plays makes it a flexible addition to multiple deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: The enchantment aspect of Befriending the Moths, coupled with the Imperial Moth’s creature benefits, opens up a range of combo possibilities. It can seamlessly integrate into strategies that capitalize on synergies with flying creatures or enchantment-related triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment dense with creature interaction, having Imperial Moth can provide an upper hand. Its presence ensures that your creatures can become sizable threats, maintaining relevance amid shifting meta conditions.
How to beat
The card Befriending the Moths, also known as the Imperial Moth card, is a challenge for many players molding their strategies in the vast world of Magic: The Gathering. The power of this card lies in its ability to generate incremental advantage by creating token creatures that can either bolster your defenses or become an aggressive swarm. Unlike some other cards that have immediate large impact, Befriending the Moths’ strength grows over time and must be dealt with before you’re overrun by a flutter of insects.
To effectively counter Befriending the Moths, it’s essential to include cards that can manage multiple creatures at once. Board wipes such as Day of Judgment and Wrath of God are perfect because they can clear all creatures off the board, including those pesky token moths. Alternatively, spot removals might not be as effective due to the continuous token generation, so a strategy that can deal with multiple threats simultaneously works best.
Lastly, cards that can inhibit token generation such as Damping Sphere, or that punish the opponent for creating tokens like Rampaging Ferocidon, can also serve as checks against Befriending the Moths. Including a mixture of these strategies will help keep the moths at bay and manage a key aspect of your opponent’s game plan.
Cards like Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth
The allure of Befriending the Moths beckons players with its promise of synergy and incremental advantage. At its core, it shares the stage with cards like Luminarch Ascension, which also revolves around the concept of creating powerful winged creatures. What sets Befriending the Moths apart is its unique connection to enchantments, rewarding players for utilizing other cards in this category.
Moreover, consider Delicate Moth, heralding a similar breeding ground for moth tokens. Delicate Moth takes a different approach, focusing more on the lifegain strategy, increasing its viability in decks that capitalize on life as a resource. By comparison, Befriending the Moths offers a broader strategy by interacting with enchantments of any type, presenting a more versatile option.
Analyzing these moth-themed cards shows the diversity in deck-building strategies offered within the game. While each card caters to a unique aspect of gameplay, Befriending the Moths stands out for its enchantment-centric benefits, paving the way for players to weave spell-binding strategies around this fluttering mechanic.
Cards similar to Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth by color, type and mana cost
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Befriending the Moths // Imperial Moth card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-02-18 | A transforming double-faced card enters the battlefield with its front face up by default, unless a spell or ability instructs you to put it onto the battlefield transformed or you cast it transformed, in which case it enters with its back face up. |
| 2022-02-18 | Each face of a transforming double-faced card has its own set of characteristics: name, types, subtypes, abilities, and so on. While a transforming double-faced permanent is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's currently up. The other set of characteristics is ignored. |
| 2022-02-18 | Each transforming double-faced card in this set is cast face up. In every zone other than the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of its front face. If it is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's up; the other face's characteristics are ignored. |
| 2022-02-18 | If you are instructed to put a card that isn't a double-faced card onto the battlefield transformed, it will not enter the battlefield at all. In that case, it stays in the zone it was previously in. For example, if a single-faced card is a copy of Azusa's Many Journeys, the chapter III ability will cause it to be exiled and then remain in exile. |
| 2022-02-18 | The back face of a transforming double-faced card usually has a color indicator that defines its color. |
| 2022-02-18 | The mana value of a transforming double-faced card is the mana value of its front face, no matter which face is up. |