Bond Beetle MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Insect
Released	2012-07-13
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2013
Set code	M13
Power	0
Toughness	1
Number	161
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Avon

Key Takeaways

Bond Beetle enhances creatures, indirectly contributing to card advantage and board presence.
Its immediate impact can accelerate resource presence, vital for early-game pressure.
Despite limitations, Bond Beetle can be a strategic fit in counter-centric decks.

Text of card

When Bond Beetle enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.

A beetle on your shoulder —Elvish expression meaning "a blessing of luck"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Bond Beetle itself doesn’t directly allow the drawing of additional cards, its ability to put a +1/+1 counter on another creature can be indirectly beneficial for card advantage. It potentially save creatures from dying by beefing them up, which means you maintain a presence on the board without needing to spend more cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Bond Beetle doesn’t explicitly provide mana acceleration, its low casting cost adds to your board’s strength from early in the game. By increasing the size of another creature the turn it comes into play, it can help speed up the pace at which you’re able to pressure your opponent and force them to respond sooner than they might be ready for.

Instant Speed: Although Bond Beetle is a creature card cast at sorcery speed, its immediate impact on the battlefield upon entering can be seen as a quick boost. The +1/+1 counter can instantly turn the tides by enhancing a creature’s capability to survive or trade in combat effectively as soon as it comes into play.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Bond Beetle doesn’t directly demand a card discard, running it could necessitate sacrifices elsewhere. If your deck aims for maximum synergy and efficiency, including a card like Bond Beetle may force you to discard more impactful creatures or spells from your deck during the deck-building phase. This potentially makes room for a creature whose impact might not match the value of what you’ve discarded.

Specific Mana Cost: Bond Beetle requires green mana to play, inherently restricting its inclusion to decks that run green or have the mana-fixing capabilities to accommodate green spells. Decks that don’t operate within the green slice of the color pie might find it challenging to justify a spot for this creature.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that places it on the curve as a one-drop (one green mana), Bond Beetle might not compare favorably to other creatures or spells in this slot. For decks seeking to optimize every mana spent, Bond Beetle’s simple enter-the-battlefield effect may not provide the same level of utility or board presence as other cards at the same cost.

Reasons to Include Bond Beetle in Your Collection

Versatility: Bond Beetle is a seamless fit for numerous deck types, particularly those emphasizing on +1/+1 counter strategies or requiring low-cost creatures for a quick board presence.

Combo Potential: With its ability to add a +1/+1 counter when it enters the battlefield, it can synergize with mechanics such as proliferate or evolve, enhancing the effectiveness of certain combos significantly.

Meta-Relevance: Bond Beetle maintains its relevance in metas where games are won through incremental advantage and well-timed creature buffs, providing a solid play against a variety of opposing strategies.

How to beat

The Bond Beetle card in Magic: The Gathering represents an interesting puzzle for players looking to maintain control over the battlefield. With its ability to bolster another creature with a +1/+1 counter upon entering the battlefield, it can quickly tip the scales in favor of the opponent, especially in decks that thrive on counter synergies. To effectively counteract Bond Beetle’s impact, it’s essential to deal with it as soon as it hits the board.

Removal spells are key, with options like Fatal Push or Path to Exile offering quick and efficient ways to remove Bond Beetle before its effect becomes a nuisance. Alternatively, board wipes like Day of Judgment can clean the slate, taking Bond Beetle and its buffed allies down in one fell swoop. In scenarios that demand a more nuanced approach, countermagic such as Essence Scatter serves to nullify Bond Beetle’s entrance altogether, ensuring that the threat is neutralized before it can develop into a problem.

For those who prefer proactive strategies, establishing a dominant board presence early on with larger creatures can overshadow Bond Beetle’s incremental advantage. Whatever your strategy may be, having a plan ready to address small creatures with potent etb (enter the battlefield) effects like Bond Beetle is crucial in managing the pace and power of the game in MTG.

Cards like Bond Beetle

The Bond Beetle stands out in the realm of creature buffs in Magic: The Gathering. This petite insect not only adds a +1/+1 counter when it enters the battlefield but also slots nicely as a one-drop creature in green-focused decks. It’s a useful trait, likened to the likes of Experiment One, which also thrives on +1/+1 counters, though it requires a creature with greater power to evolve.

Another similar card is the Ironshell Beetle. Both these beetles share the ability to distribute a +1/+1 counter upon entry. However, Ironshell Beetle presents a flexibility not seen in Bond Beetle, offering the chance to place the counter on another creature if needed. Furthermore, there’s Scrounging Bandar that enters with two +1/+1 counters, which can be allocated to other creatures over time, adding a strategic layer Bond Beetle lacks.

All in all, while Bond Beetle may not possess the versatility of some other cards, it’s an excellent choice for quickly beefing up creatures early on. It efficiently combines the benefits of a one-drop creature with immediate board impact, making it a noteworthy option in decks that capitalize on counter strategies.

Cards similar to Bond Beetle by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bond Beetle MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013, 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 Bond Beetle and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bond Beetle has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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