Clockwork Beetle MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Insect
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Power	0
Toughness	0
Number	153
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Arnie Swekel

Key Takeaways

Begins as a potent early threat with two initial +1/+1 counters, enhancing the early game board state.
Efficient mana cost-to-effect ratio, freeing up resources for other strategic plays and interactions.
Despite a discard condition, integrates well with instant-speed decks, bolstering overall synergy.

Text of card

Clockwork Beetle comes into play with two +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever Clockwork Beetle attacks or blocks, remove a +1/+1 counter from it at end of combat.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Clockwork Beetle offers incremental advantage as it enters the battle with two +1/+1 counters. This enables you to bolster your board presence and apply pressure right from the outset, effectively outpacing your opponents by consistently developing a more robust creature.

Resource Acceleration: Although the beetle itself doesn’t provide direct mana acceleration, its low mana cost and efficient scaling make it a valuable asset for freeing resources for other strategic plays. It allows you to maintain a threat on the board while keeping mana available for other essential spells.

Instant Speed: Featuring in decks with instant speed interaction, Clockwork Beetle complements such strategies. While the beetle isn’t cast at instant speed itself, it synergizes well with decks that operate on the principle of playing during an opponent’s turn, providing a reliable creature to drop on your turn before holding up mana for instant speed control or trickery.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Clockwork Beetle comes with a discard condition that can deplete your hand, pushing you to make tough choices, especially if your card resources are already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact creature card requires a blend of generic and colored mana, which might restrict its utility to decks that can comfortably produce both.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value leaning on the higher side for its effects, Clockwork Beetle might fall behind other options that offer more impact for a similar or lower investment.

Reasons to Include Clockwork Beetle in Your Collection

Versatility: Clockwork Beetle is a flexible card that can adapt to various decks, particularly those in need of efficient early-game creatures. With its modulating counters, it can serve different roles depending on the match’s stage.

Combo Potential: Its ability to gain and lose +1/+1 counters makes it a prime candidate for synergies with proliferate mechanics or any strategy centered around manipulating counters for advantage, making it an intriguing combo enabler.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape that values cost-effective creatures, Clockwork Beetle’s low casting cost and potential for growth ensures it remains a relevant choice for players seeking to fortify their lineup with resilient early-game options.

How to beat

The Clockwork Beetle brings a unique challenge to any Magic: The Gathering player’s strategy with its modular ability. By entering the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter, it becomes a target for removal before it can potentially grow stronger. Tactics to overpower this artifact creature include direct removal spells that bypass the +1/+1 counter mechanic, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, ensuring the Beetle is dealt with regardless of how many counters it has accrued.

Alternatively, controlling the board through board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can eliminate the Clockwork Beetle no matter how potent it becomes. Moreover, incremental damage or -1/-1 effects, like those from Wither or Infect, can gradually diminish its effectiveness. As Beetle’s strength lies in its counters, targeted spells that remove all counters like Vampire Hexmage or Aether Snap can render the Beetle harmless without needing to kill it.

In essence, managing Clockwork Beetle relies on negating its ability to accumulate and maintain +1/+1 counters. By utilizing instant-speed removal or counter-resetting tactics, one can effectively keep this mechanical insect in check and prevent it from becoming an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

Cards like Clockwork Beetle

Clockwork Beetle is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering that stands out due to its interesting mechanic involving +1/+1 counters. This card can be paralleled with other creatures that rely on similar counter strategies. For instance, Ironshell Beetle also enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter. However, Ironshell Beetle offers versatility by allowing you to place the counter on another target creature, which can be a significant advantage depending on your board state.

Another related card is Arcbound Worker, which shares the modular ability, leaving behind its +1/+1 counters for another artifact creature when it dies. This gives the Arcbound Worker a residual impact even after being removed from the battlefield. Clockwork Beetle, with no such “death effect”, provides a simpler option for decks focusing on synergies with entering the battlefield with counters.

It’s worth noting that Clockwork Beetle’s maximum counter potential is set at two, which can be a limitation compared to other creatures that can accumulate or distribute more counters over time. Despite this, Clockwork Beetle’s low mana cost makes it an accessible and early-game option for bolstering your creature lineup in Magic: The Gathering.

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

Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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