Kalonian Behemoth MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kalonian Behemoth, with its sheer presence on the battlefield, often demands an answer from opponents. Due to its heft, removing the Behemoth usually requires more than one card from your opponent’s hand, effectively serving as a card advantage for you even if the Behemoth is eventually dealt with.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration, the Behemoth’s substantial power and toughness make it an ideal target for “ramp” strategies. Decks that focus on quickly accumulating mana can put Kalonian Behemoth into play early, turning it into a powerful resource that pressures opponents immensely.

Instant Speed: Although Kalonian Behemoth does not possess any abilities that it can activate at instant speed, its massive 9/9 stats mean that once it is on the battlefield, it has to be treated with urgency. Opponents must factor it into their combat and spell casting decisions immediately, often altering their game plan at a pace they’re not comfortable with.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Kalonian Behemoth, as part of a beastly green lineup, thankfully sidesteps this particular downside, making it an intriguing choice for decks that favor creature permanence over potential card loss.

Specific Mana Cost: This towering creature commands an exclusive green mana cost allocation, necessitating a significant green mana base. This specificity can hinder the card’s inclusion in multicolored decks that may struggle to consistently meet the green mana threshold.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a summoning cost that soars to eight mana, the Kalonian Behemoth’s strength comes at a steep price. The substantial mana investment needed to bring this titanic beast to the battlefield means players must wait longer to unleash its potential, while other cards at lower mana costs could be providing immediate benefits.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kalonian Behemoth is a formidable card that can seamlessly integrate into green heavy decks, especially those that rely on creature strength and stompy tactics. Its sheer size makes it an impactful presence on any battlefield.

Combo Potential: With its massive 9/9 structure, the behemoth works wonders in decks that synergize with high power creatures. It’s ideal for combinations with cards that grant trample or other evasion abilities, ensuring that its strength translates into direct player damage.

Meta-Relevance: Given its resilience against most removal spells due to its “Shroud” ability, the behemoth can be a game-changer in a meta that heavily leans on targeted removal, securing your board presence while opponents struggle to find an answer.

How to beat

Kalonian Behemoth is one of those formidable cards that can be a real challenge to tackle on the battlefield. With its massive 9/9 stats and shroud, it means it can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control, it often seems like an indestructible force once it hits the table. The key to overcoming this green juggernaut is to plan ahead and focus on non-targeting strategies. Board wipe spells that don’t target individual creatures, like Day of Judgment or Wrath of God, can clear the behemoth off the board despite its shroud. Cards that change the rules of engagement, such as Meekstone, which taps creatures with power 3 or greater, can neutralize the behemoth without having to target it directly.

Another effective method is using cards that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures. Since these don’t target specific creatures, they circumvent the shroud mechanic entirely. Effects like Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil can prove invaluable in these scenarios. If you’re playing a green deck yourself, harness the power of fight cards like Prey Upon, which allow your creatures to battle Kalonian Behemoth without having to target it. Building a versatile deck and knowing when to hold onto your key spells until the perfect moment is crucial when facing a beast of this caliber.