Devouring Swarm MTG Card


Devouring Swarm yields card advantage by shaping strategy through its creature consumption ability. Resource Acceleration: Frees up mana and increases gameplay flexibility with sacrifice mechanics. Instant Speed: Provides tactical edge by allowing actions during opponents’ turns.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Insect
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Flying Sacrifice a creature: Devouring Swarm gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Their arrival is heralded by the deafening hum of ten thousand wings. Their departure is marked by the silence of the dead.


Cards like Devouring Swarm

The Devouring Swarm is an intriguing addition to the world of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its abilities are comparable to other creature cards such as Pestilent Swarm, that also notably share the cost of sacrificing a creature for added benefits. However, Devouring Swarm’s unique benefit of gaining flying and the strength equivalent to the sacrificed creature sets it apart.

In the same category, we find cards like Carrion Feeder. It also has the similar ability of sacrificing a creature for growth, but it lacks the Devouring Swarm’s advantage of gaining flying which helps drive aggressive gameplay. On the flip side, fans of Carrion Feeder may argue on its cost; it’s cheaper than Devouring Swarm by a single mana point—an important metric for MTG players to consider.

Demon of Death’s Gate is another card that can be brought into this comparison. It allows more flexibility in terms of sacrificing creatures but at a hefty cost when compared to Devouring Swarm.

After considering attributes, assessing alternatives, it can be said Devouring Swarm serves well in MTG decks that focus on aggressive tactics and creature sacrifice strategies, lending the player strategic dominance and a tactical edge.

Carrion Feeder - MTG Card versions
Demon of Death's Gate - MTG Card versions
Carrion Feeder - MTG Card versions
Demon of Death's Gate - MTG Card versions

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Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
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Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
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Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: It is crucial to establish that Devouring Swarm already provides a card advantage. The presence of this card in your deck allows you to mould your strategy around it, offering you the benefit of planning your moves in a handy way. Its ability to eat other creatures for power definitely makes your game powerful.

Resource Acceleration: Devouring Swarm is a resource powerhouse. The sacrifice mechanic not only gives power to the Swarm but it frees up your mana, accelerating your resource availability. It increases the flexibility of your gameplay with the added bonus of mana liberation.

Instant Speed: This aspect of Devouring Swarm is another plus. Its ability can be used at instant speed which gives you an edge. It allows you to take immediate action, providing a tactical advantage in gameplay, especially during your opponent’s turn. This adaptability is what makes Devouring Swarm an intriguing MTG card amongst players.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One shortfall of Devouring Swarm is its need for you to discard something in your possession in order to build its strength. This necessity could be a setback, especially when your cards in play are minimal.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost, demanding one black mana, limits the utilization of Devouring Swarm to decks that can generate black mana. This specific mana obligation hinders the card’s versatility in diverse deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Presenting a casting cost of three mana in addition to the black mana required, Devouring Swarm might seem costly compared to alternative creatures with similar or even higher power and toughness. This elevated mana requirement could stall your game strategy, making it a potential drawback.


Reasons to Include Devouring Swarm in Your Collection

Versatility: Devouring Swarm is a flexible card that can adapt to various situations on the battlefield. With its unique sacrifice feature, it can modify its power and toughness to take charge of the game. This can be especially favorable in decks that utilize creature tokens.

Combo Potential: This card provides a plethora of combinations, amplifying its impact during the game. By integrating it with strategies that generate creature tokens, you can increase its power while also dictating the pace of the play.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to alter its power and toughness to match the game’s flow, Devouring Swarm fits perfectly into meta that features a variety of creature-based strategies. Its functionality can make it a powerful tool in heavy creature-based matchups.


How to beat

Confronting Devouring Swarm, an intriguing card in Magic: The Gathering, comes with tactics and measures. The card’s power is determined by the number of creatures sacrificed to it. To overcome this, manage your board effectively and employ removal spells for detrimental removal of creatures from your opponent’s side. This will lower the boost Devouring Swarm gets. Similarly, watch out for the creation of creature tokens that will fuel the Swarm’s power.

Another manner is deploying cards with exile abilities such as Path to Exile or Settle the Wreckage. These spells can remove the Swarm permanently, regardless of its power. Other effective cards are instant speed targeting removal such as Murder or Fatal Push.

Understanding the game layers and realizing when to execute your spells is pivotal too. Interrupting your adversary’s move of boosting Swarm’s power by vanishing the responsive creature can be a game-changer.

Finally, never underestimate resource management and know when to pull the plug. But remember, maintaining control over the field and making strategic moves can ultimately turn the tides against a Devouring Swarm in your MTG game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG gameplay with the strategic incorporation of cards like Devouring Swarm can significantly reshape the dynamics of your deck. Its unique ability to thrive on the sacrifice of other creatures adds a layer of complexity and potential power boosts that cannot be overlooked. Whether you’re in it to refine your current strategy or looking for new tactics to outmaneuver your opponents, understanding the multifaceted nature of cards like Devouring Swarm is key. Dive deeper into the strategic uses of this card, explore how it fits into various deck builds, and uncover its full potential. Let’s advance your knowledge and deck prowess together—elevate your MTG experience with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Devouring Swarm MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Devouring Swarm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Devouring Swarm Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Wayne England.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-07-15Magic 2012M12 912003NormalBlackWayne England
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4012015NormalBlackWayne England

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Devouring Swarm has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal