Killer Bees MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 192
1995-04-01 - Number 254
1995-04-01 - Number 254
1995-08-01 - Number 146
1997-03-24 - Number 307
2009-09-07 - Number 126
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Insect |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying oo G +1/+1 until end of turn.
The communal mind produces a savage strategy, yet no one could predict that this vicious crossbreed would unravel the secret of steel.
Cards like Killer Bees
When delving into the world of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, Killer Bees stands out in its niche of flying powerhouses. It bears resemblance to cards like Giant Spider, which is also able to block creatures with flying. However, Killer Bees comes with the flexibility of an activated ability that allows for an increase in both its power and toughness, giving it an edge in mid-air combat. Giant Spider, while steadfast with higher base toughness, lacks this potential for growth during battle.
Another card in the same vein is Birds of Paradise, renowned for its mana-generating ability and flying trait. While it doesn’t have the built-in offensive capabilities of Killer Bees, Birds of Paradise excels in its role for mana acceleration and color fixing in a player’s mana pool. Then there is the less known Skyshroud Falcon, a card that though it shares the ability to fly, it doesn’t present the same threat level due to its inability to expand its combat stats akin to Killer Bees.
Ultimately, every card possesses unique advantages that cater to different strategies and playstyles. In its arena of aerial combatants, however, Killer Bees secures a special place with its scalable threat and potential for surprise shifts in the power dynamics on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Killer Bees by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Killer Bees may not directly offer card draw, but it provides a repeatable investment for your mana. This can eventually lead to overwhelming your opponent as the ability to incrementally boost its power makes it a constant threat on the board.
Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of resource acceleration, Killer Bees’ flexible mana cost for its activated ability allows you to efficiently use your available resources each turn, adapting to the pace of the match and leaving mana open for responses when necessary.
Instant Speed: The true potential of Killer Bees lies in its capability to boost its power and toughness at instant speed. This not only provides combat trick possibilities but also dodges sorcery-speed removal, making it a resilient threat that can surprise opponents and turn the tides in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Killer Bees doesn’t ask you to discard as a cost, maintaining card advantage can still be challenging. Pumping mana into its ability may deplete your hand, leaving you without enough cards to maintain a strong board presence or respond to your opponent’s threats.
Specific Mana Cost: Killer Bees requires green mana to both cast and activate its ability. This specific mana cost can be restrictive, limiting the card’s versatility in multi-colored decks and possibly requiring more mana-fixing cards to reliably cast it on curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a 0/1 creature, the initial investment in Killer Bees is high considering its base power and toughness. While its ability to gain flying and increase power is useful, there are cards at a similar or lower mana cost that may offer a greater immediate impact on the game without needing additional mana sunk into them after they’re on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Killer Bees in Your Collection
Versatility: Killer Bees is a unique creature card that can be a flexible addition to decks with a green mana base. Its flying ability allows it to be a consistent threat in the air, while its pump ability can increase its power at critical moments.
Combo Potential: With the ability to boost its power instantaneously, Killer Bees works well with cards that capitalize on high-powered creatures or ones that benefit from the usage of mana for activated abilities.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flyers can dominate, Killer Bees offers a reliable way to both exert pressure on opponents and block incoming aerial threats, making it a tactically sound choice for diverse combat situations.
How to beat
Killer Bees is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, floating into the ecosystem with the unique ability to pump up its power and toughness through the investment of green mana. This can cause quite the buzz around your battlefield, as opponents might hesitate to engage in combat with a creature that can dynamically increase its strength. However, don’t let this intimidating card deter your strategy.
To effectively swat down the threat of Killer Bees, it’s advisable to utilize removal spells that don’t depend on the creature’s power and toughness. For instance, spells like Path to Exile or Terminate can exile or destroy the creature regardless of how much mana has been invested into it. Additionally, board sweepers like Damnation or Supreme Verdict can clear the field, including these pesky flyers, often bypassing the card’s built-in defenses.
Remember, while Killer Bees can become formidable, they’re also mana-intensive to maintain. Forcing your opponent to constantly invest mana into keeping their Bees a threat can divert resources away from their broader game plan. Harness your removal tools wisely, and you’ll ensure these Bees don’t turn into a killer problem for your match victories.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Killer Bees MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Killer Bees 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 Killer Bees Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Phil Foglio.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 192 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Phil Foglio | |
| 2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 254 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Phil Foglio | |
| 3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 254 | 1993 | Normal | White | Phil Foglio | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 146 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Phil Foglio | |
| 5 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 307 | 1997 | Normal | White | Phil Foglio | |
| 6 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 126 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Phil Foglio |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Killer Bees has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |