Grizzly Bears MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 26 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Creature — Bear |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 2 |
Cards like Grizzly Bears
Grizzly Bears stands as a timeless creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This simple card, featuring a pair of 2/2 bears for two mana, symbolizes the baseline for creature strength and efficiency in the game. Similarly, we have Runeclaw Bear, which mirrors the power and toughness of Grizzly Bears entirely. The key difference? Runeclaw Bear is a part of a newer set and features updated flavor text, offering a modern twist on the original.
Moving beyond the forests of similar creatures, we encounter Savannah Lions. Although these cats boast an aggressive one mana cost for a 2/1 creature, they are slightly more vulnerable than the sturdy 2/2 bears. Unlike the balanced offensive and defensive capabilities of Grizzly Bears, Savannah Lions lean more towards a quick offense. Conversely, Garruk’s Companion brings a special advantage to the table with trample, setting it apart from the Grizzly Bears despite having the same mana cost and stats, potentially offering more impact in a player’s creature lineup.
Reflecting on the broad range of creature cards, it’s clear that while Grizzly Bears may be outshined in certain aspects by its kin, it still holds a nostalgic place in MTG and remains a benchmark for new card evaluations.
Cards similar to Grizzly Bears by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Grizzly Bears may not offer direct card draw, it’s a reliable creature that often requires an opponent’s removal card to deal with, potentially evening out card parity. Trading efficiently with the bears can sometimes press the opponent into unfavorable exchanges, indirectly tipping the balance of card advantage in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Grizzly Bears, as a classic two-cost 2/2 creature, does not inherently provide resource acceleration. However, it represents a cost-efficient addition to the battlefield, paving the way for more impactful spells to be played sooner by absorbing early game pressure and stabilizing your board presence.
Instant Speed: Although Grizzly Bears is a creature card that lacks instant speed, its simplicity allows players to keep mana available for other instant-speed interactions. Deploying Grizzly Bears leaves you flexible to respond with other spells during your opponent’s turn, keeping the dynamic of the match in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Grizzly Bears forces you to make decisions that could disrupt your hand dynamics, potentially causing you to discard valuable resources that hinder your game development.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that includes green mana, Grizzly Bears can be restrictive and not easily splashed into multi-coloured decks without the right mana-fixing elements in place.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In a constantly evolving MTG landscape, the two mana needed for a 2/2 creature may not be the most cost-effective play, particularly when there are numerous other creatures with added abilities or higher stats available at a similar, if not the same, cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Grizzly Bears is a staple creature with a well-balanced 2/2 body for two mana, making it an excellent and straightforward choice for green decks or any deck needing a solid creature base.
Combo Potential: Its creature type, Bear, allows for synergy with cards that support tribal themes. In addition, its simple mana cost can efficiently be used with various auras, equipments, and green’s creature-focused spells for surprising combos.
Meta-Relevance: While not a powerhouse in ever-changing competitive formats, Grizzly Bears holds its ground in more casual circles and can shine in a meta that favors straightforward, efficient creatures over complex strategies.
How to beat
Grizzly Bears may not rank among the flashiest creatures in Magic the Gathering, but underestimating these 2/2 vanilla creatures could spell trouble. They stand as a testament to simplicity, readily challenging planeswalkers early on the battlefield. Yet, there is a trick to surpassing these forest inhabitants. Given their direct and uncomplicated nature, creatures with higher toughness serve as an excellent counterbalance. A proficient defender or a timely removal spell could easily topple them.
Additionally, employing creatures with reach or flyers takes the upper hand, as Grizzly Bears lack any form of evasion. This allows players to dictate air combat while holding a line of defense on the ground. Should the situation necessitate, spells that deal direct damage or mass removals also serve as reliable ways to clear these creatures from the board. Hence, while Grizzly Bears present a reliable early game threat, they can be systematically outmaneuvered with the correct strategy and a well-rounded deck.
Above all, understanding the dynamics of your deck, along with anticipating simple yet effective threats like Grizzly Bears, can make all the difference during a match. Keeping cool and playing smart ensures these creatures become little more than a minor hindrance in your path to victory.
BurnMana Recommendations
Grizzly Bears may seem unassuming, but they exemplify the very heart of MTG: strategic creature play and deck building. Whether you’re bolstering your collection or sharpening your competitive edge, these creatures can teach valuable lessons in efficiency and adaptability. As you journey further into the MTG realm, consider the role that foundational cards like Grizzly Bears play in understanding the game’s mechanics. Dive deeper with us, discover innovative strategies, and enrich your gameplay. Elevate your MTG tactics and collection by learning more about the potential hidden in these classic cards.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grizzly Bears MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Grizzly Bears 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
Printings
The Grizzly Bears Magic the Gathering card was released in 22 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
Show/hide all sets# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 199 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 200 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 200 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 200 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 200 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 201 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 201 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 201 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 250 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 250 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
11 | 1996-07-01 | Rivals Quick Start Set | RQS | 41 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
12 | 1996-12-31 | Introductory Two-Player Set | ITP | 42 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
13 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 301 | 1997 | Normal | White | Una Fricker | |
14 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 169 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Zina Saunders | |
15 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 236 | 1997 | Normal | White | Una Fricker | |
16 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 129 | 1997 | Normal | White | Una Fricker | |
17 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 251★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | D. J. Cleland-Hura | |
18 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 251 | 1997 | Normal | White | D. J. Cleland-Hura | |
19 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 256 | 2003 | Normal | White | D. J. Cleland-Hura | |
20 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 256★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | D. J. Cleland-Hura | |
21 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 246 | 2003 | Normal | White | D. J. Cleland-Hura | |
22 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 246★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | D. J. Cleland-Hura | |
23 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 268 | 2003 | Normal | Black | D. J. Cleland-Hura | |
24 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 580 | 2015 | Normal | Black | D. J. Cleland-Hura | |
25 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 492 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
26 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 195 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grizzly Bears has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Oldschool | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |