Necropanther MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Cat Nightmare
Abilities Mutate
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Necropanther excels at returning key creatures, providing a significant two-for-one board advantage.
  2. Mutate at instant speed with Necropanther for unexpected combat maneuvers and strategic depth.
  3. Its specific mana cost may limit versatility, but its strengths in targeted decks are undeniable.

Text of card

Mutate {W/B}{W/B} (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.) Whenever this creature mutates, return target creature card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Necropanther provides card value by allowing you to return a target creature card with converted mana cost 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield when you cast it. This mutualistic ability can swing the tide of the game by effectively generating a two-for-one scenario—playing a creature and reanimating another.

Resource Acceleration: While Necropanther itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the creature it brings back could contribute to your mana development or other facets of gameplay, potentially accelerating your position in the match. This synergy of reanimation might hit key mana dorks or utilities that can shape the pace and flow of your strategy.

Instant Speed: Although Necropanther is not an instant, its Mutate ability can be applied at instant speed, offering a versatile edge in combat or response situations. This surprise factor may catch an opponent off guard, facilitating a strategic advantage during their turn or in response to their actions, and layering tactical depth into each match you play.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Necropanther demands discarding another card as a part of its mutating cost, which might backfire when you’re running low on hand options or when each card in your hand is critical for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a precise mana combination of white and black for its mutate ability, Necropanther may struggle to find a place in multicolor decks not focused on this particular color pair, slightly reducing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mutation cost of three mana, including a colored mana requirement, Necropanther might be seen as costly when evaluated against other creatures with the mutate mechanic, especially when considering the speed of the current meta where lower-cost creatures can be more beneficial.


Reasons to Include Necropanther in Your Collection

Versatility: Necropanther offers a unique blend of creature reanimation and a solid combat presence. Its mutate ability allows you to return another target creature card with converted mana cost 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield, adapting to various game states and offering strategic depth.

Combo Potential: The card’s synergy with a mutate mechanic can lead to powerful interactions, especially in decks that aim to utilize the graveyard as a resource. Coupled with other mutate cards, Necropanther can become part of a combo chain, leading to game-winning moves.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ebb and flow of the MTG meta, Necropanther’s ability to reclaim key creatures from the graveyard means it can be a resilient tool against control decks that rely on removal to maintain board state. This flexibility ensures it has a place in competitive play where adaptability is key.


How to beat

Necropanther is a multifaceted creature in Magic: The Gathering that shines in decks leveraging its mutate ability. When utilized constructively, it can lead to significant board presence by returning creatures from your graveyard to the battlefield. To outsmart an opponent armed with this card, it is essential to disrupt their graveyard or preempt the mutate mechanic altogether.

Employing graveyard hate cards like Grafdigger’s Cage can prevent Necropanther’s mutation trigger from resurrecting creatures. Alternatively, maintaining removal spells or counterspells, such as Path to Exile or Counterspell, allows you to interrupt the mutation process or deal with the Necropanther before it becomes a larger threat. Control decks that manage the battlefield and keep the creature count low will also limit Necropanther’s effectiveness, as its strength is proportional to the creatures available for its mutation ability.

Understanding and preparing for the strategies in which Necropanther excels will be beneficial. By disrupting the synergy it aims to exploit, you can neutralize its impact and maintain an advantage over decks that rely heavily on its mutate ability. This tactical foresight ensures that the cat doesn’t slip through to claim another of its nine lives.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG enthusiasts often seek to amplify their strategies and the Necropanther card is a crafty component that enhances gameplay through skillful graveyard interaction. With its ability to bring essential pieces back to the battlefield, this card can subtly shift the game in your favor. Whether you are a newcomer honing your deck-building skills or an experienced player eager to refine your tactical play, understanding and utilizing the strengths of cards like Necropanther can be pivotal. We invite you to delve deeper into the nuances of MTG and enrich your collection with cards that offer both challenge and reward. Learn more about the strategies and synergies that make the most of Necropanther’s potential in our comprehensive guides.


Cards like Necropanther

Necropanther is a versatile creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, nestling itself comfortably in decks that capitalize on the mutate mechanic. It is comparable to cards such as Auspicious Starrix, which also allows players to mutate and manifests its strength by exiling cards from the top of the library, potentially putting permanents onto the battlefield. Necropanther, distinctively, brings back a creature card with a lower converted mana cost from your graveyard to the battlefield when it mutates, offering a more specific but highly valuable form of recursion.

Looking at Cubwarden, another creature with mutate, we see a stark contrast. Cubwarden generates a 1/1 White Cat creature token with lifelink for each time it mutates, adding immediate board presence and life-gaining utility. Necropanther, on the contrary, may not provide such immediate board widening but offers strategic recovery by selecting and reviving key creatures from the graveyard. This strategy could pivot game outcomes when executed proficiently.

In light of these comparisons, it’s evident that Necropanther holds its own within the mutate category of MTG cards by offering uniquely valuable reanimation capabilities that can be critical in mid-to-late-game scenarios, enhancing deck resilience and potency.

Auspicious Starrix - MTG Card versions
Cubwarden - MTG Card versions
Auspicious Starrix - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Cubwarden - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Necropanther MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Necropanther and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Necropanther Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2020-04-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 809552015mutateblackKev Walker
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 1962015mutateblackJason A. Engle
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 3022015mutateblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Necropanther has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-04-17 If a card in a player’s graveyard has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.

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