Biting Remark MTG Card


Biting Remark can hinder opponents while boosting your card flow, balancing disruption with advantage. Its instant-speed provides tactical surprises, but card-discard can be a double-edged sword. Mana specificity may limit Biting Remark’s deck compatibility, despite its strategic utility.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Scrycast (If you see this card while scrying, you may reveal it and cast it by paying .) Flying


Cards like Biting Remark

Biting Remark is an intriguing card that finds its place among MTG blue spells known for their surprise factor and cunning gameplay. Its closest relative is perhaps Pongify, offering a removal solution but with the downside of giving the opponent a creature token. Biting Remark, however, bypasses this by potentially turning any creature into an unassuming land without compensating the adversary, shifting the board in subtle yet impactful ways.

Another parallel can be drawn with the spell Polymorph, which has a somewhat similar effect of transforming creatures. Although Polymorph is more of a gamble, since it can turn a creature into any possible creature in the deck, Biting Remark ensures the outcome is always a land, offering more control over the situation. While both spells can disrupt opponent strategies, Biting Remark’s precision can be advantageous in decks that aim to minimize uncertainties.

Assessing Biting Remark against these similar cards, it stands out in terms of predictability and the potential to neutralize threats without providing additional benefits to the opponent. It may not be as aggressive as Pongify or as wildly variable as Polymorph, but its strategic value cannot be denied in MTG’s nuanced metagame.

Pongify - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions
Pongify - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Biting Remark by color, type and mana cost

Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Screeching Drake - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
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Extravagant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Undercover Operative - MTG Card versions
Archmage Emeritus - MTG Card versions
Hisoka, Minamo Sensei - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Screeching Drake - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Extravagant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Undercover Operative - MTG Card versions
Archmage Emeritus - MTG Card versions
Hisoka, Minamo Sensei - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Biting Remark shines in its ability to potentially disrupt an opponent’s hand while simultaneously allowing you to draw a card. This dual utility ensures that you’re not only impeding your opponent’s strategy but also keeping your hand stocked with options.

Resource Acceleration: While Biting Remark doesn’t directly create mana, its disruptive nature can effectively slow down your opponent’s resource acceleration. By forcing them to discard, you’re impacting their ability to deploy their own strategy efficiently, which can indirectly accelerate your board state in comparison.

Instant Speed: The real strength of Biting Remark lies in its instant-speed capabilities. This allows for strategic flexibility and can be a surprise element during your opponent’s turn. It’s especially powerful when you can wait for your opponent to commit to a play before deciding the best moment to cast Biting Remark, potentially upsetting their plans and maintaining the upper hand.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Biting Remark’s activation necessitates discarding a card, which could deplete your hand and leave you at a strategic disadvantage, especially in matches where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s utility is somewhat restricted by its need for blue mana, potentially making it a less flexible choice for multi-colored or color-intensive decks where mana availability is tight.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Biting Remark requiring a total of three mana, including two blue, it faces stiff competition from other options. Cards with lower mana costs might provide similar or greater benefits without such a steep investment.


Reasons to Include Biting Remark in Your Collection

Versatility: Biting Remark is a card that provides flexibility in defensive strategies. Being able to target multiple creatures at instant speed makes it a utility piece in decks that need to manage the board without losing tempo.

Combo Potential: As an instant, Biting Remark can seamlessly fit into combos that require lowering opponent creature stats. It also has synergy with cards that capitalize on opponent creatures’ power being altered.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with a prevalence of aggressive creature-based strategies, Biting Remark serves as a response to buffed creatures, potentially neutralizing significant threats and tipping the balance in your favor.


How to beat

Biting Remark is a card that can disrupt your rhythm in Magic: The Gathering by making card choices daunting. Resilience is key when facing this enchantment. Combatting Biting Remark requires a strategy to mitigate its influence. Consider focusing on lessening the impact of life loss through life gain tactics or employing creatures with high toughness to weather the storm. Deck-build with an array of redundant, key cards so that the forced discards become less detrimental.

Moreover, cards that grant you hexproof can be a safeguard against targeted effects like Biting Remark. Another strategy is direct enchantment removal — many decks include naturalize effects which can handle problematic enchantments efficiently. Utilizing instant speed removals or abilities that can be activated during your own turn can also bypass the window Biting Remark sets up, ensuring your gameplay remains fluid and less hindered by your opponent’s traps.

Gaining an upper hand against Biting Remark lies in building your deck’s resilience to forced choice effects. Investing in a variety of solutions can dilute its power, keeping your game plan on track and your life total secure.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Biting Remark MTG card by a specific set like Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 and Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021, 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 Biting Remark and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Biting Remark Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-11-07 and 2021-08-20. Illustrated by Josh Thomas.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-11-07Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019CMB1 172015NormalBlackJosh Thomas
22021-08-20Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021CMB2 172015NormalBlackJosh Thomas

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-11-12 If you cast a spell with scrycast, you don’t look at any additional cards in your library. If you were instructed to scry 1, you won’t do anything else to finish scrying, although you’re still scrying while you cast the spell.