Biomass Mutation MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Instant speed of Biomass Mutation can unexpectedly alter battles, providing a strategic advantage.
  2. The card requires substantial mana, which may affect efficiency and other play options.
  3. Biomass Mutation’s color restriction aligns with Simic decks, limiting its deck compatibility.

Text of card

Creatures you control become X/X until end of turn.

"A regression to ancient forms? A glimpse of future evolutions? Or a fleeting alteration of the present?" —Vorel of the Hull Clade


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Biomass Mutation shines in decks that focus on quantity of creatures as much as the quality. It has the potential to turn a swarm of modest creatures into game-ending monsters, netting significant card advantage by making every creature a significant threat.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, but it synergizes well with strategies that do. Cards that ramp your mana allow you to invest more into Biomass Mutation’s X cost, resulting in a larger, more impactful surge in creature power and toughness.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Biomass Mutation is in its versatility thanks to its instant speed. It offers the ability to completely alter combat outcomes unexpectedly, bluff during combat phases, or respond to an opponent’s actions by suddenly boosting your creatures’ size, which can lead to favorable trades or even outright victory.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though not a direct discard requirement, Biomass Mutation demands a significant investment as its effectiveness relies on a substantial mana input. Given its X cost mechanism, it can be cumbersome when your mana pool is limited or when you’re pressured to maintain a defensive stance with potential counterspells.

Specific Mana Cost: The synergy of Biomass Mutation is inherently tied to decks that align with its Simic guild colors (green and blue). This specific mana requirement may deter it from being a staple in decks that cannot reliably generate both types of mana, thus reducing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Biomass Mutation has the potential to be a game-changing play, its mana value can become burdensome. To make creatures significantly larger, a hefty mana investment is needed which might be better utilized on building board presence or other control elements, especially in fast-paced games where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Biomass Mutation offers the unique ability to surprise opponents with an army of unexpected massive creatures. This card can seamlessly adapt to a range of situations, making it a valuable asset in decks that aim for sudden, game-winning strikes.

Combo Potential: This card works wonders in synergy with deck strategies revolving around creature numbers, such as token decks, by transforming a wide board into lethal attackers regardless of their original power and toughness.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board states can be cluttered with creatures, Biomass Mutation provides a way to turn the tide of battle, potentially bypassing stalemates and dominating combat in what could be a critical turn.


How to beat

Biomass Mutation is a unique card within the Magic: The Gathering realm, often turning an unassuming horde of creatures into a lethal army in mere moments. Its power resides in its ability to make the creature’s size match the mana invested into the spell. To effectively counter this green-blue instant, one approach is to use removal spells that clear the board before the Mutation’s effects can manifest. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can be game-changers against it.

Alternatively, permission spells such as Counterspell or Negate offer a direct solution by preventing Biomass Mutation from resolving in the first place. Hand disruption tactics, including Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, can disrupt your opponent’s plan by removing the card from their hand before they have a chance to cast it. Timing is critical – keeping mana open for counters or swiftly slashing at an opponent’s creature base can ensure that Biomass Mutation never has the opportunity to alter the tide of battle.

The key to overcoming this spell lies in anticipation and disruption. Knowing when to dismantle an opponent’s strategy before it unfolds makes all the difference in coming out on top against Biomass Mutation’s potential for a surprise victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Are you ready to give your creature horde the sudden boost they need to clinch victory? With Biomass Mutation, you tip combat in your favor at a moment’s notice. Perfect for decks brimming with creatures, this instant spell can dramatically swing a game when played strategically. Are you curious about including Biomass Mutation in your arsenal or finding ways to counter it? Dive deeper with us, and together we’ll explore strategies, synergies, and counters to refine your gameplay to perfection. Advance your MTG prowess—learn more and consider adding Biomass Mutation to your collection for unparalleled combat domination.


Cards like Biomass Mutation

Biomass Mutation is a unique spell in MTG that brings an interesting dynamic to creature-based strategies. Its closest relative in terms of enhancing creatures is Overwhelming Stampede. This spell also scales the power and toughness of creatures but bases it on the largest creature you control, providing a potential for massive growth. However, Biomass Mutation not only adjusts power and toughness but also allows you to define an exact value for those attributes, granting unprecedented control over the board’s power dynamic.

Another noteworthy comparison is with Strength of the Tajuru, which multiplies counters on creatures. While similar in its scaling potential, Strength of the Tajuru doesn’t offer the same immediate combat surprise that a flash play of Biomass Mutation might. Creature buffs from Biomass Mutation are also not restricted by current counters, again emphasizing flexibility and adaptability during various phases of the game.

Ultimately, Biomass Mutation stands out in the realm of creature enhancement cards. Its ability to set creature attributes regardless of size or counters it makes for a versatile surprise tactic that can dramatically alter the state of the game, particularly in a creature-heavy deck that can capitalize on the sudden shift in power.

Overwhelming Stampede - MTG Card versions
Strength of the Tajuru - MTG Card versions
Overwhelming Stampede - Magic 2011 (M11)
Strength of the Tajuru - Worldwake (WWK)

Cards similar to Biomass Mutation by color, type and mana cost

Decisive Denial - MTG Card versions
Double Major - MTG Card versions
Memory's Journey - MTG Card versions
Simic Charm - MTG Card versions
Hydroform - MTG Card versions
Applied Biomancy - MTG Card versions
Growth Spiral - MTG Card versions
Square Up - MTG Card versions
Ride the Avalanche - MTG Card versions
Joint Exploration - MTG Card versions
Repulsive Mutation - MTG Card versions
Decisive Denial - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Double Major - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Memory's Journey - Innistrad (ISD)
Simic Charm - Explorer Anthology 3 (EA3)
Hydroform - Gatecrash (GTC)
Applied Biomancy - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)
Growth Spiral - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Square Up - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Ride the Avalanche - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Joint Exploration - Dominaria United (DMU)
Repulsive Mutation - Murders at Karlov Manor (MKM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Biomass Mutation MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Commander 2019, 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 Biomass Mutation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Biomass Mutation Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 2132003normalblackDan Scott
22019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1872015normalblackDan Scott
32020-09-26The ListPLST GTC-2132003normalblackDan Scott
42021-04-23Commander 2021C21 2092015normalblackDan Scott
52024-03-08FalloutPIP 4752015normalblackNicholas Gregory
62024-03-08FalloutPIP 7402015normalblackNicholas Gregory
72024-03-08FalloutPIP 10032015normalblackNicholas Gregory
82024-03-08FalloutPIP 2122015normalblackNicholas Gregory

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Biomass Mutation has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-01-24 Biomass Mutation overwrites any effects that set the power and/or toughness of a creature you control to a specific value. Effects that modify power and/or toughness but don’t set them to a specific value (like the one created by Giant Growth), power/toughness changes from counters, and effects that switch a creature’s power and toughness will continue to apply. For example, say you control a 1/1 creature that’s getting +4/+2 from an Aura, has a +1/+1 counter on it, and is affected by an effect that switches its power and toughness. This creature is 4/6. If you cast Biomass Mutation with X equal to 4, the creature would become 7/9 (4/4, +4/+2 from the Aura, +1/+1 from the counter, then switch power and toughness).
2013-01-24 Choosing 0 as the value for X will likely cause creatures you control to become 0/0 and be put into the graveyard.

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