Krosan Beast MTG Card
2001-10-01 - Number 248
2019-12-02 - Number 196
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Squirrel Beast |
| Abilities | Threshold |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Threshold Krosan Beast gets +7/+7. (You have threshold as long as seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)
Those who see the squirrels go underground in the winter aren't ready for what emerges in the spring.
Cards like Krosan Beast
The Krosan Beast is an intriguing presence in the realm of green creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. Its distinct ability to grow exponentially with the number of creature cards in your graveyard gives it a similarity to Tarmogoyf, another powerhouse in terms of size for cost, which also scales with graveyard contents. However, Krosan Beast solely counts your own creature cards, while Tarmogoyf takes into account all card types from all graveyards, offering a broader scope for power increase.
Another card that conjures memories of Krosan Beast’s graveyard synergy is Splinterfright. Like the Beast, it gets stronger with more creature cards in your graveyard, but it also brings the added advantage of milling your library each turn to potentially grow itself. It’s key to note that Splinterfright can self-facilitate its strength boost, whereas Krosan Beast relies on external interactions or combat repercussions to elevate its power.
Examining the aspects of growth potential and graveyard exploitation, Krosan Beast presents a unique advantage within green creatures in MTG. Its simplicity focused on its own graveyard makes it an appealing alternative for players seeking to make the most out of creature-heavy strategies.
Cards similar to Krosan Beast by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Krosan Beast’s Threshold ability is a gateway to substantial card value. Once in the graveyard, with seven or more cards in there alongside it, this creature becomes a colossal 7/7, ready to dominate the battlefield and present a significant threat that can eviscerate an opponent’s defenses.
Resource Acceleration: Even when not in play, the mere presence of Krosan Beast in the graveyard can have an indirect effect on resource acceleration. Many MTG strategies revolve around filling up the graveyard to reap certain benefits, which can include faster mana ramp, more extensive card draw capabilities, or enhancing other creatures’ power and toughness, forging a strong synergy with graveyard-focused mechanics.
Instant Speed: While the Krosan Beast itself does not operate at instant speed, it benefits greatly from cards that fill the graveyard quickly and unexpectedly. Playing cards that operate at instant speed to stockpile the graveyard can turn a seemingly innocuous 1/1 Squirrel into a towering threat in no time, catching opponents off guard and shifting the tide of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Krosan Beast’s threshold mechanic necessitates having seven or more cards in your graveyard to realize its potential. This could be a sizable drawback in decks that aren’t built around self-mill or heavy discard strategies, as they may struggle to meet this threshold at the crucial moments of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The Krosan Beast demands a specific green mana cost to cast. While the cost is not overly prohibitive, it does mean the card is confined to green-centric or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the wide spectrum of deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a card that requires setup to be effective, the Krosan Beast’s mana cost might be seen as steep. This is especially pertinent considering the pace of modern gameplay where mana efficiency can be crucial. There are alternative creatures that provide immediate impact on the board without the prerequisite of a well-stocked graveyard, and this can make the Krosan Beast less appealing in a competitive setting.
Reasons to Include Krosan Beast in Your Collection
Versatility: Krosan Beast thrives in gameplay that capitalizes on graveyard mechanics. As a green creature, it can easily find a home in decks focusing on ‘threshold,’ especially when your graveyard is filled, turning it into a formidable 7/7 creature.
Combo Potential: This MTG card shines in combos, particularly when paired with self-mill strategies or other abilities that can quickly populate the graveyard, allowing you to achieve threshold and power up Krosan Beast swiftly.
Meta-Relevance: With graveyard strategies frequently surfacing in various MTG metagames, Krosan Beast is relevant for players looking to exploit these tactics. It can become a key player in decks designed to outpace the opponent with significant threats early in the game.
How to beat
Confronting a Krosan Beast on the battlefield can be an intimidating challenge for many Magic: The Gathering players. This formidable card takes advantage of the strength-in-numbers approach, thriving on a well-stocked graveyard to enhance its power. Key to overcoming this green creature behemoth is managing graveyard populations to keep its power at bay.
Strategic use of cards that exile graveyards, such as Bojuka Bog or Relic of Progenitus, can weaken the Krosan Beast, stripping away the fuel it needs to grow stronger. Controlling the flow of the game through consistent creature removal and graveyard disruption can tip the scales in your favor. Timing is also crucial, as preemptively clearing the graveyard before the Krosan Beast makes its appearance on the field can prevent it from becoming an overwhelming threat.
By prioritizing control over the graveyard and preventing accumulation of fodder for the beast’s threshold ability, players can contain this wild force of nature and maintain the upper hand. Maintaining a strategic balance of power on the battlefield is essential in ensuring the Krosan Beast remains just another creature card, rather than an unstoppable force.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Krosan Beast MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Krosan Beast 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 Krosan Beast Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2001-10-01 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-10-01 | Odyssey | ODY | 248 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 196 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ivan Shavrin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Krosan Beast has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |