Cubwarden MTG Card


Cubwarden offers card advantage by creating creatures, enhancing board presence and future play potential. Its specific white mana requirement signifies limited deck versatility within the diverse MTG universe. Cubwarden’s lifelink token generation makes it a valuable addition to creature-focused and lifegain decks.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Cat
Abilities Lifelink,Mutate
Power 3
Toughness 5

Text of card

Mutate (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.) Lifelink Whenever this creature mutates, create two 1/1 white Cat creature tokens with lifelink.


Cards like Cubwarden

Cubwarden is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, sitting in a unique position within the white creature lineup. It reminds us of other cards with the mutate mechanic like Huntmaster Liger. Both creatures share the ability to grow and improve the board’s state when mutating, yet Cubwarden’s lifelink creates an additional layer of survivability for its controller. Huntmaster Liger simply increases power, lacking the sustain offered by Cubwarden.

Comparing it to Regal Leosaur, another mutating creature, you’ll notice that Cubwarden opts for defensive strength rather than Regal Leosaur’s aggressive buff to the entire team. Moreover, when mutating Cubwarden, you’re rewarded with a litter of 1/1 white Cat creature tokens with lifelink, a boon for token strategies and lifegain decks. This is different from the one-time power boost granted by Regal Leosaur.

After examining Cubwarden’s capabilities and its synergy with token and lifegain strategies within Magic: The Gathering, its utility is undeniable. Not only does it serve as a formidable mutating threat, but it reinforces its user’s position with lifegain and creature multiplication, ensuring a notable impact both in immediate play and in the longevity of the game.

Huntmaster Liger - MTG Card versions
Regal Leosaur - MTG Card versions
Huntmaster Liger - MTG Card versions
Regal Leosaur - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cubwarden provides significant card advantage by creating additional creature tokens when it mutates. This means you’re effectively turning one card into several creatures, enhancing your board presence and potential for future plays.

Resource Acceleration: While Cubwarden itself does not directly produce mana or accelerate resources, the tokens it creates can be valuable assets. These lifelink creatures can become formidable when combined with other cards that benefit from having multiple creatures on the battlefield or from gaining life.

Instant Speed: Though Cubwarden is not an instant, its mutate ability gives you flexibility similar to an instant. You can mutate it onto a non-Human creature you control during your turn as a sorcery, which can surprise your opponent and rapidly transform the state of the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cubwarden does not require a discard per se, it does necessitate a fulfilling mutate condition, which can set back your hand if not executed strategically. This can be particularly challenging if your hand is not flush with other mutate options or creatures to play.

Specific Mana Cost: As a creature with a specific mana requirement of two white mana in its cost, Cubwarden might not seamlessly fit into multicolor decks. This can potentially limit its inclusion to mostly white or white-heavy decks, reducing its overall versatility in the vast landscape of MTG gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mutate cost of four mana, including three generic and one white, Cubwarden competes with other powerful four-drop creatures and spells. Especially in aggressive or tempo-focused decks, the mana investment in Cubwarden could be seen as steep compared to other options that provide immediate board presence or impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cubwarden seamlessly integrates into a variety of deck archetypes, especially those that capitalize on creature synergies or require life gain mechanics. Its mutate ability offers a dynamic playstyle, adapting to the evolving battlefield with ease.

Combo Potential: The ability to create additional creature tokens with lifelink presents ample opportunities for combos, particularly in decks that reward you for summoning creatures or gaining life. These can set off a chain reaction of synergistic effects, bolstering your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that values creature-based strategies and incremental life gain, Cubwarden’s presence can tip the scales in your favor. It’s a solid asset against aggressive decks, providing blockers and a way to stabilize through its lifelink tokens.


How to beat

Cubwarden emerges as a powerful creature in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to mutate and provide a lifelink advantage. Facing off against this card means dealing with not just the creature itself, but also the tokens it generates upon mutation. A strategic approach would include cards that deny the opponent’s mutations or use targeted removal before Cubwarden can multiply its presence on the battlefield.

Removal spells like Heartless Act or Bloodchief’s Thirst are effective ways to address Cubwarden before it becomes a larger threat. If Cubwarden has already mutated and produced its tokens, board wipe spells like Shatter the Sky or Doomskar become indispensable for resetting the board state. Additionally, cards that can exile such as Scavenging Ooze can both remove Cubwarden from the game and provide the additional benefit of limiting graveyard-based strategies that the opponent may capitalize on.

Negating the Cubwarden’s lifelink ability can also be a focus, with cards such as Tibalt, Rakish Instigator preventing the opponent from gaining life, thus nullifying one of Cubwarden’s intrinsic advantages. Overall, the key is to preempt the potential threats Cubwarden poses or to mitigate its impact swiftly with well-timed removal or negation strategies.


BurnMana Recommendations

Cubwarden carves out a niche presence in many MTG collections with its enticing mutate mechanism and lifelink token generation. Astute players leverage this card to enhance creature-based strategies, gaining life while expanding battlefield presence. As its strengths and weaknesses are laid bare, it becomes clear that including Cubwarden in your deck could pivot the tides of battle in your favor. For those keen on refining their deck strategy and capitalizing on synergistic creature plays, Cubwarden is undoubtedly a card to consider. Elevate your gameplay by integrating this versatile contender and counteracting its challenges effectively. Curious to expand your tactics with Cubwarden? Visit us for insights and deck-building tips that can harness its full potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cubwarden MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Cubwarden and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cubwarden Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2020-04-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 809932015MutateBlackDenis Medri
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 72015MutateBlackKekai Kotaki
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 7s2015MutateBlackKekai Kotaki
42020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 2792015MutateBorderlessDenis Medri
52020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 7p2015MutateBlackKekai Kotaki

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cubwarden has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal