Grist, the Hunger Tide MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Grist
Abilities Mill
Loyalty 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Grist transforms graveyard creatures into tokens, providing a stream of card advantage and board presence.
  2. Its mana cost and color specificity can pose deckbuilding challenges, potentially limiting flexibility.
  3. Grist’s versatility and combo potential make it a valuable inclusion for various strategic approaches in MTG.

Text of card

As long as Grist, the Hunger Tide isn't on the battlefield, it's a 1/1 Insect creature in addition to its other types.
+1: Create a 1/1 black and green Insect creature token, then mill a card. If an Insect card was milled this way, put a loyalty counter on Grist and repeat this process.
-2: You may sacrifice a creature. When you do, destroy target creature or planeswalker.
-5: Each opponent loses life equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grist, the Hunger Tide can transform your creature cards in the graveyard into useful resources by creating insect tokens. This ability not only populates the board with additional creatures but also provides a steady stream of card advantage as you churn through your deck, turning potential dead draws into a swarm of insects ready to attack or defend.

Resource Acceleration: By utilizing Grist’s second ability, which sacrifices a creature to destroy a target creature or planeswalker, you achieve a form of resource acceleration. This frees up your other cards and mana to be used more effectively elsewhere, ensuring you’re always a step ahead. Additionally, Grist itself provides an alternative win condition that can bypass traditional defense methods.

Instant Speed: Grist, the Hunger Tide’s inherent ability to become a 1/1 Insect creature spell with death touch at instant speed gives it a unique edge. Deploying Grist at the end of an opponent’s turn can surprise them and potentially disrupt their strategies, putting you in a favorable position without sacrificing the tempo of your game plan.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Grist, the Hunger Tide requires a precise mix of mana colors to cast. While one generic mana is flexible, the necessity for both black and green can be restrictive if your deck varies in its color balance or you’re experiencing mana issues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Grist comes with a three-mana cost, which is significant for its abilities. For the same cost, players might be able to find alternative planeswalkers or impactful creatures that better align with their game strategy.

Discard Requirement: Its plus ability necessitates the sacrifice of a creature, which could put you at a disadvantage if you don’t have a disposable creature available or if you are playing against a deck with strong removal capabilities.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Grist, the Hunger Tide seamlessly adapts to various deck types, bringing a unique dynamic as both a creature and a planeswalker. This allows for an array of synergistic interactions across different strategies, proving its adaptability and utility in several MTG deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: Grist’s ability to create and utilize insect tokens opens up a bounty of combo opportunities. Whether you’re looking to enhance sacrifice-based strategies, power up with +1/+1 counters, or just exploit token generation, Grist offers a solid base for creative and powerful combos.

Meta-Relevance: In metas teeming with creature-based strategies, Grist’s insect army can become a formidable force. Plus, being able to interact with the graveyard gives it an edge in games where recurring threats and resource management are crucial. Hence, the card can be a strong contender in current gameplay environments.


How to beat

Grist, the Hunger Tide presents unique challenges on the battlefield in MTG. As a planeswalker that can also be your commander or even a creature in your graveyard, Grist expands the strategic possibilities of your deck. To effectively counter Grist, focus on instant-speed removal that can disrupt your opponent’s timing. Graveyard hate cards can also be integral, preventing Grist from utilizing its innate ability to exploit the graveyard. Keeping a check on creature tokens, a main source of Grist’s loyalty counters, is another key strategy. Cards like Leyline of the Void can hamper the strategies revolving around the graveyard, reducing Grist’s impact.

Additionally, as Grist tends toward insect and graveyard synergies, adjusting your sideboard with specific hate cards like Grafdigger’s Cage can prove devastating for a Grist-centered strategy. Be mindful of Grist’s -5 ability, which can be a game-ender if it fetches a crucial piece from the deck. Planeswalker-focused removal, such as Hero’s Downfall or Vraska’s Contempt, can help manage Grist before its abilities become overwhelming. Finally, always be aware of the board state and predict when Grist might make an appearance, staying one step ahead to ensure it doesn’t tip the scales in your opponent’s favor.


Cards like Grist, the Hunger Tide

Grist, the Hunger Tide stands out in MTG as a versatile and innovative planeswalker card. It compares notably to other planeswalker cards like Vraska, Golgari Queen in terms of its ability to interact with creature cards and the graveyard. Grist, unlike Vraska, can be cast as a creature as well and has intrinsic synergy with insect creatures, offering strategic advantages in decks that utilize these types.

Another card that shares some common ground is Garruk Relentless. Much like Grist, Garruk can create creature tokens and has a transformative aspect. However, Grist’s uniqueness lies in its passive ability which allows it to be a creature in the graveyard or library, adding a layer of protection against effects that target planeswalkers specifically. Liliana, the Last Hope is also a similar card in its capability to affect the board state with creature recursion and milling effects, yet Grist’s utility in an insect-themed deck and as a win condition through milling an opponent out can carve a unique niche.

Each of these planeswalkers brings something distinct to the table, and Grist, the Hunger Tide’s combination of being a creature-planswalker hybrid with self-milling and swarm tactics makes for a powerful addition in the right strategy within MTG.

Vraska, Golgari Queen - MTG Card versions
Liliana, the Last Hope - MTG Card versions
Vraska, Golgari Queen - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Liliana, the Last Hope - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Cards similar to Grist, the Hunger Tide by color, type and mana cost

Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler - MTG Card versions
Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grist, the Hunger Tide MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos 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 Grist, the Hunger Tide and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grist, the Hunger Tide Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2019-12-02 and 2021-06-19. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 913272015normalblackVictor Adame Minguez
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 14172015normalborderlessWooden Cyclops
32021-06-18Modern Horizons 2 Art SeriesAMH2 56s2015art_seriesborderlessVictor Adame Minguez
42021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 3062015normalborderlessVictor Adame Minguez
52021-06-18Modern Horizons 2 Art SeriesAMH2 55s2015art_seriesborderlessYongjae Choi
62021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 2022015normalblackYongjae Choi
72021-06-18Modern Horizons 2 Art SeriesAMH2 562015art_seriesborderlessVictor Adame Minguez
82021-06-18Modern Horizons 2 Art SeriesAMH2 552015art_seriesborderlessYongjae Choi
92021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 3682015normalblackYongjae Choi
102021-06-19Modern Horizons 2 PromosPMH2 202s2015normalblackYongjae Choi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grist, the Hunger Tide has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-06-18 Anywhere but on the battlefield, Grist is a Legendary Planeswalker Creature — Grist Insect. Once it enters the battlefield, it is no longer a creature and is just a planeswalker. Anything that could search for or affect a creature or planeswalker card in zones other than the battlefield could affect Grist. For example, you could put it onto the battlefield with Chord of Calling, it could be countered by Essence Scatter (but not by Negate), and opponents couldn't make you discard it with Duress.
2021-06-18 Count the number of creature cards in your graveyard as the third loyalty ability resolves to determine how much life each opponent loses. If Grist is in your graveyard at this time, it'll be a creature card and will contribute to the count.
2021-06-18 Grist's second loyalty ability doesn't require a target. If you choose to sacrifice a creature as it resolves, the reflexive triggered ability triggers and you'll choose a target creature or planeswalker to destroy. This will happen even if Grist isn't on the battlefield when the loyalty ability resolves.
2021-06-18 Grist, the Hunger Tide can be your commander as its first ability works before the game begins during deck construction.
2021-06-18 If Grist is no longer on the battlefield as its first loyalty ability resolves, you will still create a 1/1 black and green Insect creature token and mill a card. If an Insect card is milled this way, you won't be able to put a loyalty counter on Grist, but you will still repeat the process. More mill for the Grist, as it were.

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