Borderland Behemoth MTG Card
2008-02-01 - Number 87
2015-11-13 - Number 142
2018-06-08 - Number 87
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Giant Warrior |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Trample Borderland Behemoth gets +4/+4 for each other Giant you control.
Giants share nothing but their fury.
Cards like Borderland Behemoth
Borderland Behemoth, a formidable giant in Magic: The Gathering, takes its place among other powerhouses known for their sheer size. It shares the stage with the likes of Hamletback Goliath, a card that also revels in growing bigger, often achieving monstrous proportions as you play more creatures. However, Borderland Behemoth’s might is tied to the number of Giants you control, whilst Hamletback Goliath expands with every creature’s arrival.
Another comparable behemoth is Ancient Stone Idol, which boasts a cost reduction feature that correlates with the total power of attacking creatures. Unlike Borderland Behemoth, this reduction can make Ancient Stone Idol a more affordable late-game surprise. A similar trait is found in Quartzwood Crasher, reaching its peak performance by creating token creatures proportional to the damage dealt to opponents.
When considering the strength and potential of various titanic creatures, Borderland Behemoth stands out among Magic: The Gathering’s giants for its synergy with a Giant-focused deck, providing potentially unmatched power on the board with the right support.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With its towering power, Borderland Behemoth brings significant board presence that often requires multiple resources from an opponent to handle. This can indirectly translate to card advantage as your opponent may need to use more than one card to deal with it.
Resource Acceleration: This card thrives in decks that ramp quickly. By consistently dropping lands or utilizing mana-producing creatures, you can easily summon Borderland Behemoth ahead of schedule, utilizing its power as a resource accelerator.
Instant Speed: While Borderland Behemoth itself does not operate at instant speed, its sheer presence can change the pacing of the game. Opponents often must hold back instant speed removal in anticipation of facing this colossal creature, altering their optimal play patterns and providing strategic advantage to the Behemoth’s controller.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Despite its impressive power, Borderland Behemoth demands a considerable presence of Giants on the battlefield to truly excel. Without its tribal companions, this towering creature might not reach its full potential, leaving you wanting more from your high-cost investment.
Specific Mana Cost: The Behemoth’s mana requirement is rigid, locking you into a red-heavy mana base. This inflexibility can be cumbersome for decks that either want to run multiple colors or don’t generate enough red mana efficiently, reducing the card’s versatility across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a steep seven mana requirement, Borderland Behemoth occupies a high spot on your mana curve. In a game where early plays can decide the outcome, dedicating this much mana to a single creature can slow down your overall game plan and may leave you vulnerable to faster, more aggressive strategies.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Borderland Behemoth thrives in decks that amplify the strength of Giants or creatures with power-based triggers. As a formidable creature, it adapts to various strategies that require a high-powered presence on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This hefty Giant works wonders in combinations, especially with mechanics that double power or provide additional combat phases. Its potential becomes limitless with the right synergistic elements, allowing for swift and overwhelming victories.
Meta-Relevance: With the constantly evolving MTG landscape, Borderland Behemoth stands tall against other finishers in the meta. It is particularly potent in metas where the board state can be stabilized long enough for it to turn the tide in a single attack phase.
How to beat
Borderland Behemoth thrives in a deck rich with Giants, as it gains might for each one you control. This towering creature could easily become overwhelming, but there are strategies to undermine its dominance on the battlefield. Removal spells that can bypass its sheer size are key. Consider utilizing spells that exile or force the player to sacrifice a creature, like Path to Exile or Diabolic Edict. Control decks equipped with countermagic also have the advantage, being able to stop the behemoth before it even enters play.
Should the behemoth manage to stake its claim on the board, remember that it doesn’t have innate protection like hexproof or indestructible. Thus, direct damage spells and board wipes remain effective. Red has a slew of damage spells like Lightning Bolt, and white offers a range of mass removal options such as Wrath of God. It’s also important to manage the number of Giants your opponent controls. By keeping their battlefield presence minimal, you ensure that Borderland Behemoth’s strength is kept in check.
Ultimately, while Borderland Behemoth can be a formidable force, incorporating strategic removal and counters, managing your opponent’s field, and understanding the common weaknesses of large creatures allow you to quell the threat it poses. This approach will help you maintain an upper hand against such threats in your MTG endeavors.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Borderland Behemoth MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide and Commander 2015, 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 Borderland Behemoth and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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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Printings
The Borderland Behemoth Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-02-01 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008-02-01 | Morningtide | MOR | 87 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 2 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 142 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 87 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Borderland Behemoth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |