Biogenic Upgrade MTG Card


Biogenic Upgrade offers card advantage by empowering several creatures with one action, affecting the board significantly. The card requires strategic resource allocation and a focus on multitudinous +1/+1 counter synergies in deck-building. While potent, Biogenic Upgrade’s higher mana cost and color specificity may restrict its use to certain deck types.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Distribute three +1/+1 counters among one, two, or three target creatures, then double the number of +1/+1 counters on each of those creatures.

"To survive exceptional times we must adapt by exceptional means." —Vannifar


Cards like Biogenic Upgrade

Biogenic Upgrade from Magic: The Gathering offers a unique approach to creature enhancement. Much like its counterpart, Strength of the Tajuru, it distributes a wealth of +1/+1 counters across your creatures. However, Strength of the Tajuru requires X mana and scales with the amount you invest, while Biogenic Upgrade has a fixed cost and the potential for a doubled effect under the right conditions.

Another related card is Invigorating Surge, which provides a smaller immediate boost but also adds a +1/+1 counter to a single creature and doubles the amount of counters on that creature. This individual focus contrasts with Biogenic Upgrade’s ability to potentially elevate multiple creatures simultaneously. Contrastingly, Solidarity of Heroes doubles counters like Biogenic Upgrade, but it is an instant, offering a surprising pivot during combat unlike the sorcery speed of Biogenic Upgrade.

Evaluating Biogenic Upgrade against its peers, its strength lies in transforming an entire army with a single spell, a factor that can swing the tide of any match. Therefore, it holds a distinct position among proliferating spells in players’ arsenals due to its broad creature impacting capability.

Strength of the Tajuru - MTG Card versions
Invigorating Surge - MTG Card versions
Solidarity of Heroes - MTG Card versions
Strength of the Tajuru - MTG Card versions
Invigorating Surge - MTG Card versions
Solidarity of Heroes - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Biogenic Upgrade card provides a significant boost by distributing three +1/+1 counters among one, two, or three target creatures you control. It’s more than adding pure power and toughness; it’s about the value of strengthening multiple creatures with a single card, potentially turning the tide in a multiplayer format.

Resource Acceleration: With Biogenic Upgrade, the real acceleration comes from its potential to rapidly grow your creature’s power and set up a dominant board presence. This empowers your creatures to punch through for more damage sooner, which can be just as critical as ramping up your mana resources.

Instant Speed: While Biogenic Upgrade is a sorcery, its effectiveness is akin to instant speed play. By tripling the number of +1/+1 counters on one of those creatures after the initial distribution, you effectively get an immediate boost during your turn that opponents must immediately answer, creating a pseudo instant-speed impact on the game’s state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Biogenic Upgrade doesn’t have a discard as a cost, but it does require a significant investment in both creatures on the board and mana resources, which may deter players from including it in their decks.

Specific Mana Cost: With a requirement of three Green mana as part of its six total mana cost, Biogenic Upgrade is best suited to mono-Green or Green-heavy decks, potentially limiting its versatility in multicolored deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Biogenic Upgrade can be considered quite expensive. In faster-paced games or formats, this card could be less favorable compared to lower-cost options that provide a more immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Biogenic Upgrade stands out for its ability to enhance any deck centered around +1/+1 counters. Its value increases significantly in decks where counter distribution fuels the strategy, such as in Simic or Golgari counter-centric builds.

Combo Potential: This card is perfect for setups primed to exploit +1/+1 counters. In conjunction with proliferate mechanics or cards like Hardened Scales, Biogenic Upgrade can unexpectedly amplify the power of your creatures and turn the tide of the game.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies are ever-present, Biogenic Upgrade can be a fitting addition to confront bulky aggro decks or to close games quickly when facing control adversaries, making it a relevant choice in varied meta environments.


How to beat

Biogenic Upgrade is an impactful green card commanding the battlefield by distributing a swath of +1/+1 counters across your creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This mechanic not only bulks up your creatures but can potentially turn the tide of a game. However, like all cards, it is not unbeatable. One effective strategy to counter Biogenic Upgrade is to maintain control over the board. Utilizing removal spells like Wrath of God, Toxic Deluge, or even targeted removal like Path to Exile can effectively neutralize the creatures before the counters are distributed.

In addition to removal, counterspells are also paramount to thwarting Biogenic Upgrade. Countering the spell saves you from the ordeal of dealing with an overwhelming army. Mana leak, Negate, and the classic Counterspell can provide a safety net against the surge of power Biogenic Upgrade threatens to unleash. Timing and anticipation are key; keep mana open and be prepared to act when your opponent attempts to cast their game-changing spell.

While Biogenic Upgrade can provide a substantial advantage for any player, understanding and preparing for common threats allows you to navigate around them. Keeping your battlefield clear and being ready with a counterspell can ensure that your opponent’s plans to upgrade their creatures fall short, securing your victory in the process.


BurnMana Recommendations

Underlining the strength of Biogenic Upgrade in MTG is vital for players who relish enhancing their creature capabilities. This powerful card can decisively shift the momentum of a match by empowering your creatures with substantial +1/+1 counters. When building your deck, consider its potential to synergize with strategies that capitalize on counter distribution. Although it demands significant resources, the payoff in multiplayer games can be immense. For those ready to optimize their decks and harness the power of Biogenic Upgrade, delve deeper with us. Unlock advanced tactics and strategic insights to dominate the battlefield and secure your next victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Biogenic Upgrade MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Midnight Hunt Commander, 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 Biogenic Upgrade and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Biogenic Upgrade Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 1232015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
22021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 1352015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
32022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 1372015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Biogenic Upgrade has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-01-25 If some of the creatures are illegal targets as Biogenic Upgrade tries to resolve, the original distribution of counters still applies and the counters that would have been put on the illegal targets are lost. They won't be put instead on a legal target.
2019-01-25 To double the number of +1/+1 counters on a permanent, put a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the number it already has. Other cards that interact with putting counters on it will interact with this effect accordingly.
2019-01-25 You choose how many targets Biogenic Upgrade has and how the counters are distributed as you cast it. Each target must receive at least one counter. This means, for example, that you can't target three creatures, assign them two, one, and zero counters.