Grisly Transformation MTG Card

Instant speed allows for surprise tactics, changing combat dynamics on the fly with Grisly Transformation. Sacrificing a creature can be a downside, but it’s balanced by the potential combat and board control gains. Despite a higher mana cost, its utility and versatility can justify its inclusion in creature-focused decks.

Grisly Transformation - Born of the Gods (BNG)

Born of the Gods (BNG)
2014-02-07 - Number 74

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number BNG-74

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature When Grisly Transformation enters the battlefield, draw a card. Enchanted creature has intimidate. (It can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)

Cards like Grisly Transformation

Grisly Transformation in Magic: The Gathering offers creatures an intimidating edge by granting intimidate and turning an ordinary creature into a daunting opponent. This card bears resemblance to enchantments like Shade’s Form, which also confers a fear-like ability. However, Grisly Transformation shines with its cantrip effect, allowing a player to draw a card upon casting, providing card advantage which Shade’s Form doesn’t offer.

Comparatively, Skeletal Grimace is another aura that gives a minor toughness boost alongside a regenerative ability. While it fortifies the enchanted creature’s resilience, it misses out on the cantrip bonus. Then we have Fear itself, a classic aura that bestows the fear ability exclusively, but it’s less versatile due to its restriction to black creatures. Grisly Transformation’s intimidate allows for slightly broader evasion, affecting all but artifact creatures and those sharing a color with the enchanted creature.

Delving into the aspects and strategic worth of similar enchantments, Grisly Transformation presents a unique concoction of evasion and card draw, positioning itself as a noteworthy option for MTG players looking to subtly alter the battlefield dynamics.

Cards similar to Grisly Transformation by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grisly Transformation provides an edge in a game through its unique ability to make a creature not only harder to block by granting Intimidate, but this can indirectly lead to card advantage by allowing for consistent damage and potential game-winning combat situations.

Resource Acceleration: While Grisly Transformation itself does not directly accelerate resources, the enchantment empowers a quicker clock to victory, allowing you to maximize the use of your creatures as a resource for applying pressure and dealing damage efficiently.

Instant Speed: As an aura that can be cast at instant speed, Grisly Transformation offers versatile gameplay options, enabling surprise combat tricks or evasive maneuvers during battle. By waiting for the perfect moment, you can effectively change the course of combat, potentially saving a creature from removal or making it an unblockable threat on the fly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Grisly Transformation necessitates sacrificing a creature, which might reduce your board presence and set you back if you’re already struggling to maintain a strong lineup.

Specific Mana Cost: It demands one black mana specifically, potentially restricting its inclusion in multi-colored decks that may not reliably produce the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its three mana requirement to cast, players might find Grisly Transformation a bit steep when other enchantment options could provide similar or greater utility at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Grisly Transformation can be a flexible addition to decks revolving around creature-based strategies. Its ability to give a creature intimidate provides a reliable means of getting through an opponent’s defenses. Whether you play a fast-paced aggro deck or a build focused on evasive tactics, this enchantment can serve an important role.

Combo Potential: This card shows promise when paired with cards that benefit from being enchanted or creatures you want to protect from being blocked. With the right synergies in play, Grisly Transformation can unlock combo opportunities to outmaneuver your opponents effortlessly.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board control is crucial, the intimidate mechanic can be surprisingly relevant. If the current meta includes decks that rely on creatures for control or blockade, Grisly Transformation can turn the tide by making key creatures nearly unblockable, paving the way for critical hits.

How to beat

Grisly Transformation is one of those enchantment cards in MTG that can turn a simple creature into a significant threat. The card not only grants an aura of intimidation but also confers the invaluable ability of intimidation itself, which makes the creature nearly unblockable except by artifact creatures and/or those that share a color.

In facing down such a card, removal spells are your best ally. Since Grisly Transformation is an aura, dealing with the enchanted creature promptly negates the card’s benefit. Broad-sweeping removal such as board wipes which don’t discriminate based on creature abilities or enchantments status can be extremely effective. Direct removal spells that can target creatures at instant speed provide an efficient response to the threat before it does any damage. Remember, timing is crucial when responding to threats that enhance a creature’s capability, especially those that make it hard to block.

Strategy-wise, always keep up enough mana to cast your removal when you suspect your opponent might enhance their creature. By staying one step ahead and disrupting your opponent’s strategy with timely removal, you’ll neutralize the threat of Grisly Transformation and maintain control of the board.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grisly Transformation MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods and The List, 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 Grisly Transformation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grisly Transformation Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-02-07 and 2014-02-07. Illustrated by Tyler Jacobson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2014-02-07	Born of the Gods	BNG		74	2003	Normal	Black	Tyler Jacobson
2	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST		BNG-74	2003	Normal	Black	Tyler Jacobson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grisly Transformation has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal