Curious Herd MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	2020-04-17
Set symbol
Set name	Commander 2020
Set code	C20
Number	59
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

Information control through opponent hand reveals can strategically shape gameplay decisions and offer card advantage.
Resource acceleration is accessible by cloning nonland cards you don’t own, potentially altering the match drastically.
Instant speed allows disruption at optimal moments without losing momentum, enhancing tactical play in MTG.

Text of card

Choose target opponent. You create X 3/3 green Beast creature tokens, where X is the number of artifacts that player controls.

"If you don't break camp as you leave, you'll return to find it broken for you." —Jonald, mission naturalist

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Curious Herd’s effect of peeking at an opponent’s hand offers a subtle form of card advantage by providing you with information to plan your strategy more effectively. Knowledge of the opponent’s resources can be as valuable as holding more cards in hand.

Resource Acceleration: If there’s a nonland card in the opponent’s hand that you don’t own in your deck, Curious Herd allows you to take a copy and cast it. This can lead to unexpected resource acceleration as you potentially access additional mana or effects not naturally present in your deck archetype.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Curious Herd grants you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy at the most opportune time or when they least expect it. This timing versatility ensures you can always make the most strategic move without sacrificing turn momentum.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To unlock the full potential of Curious Herd, you’ll need to discard a card. If your hand is already running on empty, this requirement could hinder your game progress and momentum significantly.

Specific Mana Cost: Rolling out Curious Herd requires a blend of green mana and additional generic mana. This stringent cost can be restrictive, especially if your deck is multi-colored and needs a more flexible mana base to operate efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to efficiency, the mana investment for Curious Herd is demanding. For the same or fewer resources, alternative cards might provide a similar or more impactful effect on the battlefield, potentially making them a more economical choice for your deck’s strategy.

Reasons to Include Curious Herd in Your Collection

Versatility: Curious Herd has a broad appeal to deck builders due to its flexible casting conditions and the ability to potentially disrupt your opponent’s strategy by cloning their creatures.

Combo Potential: This card excels in strategies revolving around token generation, synergizing with effects that trigger upon creature or artifact entering the battlefield, thus opening doors for inventive combos in gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to clone key creatures, Curious Herd can adapt to various meta environments; whether the prevailing trend is towards aggro, control, or combo decks, having an adaptable clone effect can be a game-changer.

How to beat

Curious Herd presents an unusual challenge on the battlefield. In a game of Magic: The Gathering, this card can quickly flood the board with creatures, overwhelming opponents who aren’t prepared. To counteract the exponential growth of your adversary’s forces, having board wipes at the ready is a foolproof plan. Something like Supreme Verdict or Wrath of God can reset the playing field.

Enabling spot removal is another strategy to keep in check a burgeoning herd. Employing cards such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can help you maintain control by selectively taking out key creatures around which the herd strategy is built. Moreover, countering the spell before it even hits the table ensures Curious Herd never gets a chance to showcase its strength. For this, Disallow or Counterspell are perfect gatekeepers.

Relying on graveyard manipulation is a more subtle, yet effective tactic. With tools like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, you can prevent the Curious Herd from repopulating the field, negating its ability to grow from graveyard synergies. Recognize the card’s potential early on and respond with precise counters to keep the herd in check.

BurnMana Recommendations

Unveiling the layers of strategy within MTG proves endlessly engaging, and Curious Herd is a card that embodies this complexity. If you’re intrigued by the nuanced gameplay it offers, know that its potential goes beyond a single match. This card can add dimension to your deck, inviting you to strategize deeper and adapt to the evolving battlefield dynamics. Harness the power of knowledge and token generation to outmaneuver your opponents. For those looking to refine their deck-building skills and explore the intricacies of resource acceleration, we encourage you to delve further. Elevate your MTG experience and integrate Curious Herd into your collection for its transformative gameplay advantages.

Cards like Curious Herd

Curious Herd stands as an intriguing choice within the realm of token generation in MTG. Echoing the effects of cards such as Flurry of Horns, which also produces multiple creature tokens, Curious Herd introduces an interesting twist – it offers the potential for repeated value across several turns. Unlike Flurry of Horns, which provides an immediate but once-off boon, Curious Herd holds the promise of a lasting impact on the board state throughout the game.

Another comparable card is Dragon Fodder; simple, straightforward, and often a staple in decks focused around swarming strategies. Though Dragon Fodder’s mana efficiency is notable, it lacks the repeatable nature of Curious Herd. The trade-off here is between Dragon Fodder’s immediacy and Curious Herd’s longer-term tactical advantage. Also worth mentioning is Selesnya Evangel, a creature that can repetitively create tokens, albeit at a slower rate and increased mana investment. Yet, Curious Herd could potentially eclipse it by generating multiple tokens with a single spell resolution.

In the end, each of these token-creating cards has its niche, but Curious Herd uniquely positions itself as a potentially powerful engine in decks that capitalize on token quantity over time. Its ability to multiply and persistently influence the game makes it a card that shouldn’t be overlooked when considering token strategies.

Cards similar to Curious Herd by color, type and mana cost

Stonewood Invocation - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Curious Herd MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2020, 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 Curious Herd and other MTG cards: