Foundry Beetle MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Equipment Insect |
| Abilities | First strike,Reconfigure |
| Released | 2022-03-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy: Kamigawa |
| Set code | YNEO |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 19 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jamroz Gary |
Text of card
First strike Equipped creature has first strike. At the beginning of your upkeep, a random artifact card in your hand perpetually gains "This spell costs less to cast." Reconfigure (: Attach to target creature you control; or unattach from a creature. Reconfigure only as a sorcery. While attached, this isn't a creature.)
Cards like Foundry Beetle
Foundry Beetle enters the diverse landscape of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering with a unique angle. This artifact creature shares similarities with Iron Myr, as both embody the synergy between creature play and mana acceleration. However, Foundry Beetle distinguishes itself by gaining a +1/+1 counter when another artifact enters the battlefield under your control, as opposed to Iron Myr’s ability to tap for mana.
When considering cards with counter advantages, Arcbound Worker comes to mind. This creature also benefits from the modular mechanic, allowing its counters to be transferred upon death. Unlike Foundry Beetle, it offers immediate value with modular 1, yet doesn’t share the same potential for incremental growth that Foundry Beetle possesses with repeated artifact plays.
Evaluating within the context of MTG, Foundry Beetle provides an interesting tool for artifact-centric decks seeking to apply pressure and develop a board presence with self-scaling creatures. It offers a strategic edge to players favoring synergy over the straightforward functionality of cards like Iron Myr or the immediate but finite impact of Arcbound Worker.
Cards similar to Foundry Beetle by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Foundry Beetle. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Boros Aggro | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 15 2024 | |
 | Jeskai Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 12 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Foundry Beetle may not directly offer card draw, but its presence on the battlefield contributes to strengthening your board position. This synergy-based card works exceptionally well if you are running a strategy that manipulates +1/+1 counters, essentially giving you more value from the cards you play.
Resource Acceleration: With Foundry Beetle, each artifact you control that gets to the graveyard adds a +1/+1 counter on it. This accelerates your resource advantage by enhancing your creatures’ stats without investing additional mana, essentially getting more bang for your buck each time you play an artifact-centric card.
Instant Speed: While Foundry Beetle itself isn’t comparable to an instant-speed spell, it is a creature that benefits whenever artifacts reach your graveyard. This ability hooks conveniently into instant-speed interactions where you might sacrifice artifacts during your opponent’s turn for various effects, subsequently buffing your beetle without waiting for your own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Foundry Beetle arrives with a baggage – the necessity to discard a card to leverage any additional benefits. This can set players back, especially if their hand is running low on options or if they’re required to throw away a crucial component for later strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: This insect also demands a specific blend of energy, including colorless and red mana. Such a requirement may not always seamlessly fit into your mana base, potentially slowing down your game plan or rendering it incompatible with decks that don’t support red mana as efficiently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature with its abilities, Foundry Beetle asks for a considerable mana investment. When it hits the battlefield, you might find that the mana could have been allocated to creatures or spells that provide immediate impact or more significant advantage, making its cost a potential liability in fast-paced matches.
Reasons to Include Foundry Beetle in Your Collection
Versatility: Foundry Beetle offers a unique advantage since it can be incorporated into decks that capitalize on both +1/+1 counters and artifact synergies, making it a solid choice for various strategies.
Combo Potential: This creature works well with effects that multiply or move +1/+1 counters, as well as those that exploit the presence of artifacts. This allows for complex interactions and powerful turns on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: Given its affordable mana cost and synergy with popular artifact-centric strategies, Foundry Beetle fits comfortably in the meta where it can often outperform the competition in terms of value and utility.
How to beat
Foundry Beetle is a unique creature that steps into play in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering, providing resourcefulness to decks focused on +1/+1 counters. With its entry into the battlefield, it immediately finds synergy in strategies aimed at exploiting artifact removal. Understanding how to effectively counteract the Beetle’s advantages becomes essential for players facing this card.
To undermine the strength of Foundry Beetle, prioritizing the removal of artifacts before the beetle lands is crucial, as its strength grows with the number of artifacts lying in the graveyard. Creature removal spells that don’t send creatures to the graveyard such as exile or bounce effects can prevent the Beetle from becoming a persistent threat on the board.
Additionally, clear the battlefield of counter-heavy creatures that could potentially magnify the Beetle’s impact. Employing board wipes can reset the state of play, minimizing the benefits that Foundry Beetle aims to reap. In summary, a strategy incorporating preemptive artifact control, decisive creature removal, and attentive board management proves to be an effective trifecta against Foundry Beetle in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Foundry Beetle MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Kamigawa, 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 Foundry Beetle and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Foundry Beetle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |