Bellows Lizard MTG Card

Bellows Lizard - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Return to Ravnica (RTR)
2012-10-05 - Number 88

Magic Origins (ORI)
2015-07-17 - Number 132

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 853

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number ORI-132

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Lizard
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Bellows Lizard’s low casting cost suits decks with a strategy to overwhelm opponents by rapidly deploying creatures.
Though a modest one-drop, instant speed power increase can turn it into a surprising combat threat.
Ideal for red decks, its power scalability aligns with aggressive play styles and mana-spending synergies.

Text of card

: Bellows Lizard gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

As the price of wood and coal rose, smiths found creative ways to keep their forges burning.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Bellows Lizard doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its low casting cost makes it a convenient choice for decks that rapidly deploy creatures onto the battlefield. This can overwhelm opponents, potentially leading to card advantage as they’re forced to deal with multiple threats.

Resource Acceleration: Bellows Lizard itself doesn’t provide resource acceleration, but as part of a strategy it’s synergistic with cards that benefit from a large number of creatures entering the battlefield or creatures with low mana costs—known as a go-wide strategy.

Instant Speed: Although Bellows Lizard is a creature and not an instant, its ability can be activated at instant speed. This means you can surprise an unwary opponent by increasing the Lizard’s power just before damage is dealt during combat, potentially turning the tide of a skirmish.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bellows Lizard requires no discard, but its reliance on mana to enhance its strength can divert valuable resources from other strategic plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Demanding a red mana source to cast, Bellows Lizard can be limiting in multicolored decks that may struggle with color consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing mana into Bellows Lizard’s ability to increase its power can be less mana-efficient compared to other creatures or spells that could provide a more immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include Bellows Lizard in Your Collection

Versatility: Bellows Lizard could seamlessly integrate into red decks that are built for speed and aggressive plays. Its ability to scale its power for each mana invested makes it a flexible choice during the varying stages of a game.

Combo Potential: This creature could synergize with strategies that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or those that unlock benefits each time mana is spent on activating abilities, turning it into a threat that can grow unexpectedly.

Meta-Relevance: Although not a staple in current competitive scenes, Bellows Lizard can shine in casual circles or specific formats where cheap creatures with scaling potential can tilt the game in your favor amidst an assortment of control heavy decks.

How to beat

Bellows Lizard is a card that doesn’t usually pose a big threat on its own in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a small creature, with the ability to boost its power for a cost. While it might be easy to overlook, underestimating the potential of this lizard can be a mistake if it’s allowed to grow unchecked.

To effectively counter Bellows Lizard, swift removal spells are your best bet. If you handle it before your opponent can pump a significant amount of mana into its ability, you’ll conserve valuable resources. In this case, spells like Shock or Fatal Push can do the job without setting you back much. Sweepers such as Wrath of God also come in handy if Bellows Lizard is part of a larger creature strategy on your opponent’s side. Additionally, combat tricks and blockers that can deal with pumped creatures might serve you well in a pinch.

Ultimately, the key to defeating Bellows Lizard lies in managing it early and denying your opponent the opportunity to use it as a mana sink. In doing so, you maintain control over the game state and keep your resources aligned for bigger threats that may come your way.

Cards like Bellows Lizard

Bellows Lizard may not be the first card that people think of when they search for creatures in MTG, yet it holds a place among other low-cost cards that offer growing threat potential. Take, for example, the comparison to Kird Ape, another creature that gains strength based on certain conditions, though Kird Ape relies on having a Forest on the field which makes it better suited for a green-red land strategy.

Analogous to Bellows Lizard, Raging Goblin is an unassuming one-drop creature, but it comes with haste, making it a quick hitter, unlike the Lizard which requires mana to grow stronger over time. A more recent parallel can be drawn with Tin Street Dodger, which has the haste of Raging Goblin and the ability to avoid being blocked with just one additional mana, making Dodger a versatile option in combat scenarios.

While Bellows Lizard offers incremental power boosts for each red mana spent, it provides a different tactical advantage – persistency in growth that can potentially lead to a significant threat if left unchecked. Such a feature sets it distinctively apart in the roster of inexpensive creatures within the vast assembly of MTG cards.

Cards similar to Bellows Lizard by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bellows Lizard MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Magic Origins, 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 Bellows Lizard and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bellows Lizard Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Jack Wang.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2012-10-05	Return to Ravnica	RTR	88	2003	Normal	Black	Jack Wang
2	2015-07-17	Magic Origins	ORI	132	2015	Normal	Black	Jack Wang
3	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	853	2015	Normal	Black	Jack Wang
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	ORI-132	2015	Normal	Black	Jack Wang