Deadly Grub MTG Card

Deadly Grub offers card advantage and could significantly influence match outcomes when it transforms. Strategy and timing with this card can provide surprise advantages in graveyard-synergy decks. Despite its potential, cards like Murder can thwart Deadly Grub’s evolution if played right.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Insect
Abilities Vanishing
Power 3
Toughness 1

Text of card

Vanishing 3 (This permanent comes into play with three time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.) When Deadly Grub is put into a graveyard from play, if it had no time counters on it, put a 6/1 green Insect creature token into play with "This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities."

Cards like Deadly Grub

Exploring the depths of creature cards reveals Deadly Grub as an intriguing option for deck builders in Magic: The Gathering. This card bears a resemblance to Rockslide Elemental, as both creatures have the potential to grow stronger throughout the game. Specifically, Deadly Grub transforms into a formidable insect token with the power to fly overhead, should it find itself in a graveyard during the upkeep with three or more time counters on it.

Adjacent to Deadly Grub is the card Fungal Behemoth, which relies on the suspend mechanic, swelling in strength with each passing turn. Fungal Behemoth shares the inevitability of Deadly Grub, as both cards have the mechanism to become more threatening as the game progresses. Yet, it doesn’t have the same transformative surprise as Deadly Grub. Cateran Slaver, also echoes this slow-burn potential. While not sharing the insect theme, it can become unexpectedly powerful, challenging other creatures as the turns go by.

Ultimately, Deadly Grub stands out with its unique combination of delayed gratification and an inevitable aerial threat. It’s a strategic component for players looking to capitalize on time-based mechanics and the element of surprise in Magic: The Gathering, providing a pathway to potentially overpowering their opponents in the later stages of the game.

Rockslide Elemental - MTG Card versions
Fungal Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Cateran Slaver - MTG Card versions
Rockslide Elemental - MTG Card versions
Fungal Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Cateran Slaver - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Deadly Grub can be a boon for players looking to sustain their momentum in the later stages of the game. Since it transforms into a powerful creature with a robust card draw ability under the right conditions, it enables you to replenish your hand and keep the pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: In its transformed state, this creature can serve as a formidable engine for resource acceleration. Notably, it can generate an additional benefit each time it deals combat damage, potentially unlocking new levels of gameplay by giving you access to more of your deck’s capabilities.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of playing at instant speed is crucial in competitive play. Deadly Grub doesn’t just sit on the battlefield waiting; it adds strategic depth by allowing you to react to your opponent’s moves, keeping your options open until you need to commit to a line of play.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Deadly Grub requires a specific condition to be met before it transforms into a butterfly with a 6/1 flying stat line. Not meeting this requirement means you could be left with a slow, underperforming creature on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that includes black mana, Deadly Grub may not seamlessly fit into decks that aren’t aligned with black mana strategies or that have a more demanding mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a three-mana cost for a 3/1 body, this card often pales in comparison to other creatures in the same cost bracket. There are more impactful cards with a 3/1 stat line or better that could potentially provide more immediate effects or value to your game plan.

Reasons to Include Deadly Grub in Your Collection

Versatility: Deadly Grub may not seem like a standout at first glance, but its versatility becomes apparent in decks that thrive on graveyard synergy or require creature sacrifice fodder.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Deadly Grub transforms upon reaching the graveyard, offering a surprising twist that can catch opponents off-guard. This makes it an interesting choice for strategies revolving around death triggers or token generation.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where longer games predominate, the inevitable metamorphosis of Deadly Grub into a formidable insect token provides a persistent threat that adapts well to various match-ups and rounds out your board presence.

How to beat

Confronting the Deadly Grub in MTG presents an intriguing challenge. This creature, which grows into a fearsome insect after three time counters are removed, can be a ticking time bomb on the battlefield. However, savvy players can navigate this threat with strategic plays. One effective method is employing spot removal before the transformation occurs, as the Grub is more vulnerable in its initial stage. Sorcery-speed removal spells are perfect, so consider cards like Murder or Doom Blade to eradicate the threat promptly.

Alternatively, one can utilize exile effects to circumvent the ‘deadly’ death-trigger transformation. Cards such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can handle the Grub regardless of its stage without triggering its transformation ability. It’s crucial to keep up interaction abilities in mana and wait for the opportune moment to take action. Controlling the board and keeping removal or exile spells in hand when facing a deck with Deadly Grub ensures that the insect menace never gets to flex its full potential on the battlefield.

In essence, maneuvering around Deadly Grub boils down to timing and the choice of removal. Keeping removal ready, or using exile spells, can prevent this creature from ever posing a substantial threat to your game plan.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deadly Grub MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos and Time Spiral Remastered, 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 Deadly Grub and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deadly Grub Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-02-02 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by E. M. Gist.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-02-02Planar ChaosPLC 692003NormalBlackE. M. Gist
22021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1082015NormalBlackE. M. Gist

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deadly Grub has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Deadly Grub card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2007-02-01 The ability checks to see if Deadly Grub had no time counters on it at the time it was put into a graveyard from the battlefield. This doesn’t necessarily mean it must have been sacrificed due to vanishing; it could have been put into the graveyard some other way (say, while the sacrifice ability of vanishing is on the stack).