Catacomb Slug MTG Card

Catacomb Slug’s beefy 2/6 body makes it an excellent defensive blocker, impeding multiple attacks. Its low casting cost helps in maintaining a steady mana base, enabling more significant spells earlier. Though lacking direct abilities, its toughness supports strategies with instant-speed plays.

Return to Ravnica (RTR)
2012-10-05 - Number 58

Magic Origins (ORI)
2015-07-17 - Number 86

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 595

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number ORI-86

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Slug
Power	2
Toughness	6

Cards like Catacomb Slug

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, creatures like the Catacomb Slug offer a straightforward approach to gameplay. If we draw a parallel with other creature cards such as Gray Ogre, the Slug matches up in terms of mana cost and toughness, both bringing a robust presence to the battlefield. Nonetheless, the additional toughness point on the Catacomb Slug can often make a significant difference in surviving combat or thwarting aggressive enemy creatures.

Another similar creature is the Siege Mastodon. While both share the same toughness, the Mastodon boasts a higher power, giving it an edge in offensive scenarios. The Catacomb Slug, however, retains its relevance with its budget-friendly common rarity, making it easily accessible for most player decks particularly in limited formats like Draft or Sealed.

To sum up, the Catacomb Slug may not stand out for its power or abilities, but in MTG, it holds its ground as a cost-effective blocker. Integrating well in limited play and serving as a reliable foundational piece, the Slug is an example of functional simplicity within the game’s vast array of creature cards.

Cards similar to Catacomb Slug by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Catacomb Slug may not directly allow you to draw cards, its sheer presence on the battlefield makes for a resilient blocker that can force your opponent to expend more resources to get through. With a 2/6 body, this creature can deter multiple attacks, essentially preserving your hand and the resources within it.

Resource Acceleration: Catacomb Slug doesn’t provide direct mana acceleration or Treasure tokens, but its low casting cost makes it a manageable and efficient addition to the board. This allows players to maintain a steady development of their mana base without a significant investment in the early game, helping to cast more impactful spells sooner.

Instant Speed: While Catacomb Slug itself is not an instant, its ability to remain on the board due to its high toughness indirectly supports strategies that include instant-speed interactions. Having a reliable blocker like Catacomb Slug means your mana can stay open for other instant-speed plays, making your overall game plan more flexible and responsive.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: The Catacomb Slug requires a specific arrangement of mana for its casting, needing one black mana and four of any other type. This can sometimes be restrictive and may not fit smoothly into all deck types, especially those that operate on a tight mana curve or rely heavily on a multicolored base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana cost of five for a simple 2/6 creature, Catacomb Slug may be perceived as inefficient. Many players would expect a more impactful ability or a stronger body for such a cost. In a game where tempo can be decisive, the investment in the Slug could be a setback.

Discard Requirement: While the Catacomb Slug doesn’t inherently have a discard requirement, its high mana cost could lead to situations where a player may have to choose between discarding it for an alternative action or casting it. This decision can be particularly difficult when hand size is small or when the player requires more impactful plays to maintain board presence.

Reasons to Include Catacomb Slug in Your Collection

Versatility: Catacomb Slug isn’t a one-trick pony. Its simple mana cost and substantial toughness make it a reliable defensive option for various decks, particularly those in need of early blockers to survive aggressive starts from opponents.

Combo Potential: While not flashy, its creature type ‘Slug’ can be relevant in decks that capitalize on tribal synergies. Furthermore, its presence can support strategies that benefit from high toughness creatures, especially those involving toughness-based mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors long, grindy games, Catacomb Slug can be a surprising inclusion. It stands tall against common X/1s seen in many aggressive strategies, often forcing opponents to use up valuable resources to deal with what is essentially a low-cost creature.

How to Beat Catacomb Slug

Catacomb Slug, a creature card in Magic: The Gathering, may appear underwhelming at first glance. It’s a common card, found often in sets like Magic Origins, functioning mainly as a filler in draft pools. Despite its simplicity, there are easy strategies to handle this five-mana cost creature. Considering its stats, a 2/6 may stall smaller creatures, but it lacks aggressive impact as it doesn’t have any intrinsic abilities to sway the game.

A practical approach to counter Catacomb Slug is to use removal spells. Simple and cost-effective spells like Murder or Doom Blade can quickly deal with it, bypassing its bulky toughness. The Slug doesn’t benefit from the graveyard, making exile effects unnecessary. In board control decks, using sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear it alongside other potential threats. Moreover, the slug isn’t relevant against decks that rely on flying creatures or those capable of overpowering the board with larger creatures.

Ultimately, given Catacomb Slug’s limited influence on the match’s outcome, players shouldn’t need to over-invest resources to overcome it. Proper deck building and keeping efficient removal on hand ensure that a creature with such low impact can be managed effortlessly.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Catacomb Slug MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Magic Origins, 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 Catacomb Slug and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Catacomb Slug Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Nils Hamm.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2012-10-05	Return to Ravnica	RTR	58	2003	Normal	Black	Nils Hamm
2	2015-07-17	Magic Origins	ORI	86	2015	Normal	Black	Nils Hamm
3	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	595	2015	Normal	Black	Nils Hamm
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	ORI-86	2015	Normal	Black	Nils Hamm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Catacomb Slug has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal