Hunt for Specimens MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Learn |
| Released | 2021-04-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Strixhaven: School of Mages |
| Set code | STX |
| Number | 73 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Randy Vargas |
Text of card
Create a 1/1 black and green Pest creature token with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life." Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
Cards like Hunt for Specimens
Hunt for Specimens stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its ability to both fetch cards and create a Pest token. Analogous to cards like Scheming Symmetry, where players can search their libraries for a card, Hunt for Specimens offers a less symmetrical advantage by only allowing its caster to learn, i.e., fetch a Lesson card from outside the game. Yet, it does not offer the immediate deck manipulation that Scheming Symmetry does.
Another comparable card is Diabolic Tutor which also allows a player to search their library for a card. Although Diabolic Tutor does not create a Pest token, it does not limit the search to an outside-the-game card, thus providing wider flexibility in card choices. However, the key differentiator is the mana cost, with Hunt for Specimens costing considerably less.
Hunt for Specimens can be seen as a niche yet efficient addition to your deck. Its unique combination of searching out Lessons and adding a creature to the battlefield gives it an edge, especially in formats where Lessons can be played. This card offers strategic value, particularly when synergizing with other learn cards or cards that benefit from token generation.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Hunt for Specimens. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | WBRG | Pauper | Pauper League 2024-02-18 | |
 | Jund Combo | Pauper | Sprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 2^ tappa MILANO 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Hunt for Specimens opens up possibilities for card advantage through Learn, enabling you to fetch valuable Lesson cards directly to your hand or to rummage for a better card by discarding and drawing.
Resource Acceleration: The ability to search for a specific Lesson card can accelerate in-game resources by obtaining exactly what you need based on the game situation, providing a strategic edge.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the ability to choose an Instant-speed Lesson card gives flexibility in your game play, fitting seamlessly into your strategy while catching opponents off-guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Hunt for Specimens can offer strategic tutoring for your learn mechanic, it does not come without a drawback. There is no direct discard associated with this card, nevertheless, the potential card advantage gained from learning might be mitigated by the subsequent choice to discard in order to employ Lesson cards obtained this way.
Specific Mana Cost: Hunt for Specimens requires black mana in its casting cost, making it an exclusive spell for decks running that color. This can potentially limit the flexibility for deck builders who are operating outside of black or its compatible combinations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering this card’s ability to search your sideboard for a Lesson card, the cost of two mana may appear fair. However, other competitive formats might offer more immediately impactful spells or creatures for a similar or even lower mana investment, rendering Hunt for Specimens less appealing in highly optimized play environments.
Reasons to Include Hunt for Specimens in Your Collection
Versatility: Hunt for Specimens is a card with flexible applications, easily sliding into various decks. This particular spell provides a solid foundation for strategies centered around learning and situational adaptability. Whether you’re fetching an essential lesson from your sideboard or simply populating your hand with options, its utility is broad.
Combo Potential: As a piece of the larger puzzle, Hunt for Specimens has the potential to act as a catalyst in combos. It’s pivotal in sequencing, allowing players to obtain critical lesson cards that can interact with other components on the board, thereby unlocking powerful combinations and amplifying the synergy within your deck.
Meta-Relevance: Given its nature to tactically retrieve lessons, Hunt for Specimens maintains relevance in metas where fine-tuned strategy and specific answers are crucial. This card can help keep pace with evolving trends, ensuring your deck remains competitive and capable of contending with an array of common threats and playstyles.
How to Beat Hunt for Specimens
Hunt for Specimens is an unassuming yet strategic spell encountered in Magic: The Gathering that offers players the chance to delve into their sideboard for an essential lesson card. This seemingly innocuous sorcery can set up pivotal plays by fetching tailored answers or creating token generators that shift the tide of battle.
To counteract the advantage Hunt for Specimens provides, players should consider applying pressure early in the game. Forcing an opponent to respond to threats on the board limits their opportunities to benefit from tutoring up their sideboard. Additionally, disrupt their mana base or hand to prevent them from casting the tutored card, thus negating the tempo gained from Hunt for Specimens.
Graveyard disruption is another effective strategy. By using cards that exile or shuffle an opponent’s graveyard back into their library, you can hinder their ability to recur spells with learn or capitalize on additional graveyard synergies. Playing around Hunt for Specimens requires foresight and disruption, challenging the caster to think beyond the immediate gain of their next lesson card and deal with your direct threats instead.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hunt for Specimens MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Hunt for Specimens 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hunt for Specimens has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hunt for Specimens card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-04-16 | If a card is brought into the game from outside the game, it will stay in the game until it ends or until its owner leaves the game, whichever comes first. |
| 2021-04-16 | If instructed to learn, you may do nothing. Discarding a card and putting a Lesson card into your hand are both optional. |
| 2021-04-16 | If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Constructed tournament (or a Constructed game played under tournament conditions), you may select only a card from your sideboard. In casual Constructed games, the card comes from your collection. |
| 2021-04-16 | If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Sealed Deck or Booster Draft event, you may select only a card that is in the card pool that you built your deck from. |