Contraband Livestock MTG Card

Contraband Livestock - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2022-06-10
Set symbol
Set name	Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate
Set code	CLB
Number	12
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Behm

Key Takeaways

Generates creature tokens for board presence and strategic plays at instant speed.
Demanding mana requirements may limit deck integration and play speed.
High utility and combo potential make it a valuable addition to diverse decks.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Contraband Livestock MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Contraband Livestock and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Exile target creature, then roll a d20. 1–9 | Its controller creates a 4/4 green Ox creature token. 10–19 | Its controller creates a 2/2 green Boar creature token. 20 | Its controller creates a 0/1 white Goat creature token.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: This card adds to your hand by creating creature tokens. This not only populates the field but also increases the options at your disposal for future plays.

Resource Acceleration: The token creatures that are generated by this card can serve as a resource themselves, potentially offering additional mana or other benefits under the right circumstances. This can significantly speed up your game plan.

Instant Speed: With the ability to cast this card at instant speed, it provides flexibility in your gameplay. You can respond to your opponents’ actions during their turn, holding onto your mana until the moment is just right to surprise your adversary.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Contraband Livestock requires you to discard a card to trigger its effect. This can be a costly move, especially when your hand is already depleted, or when the cards you hold are critical for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific combination of mana to cast. The requirement for both Green and White mana can restrict the types of decks that can seamlessly integrate with Contraband Livestock, potentially excluding it from mono-colored or colorless decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher side, Contraband Livestock might not be as efficient as some other cards with similar or lower mana costs. In fast-paced games, the speed at which you can play your cards is key, and a high mana cost can slow down your deck’s performance.

Reasons to Include Contraband Livestock in Your Collection

Versatility: Contraband Livestock can be a flexible addition to decks that thrive on sacrificing creatures for profit, or those that leverage the presence of multiple creatures on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card enables creative combos by producing creature tokens, which can be used to activate sacrifice outlets or inspire mechanics found across various deck archetypes.

Meta-Relevance: As the game shifts and adapts, the ability to generate additional creatures can become crucial in matches where board presence equates to staying power and success.

How to Beat Contraband Livestock

The strategic depths of MTG are never more evident than when facing cards like Contraband Livestock. It embodies the challenge of dealing with creatures that offer repeated value to your opponent. Key to mitigating this card’s advantage is understanding its abilities and finding efficient removal options. A straightforward remedy is to employ instant-speed removal spells that can dispatch Contraband Livestock before its abilities impact the game, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, depending on the colors you’re playing.

Graveyard-based strategies also offer a solution by hindering the Livestock’s secondary ability. Cards like Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace can eliminate creatures from graveyards, preventing the card-draw benefit on the opponent’s side. Furthermore, using versatile counterspells or disruption techniques, like Thoughtseize or Dovin’s Veto, can preemptively deal with Contraband Livestock before it even hits the battlefield or activates its abilities. Tackling it head-on with strategic card choices keeps this bovine menace in check and maintains the flow of the game in your favor.

Overall, players equipped with timely removals, graveyard management, and preemptive actions will find that beating Contraband Livestock is not only possible but can be turned into a tactical advantage.

BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re looking to expand your MTG collection with versatile cards that can enhance your game, Contraband Livestock offers unique benefits. With its ability to produce tokens, it can fuel strategies centered on creature sacrifice and mass presence. Always consider the pros and cons, from the flexibility offered by instant speed play to the potential drawback of its specific mana cost. Adapt to the evolving game meta and consider adding Contraband Livestock to your deck arsenal. Interested in discovering how this card can alter the course of your matches? Dive deeper with us as we explore strategic deck-building tips and the endless possibilities that MTG brings.

Cards like Contraband Livestock

Contraband Livestock emerges as an intriguing card within Magic: The Gathering, sharing the theme of token creation with other noteworthy cards. Scapegoat Exhibitor is one such card that also brings tokens to the battlefield, however, it generates clue tokens instead of treasure tokens, offering a different kind of utility through card draw rather than mana acceleration.

Brass’s Bounty stands out in parallel, as it too produces a wealth of treasure tokens proportionate to the number of lands you control. While Contraband Livestock requires a creature you control to die for a reward, Brass’s Bounty bypasses this requirement with a direct translation of lands to treasure, albeit at a higher mana cost. Then there’s Smothering Tithe, another titanic player in this space. This enchantment may not produce tokens immediately, but it sets a condition that could lead to a treasure trove every time your opponent draws a card. Its potential for wealth accumulation is substantial albeit dependent on opponents’ actions.

Carefully weighing these options, Contraband Livestock holds a unique position enabling players to turn short-term loss into long-term gain, a tactic that could prove pivotal in the unfolding drama of a Magic: The Gathering match.