Plaguemaw Beast MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Beast
Abilities Proliferate
Power 4
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Plaguemaw Beast excels in card advantage and resource acceleration, pivotal for winning MTG matches.
  2. Its high mana cost and specific color requirement can limit its inclusion in diverse decks.
  3. Removal and counter spells are effective strategies against Plaguemaw Beast’s powerful influence.

Text of card

, Sacrifice a creature: Proliferate. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there.)

Phyrexia's spiral of consumption grows ever wider and darker.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Playing the Plaguemaw Beast card provides direct benefits without losing any resources in return. In situations where the field is mutually sparse, Plaguemaw Beast becomes a formidable asset that can turn the tables for MTG players by controlling the flow of the game.

Resource Acceleration: Plaguemaw Beast is also a card that allows a swift escalation of resources. With its proliferate function being boostable with every creature’s entry, it is a catalyst that speeds up your gameplay, granting you the leverage to get ahead of your opponent.

Instant Speed: Even though the Plaguemaw Beast isn’t an instant card, its ability synergizes well with instant cards or abilities. This means that in a scenario where a creature legendarily dies, or an opponent’s end turn is in sight, the Plaguemaw Beast can show its power. Together with the right selection of cards, it allows the player to take unprecedented strategic moves, disrupting usual game patterns and assail opponents with unexpected twists.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Plaguemaw Beast doesn’t outright demand a card discard from your hand, but its effectiveness will significantly lower without a good supply of creature cards. A depleted hand can be a serious disadvantage when deploying this card.

Specific Mana Cost: This beast demands quite specific mana for its unleashing. You must commit to one green and one white mana alongside three other mana resources of any type. This stringent demand may restrict its inclusion in decks not readily able to generate green and white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing at five total mana cost, Plaguemaw Beast could be a rather expensive addition to your field. Other cards might offer similar or more beneficial effects for a less taxing casting cost. Players would have to weigh the value of the Beast’s proliferating effect against this casting cost constraint.


Reasons to Include Plaguemaw Beast in Your Collection

Versatility: Plaguemaw Beast is an adaptable powerhouse that offers an array of utility in a variety of decks. With its strong static ability, it aids counter-accumulating decks, turning each creature into a potential threat or enabling strategy.

Combo Potential: This card’s proliferate ability makes it a combo engine in counter-focused decks. You can fuel its ability with any triggered event, enhancing strategies that benefit from adding more counters – be it loyalty, creature strength or time counters.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta-game where tempo decks hold dominance, Plaguemaw Beast stands as a valuable asset. By information accumulated, this card’s combo potentials and strong presence on board can disrupt opponent plays while accelerating your game plan.


How to beat

Plaguemaw Beast is an impressive card in the MTG universe, effectively disrupting the battlefield’s balance with its proliferate ability. It’s a unique powerhouse that increases the presence of counters on both creatures and players alike, a significant factor that always alters the game’s dynamics. Nonetheless, as daunting as the Plaguemaw Beast’s capabilities may seem, strategic plays can tame this beast.

One efficient strategy is using removal spells. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can directly eliminate the Plaguemaw Beast from the battlefield. Another more subtle way is to utilize counter spells. These can preemptively block the Plaguemaw Beast’s entry onto the game scene. Capture Sphere and Pacification Array are additional options which immobilize the Beast without the need to destroy it directly. Moreover, you can use hexproof providing cards to safeguard your key creatures from the Plaguemaw Beast’s proliferating counters.

Ultimately, the essence of outplaying the Plaguemaw Beast lies in anticipation – prediction of your opponent’s moves and timely intervention. Balancing preventive and reactive strategies ensures you’re always a step ahead, mitigating the proliferating menace that Plaguemaw Beast represents in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the MTG battlefield means adapting and optimizing your strategy to fit the evolving dynamics of the game. Plaguemaw Beast can potentiate your deck with its proliferate ability, bringing substantial value to your counter-driven strategies. However, understanding its strengths and weaknesses is key to employing it effectively. Whether you’re considering integrating this creature into your collection or looking for ways to outmaneuver it, standing informed will help sharpen your gameplay. Let’s deepen our knowledge together, uncover the full potential of Plaguemaw Beast, and refine our tactics for the next match. Visit us now for more insights and strategies to enhance your MTG experience.


Cards like Plaguemaw Beast

Exploring the world of Magic: The Gathering we find Plaguemaw Beast – a five mana cost creature standing strong within the proliferate mechanic cards. A close comparison could be Thrive, a green instant spell allowing you to distribute +1/+1 counters across creatures you control while being less expensive than Plaguemaw Beast. Nonetheless, Thrive lacks the continuous proliferate capability of Plaguemaw Beast.

On a similar thread, there’s Contagion Clasp. This artifact card can debilitate opponent’s creatures with -1/-1 counters and proliferates too. However, it operates more as a one-time effect rather than being a continuous threat like our Plaguemaw Beast.

We also have Inexorable Tide, which is a blue enchantment that proliferates every time you cast a spell. Despite its broad spectrum effect, it is quite mana-demanding, limiting its early game potentials. The versatility and constancy of Plaguemaw Beast hence make it an advantageous pick for a proliferate strategy.

So, after investigating the correlations and value assessments, Plaguemaw Beast carves a unique niche within the proliferation cards in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering, due to its persistent pressure and game-altering capabilities.

Thrive - MTG Card versions
Contagion Clasp - MTG Card versions
Inexorable Tide - MTG Card versions
Thrive - Prophecy (PCY)
Contagion Clasp - Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret (DDF)
Inexorable Tide - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Plaguemaw Beast by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Bramble Elemental - MTG Card versions
Indrik Stomphowler - MTG Card versions
Golgari Grave-Troll - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Cockatrice - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Ironroot Treefolk - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Elvish Bard - Alliances (ALL)
Durkwood Boars - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Redwood Treefolk - Weatherlight (WTH)
Spined Wurm - Stronghold (STH)
Rabid Wolverines - Exodus (EXO)
Deadly Insect - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Vintara Elephant - Prophecy (PCY)
Spring-Leaf Avenger - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Primeval Force - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spitting Spider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Copperhoof Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Llanowar Behemoth - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bramble Elemental - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Indrik Stomphowler - Commander 2015 (C15)
Golgari Grave-Troll - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Kavu Climber - Masters 25 (A25)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Plaguemaw Beast MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged and Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia, 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 Plaguemaw Beast and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Plaguemaw Beast Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2011-05-14. Illustrated by Whit Brachna.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-02-04Mirrodin BesiegedMBS 872003normalblackWhit Brachna
22011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 622003normalblackWhit Brachna

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Plaguemaw Beast has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2011-06-01 You can activate the ability even if there are no players or permanents with counters on them.
2011-06-01 You can sacrifice Plaguemaw Beast to pay the cost of its own activated ability.

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