Dune Beetle MTG Card
2017-04-28 - Number 89
2019-11-07 - Number 641
2020-08-13 - Number 104
2022-12-02 - Number 407
2020-09-26 - Number AKH-89
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Insect |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Dune Beetle’s toughness makes it a high-survivability early game blocker, strengthening defensive strategies.
- Incorporates into sacrifice-based tactics, adding depth and utility to specific deck archetypes.
- Its presence can be critical in countering early-game aggression, providing crucial time for deck setup.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Even though Dune Beetle may not directly contribute to card draw, it invites strategies that help mitigate card disadvantage. By providing a defensive presence, it allows the player more time to access additional resources and cards through natural draw.
Resource Acceleration: Dune Beetle itself may not accelerate your mana resources, yet it holds the line on the battlefield, thereby protecting the player’s more crucial resource-generating permanents. This defense helps maintain the integrity of one’s mana base and other accelerants in play.
Instant Speed: While Dune Beetle is not an instant, its simplicity aligns with decks that prioritize instant speed interactions. By using only a small amount of mana to cast, it leaves resources available for instant speed spells to be played during an opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Dune Beetle’s entry into the battlefield does not come without cost. Its requirement for card discard can be a setback, particularly when your hand is already dwindling and the choices for discard are pivotal to your game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card is tailored for a black mana deck. Its specific mana cost necessitates a commitment to swamps or mana-fixing resources, which can limit the adaptability of your deck, especially if you’re aiming for a multi-color strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two black mana for a 1/4 creature, Dune Beetle may not be the most mana-efficient choice. While its toughness is respectable, there are other creatures or spells at similar or lower mana costs offering greater versatility or power, allowing for more strategic depth and value.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Dune Beetle may be considered a simple card, but its presence in a deck can serve multiple purposes. As a two-mana 1/4 creature, it is a reliable blocker in early game, capable of surviving combat against many of the format’s popular aggressive creatures. This makes it a solid inclusion for decks that aim to stabilize the board in the early stages of the game.
Combo Potential: While it may not appear complex at first glance, Dune Beetle has a place in strategies involving sacrifice mechanics. It can be utilized in conjunction with cards that benefit from sacrificing creatures for larger effects, boosting the value gained from such interactions.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggressive decks are prevalent, a card like Dune Beetle can shine by holding off early threats. This gives control and midrange decks time to establish their strategy and turn the tide of the game in their favor.
How to beat
Dune Beetle may not be the flashiest creature in a player’s deck, but it serves as a reliable defensive blocker in the early game phases thanks to its higher toughness. Overcoming this pesky insect requires a shift in strategy. It’s important to remember that, despite its resilience against certain aggressive creatures, Dune Beetle is still vulnerable to removal spells. Cards that can deal with smaller creatures efficiently, such as Shock or Lightning Bolt, can easily take it down due to its low power.
Another method to bypass the beetle’s defense is by leveraging flying creatures, as Dune Beetle lacks reach and is therefore unable to block them. Utilizing evasion tactics is key. Enchantments that can suppress or nullify the beetle’s blocking ability also work well – think Pacifism or Claustrophobia. And of course, there’s the straightforward approach of overpowering it with creatures that have greater power and toughness.
With these strategies in place, Dune Beetle can be quickly turned from a nuisance into a non-issue, allowing players to focus on their path to victory. Understand your deck’s capabilities, and this common creature will no longer pose a significant obstacle.
Cards like Dune Beetle
Dune Beetle stands as a basic yet functional creature within the Magic: The Gathering roster, most closely aligned with other low-cost creatures designed to serve as early game defensive measures. It finds a parallel in the likes of Wall of Vines, another creature with a low casting cost and a primary purpose of defense. However, Wall of Vines boasts reach, allowing it to block flying creatures, which Dune Beetle lacks.
Moving to the arid landscapes, Sidewinder Naga presents itself as a comparable creature in terms of mana value and combat potential. While both are within the world of modestly costed creatures, Sidewinder Naga offers the potential for increased power under certain conditions, namely having a desert land card in your graveyard or on the battlefield. Dune Beetle, on the other hand, maintains a consistent, albeit lower, combat presence without such dependencies.
Considering the big picture, Dune Beetle may not shine as the most powerful creature, but its steady defense at a low cost can be a strategic play in the early rounds of the game. Its simplicity complements decks centered around more intricate creatures and strategies, ensuring a solid if unremarkable, presence on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Dune Beetle by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dune Beetle MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Mystery Booster, 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 Dune Beetle and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Dune Beetle Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Grzegorz Rutkowski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet | AKH | 89 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Grzegorz Rutkowski | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 641 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Grzegorz Rutkowski | |
| 3 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 104 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Grzegorz Rutkowski | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | AKH-89 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Grzegorz Rutkowski | ||
| 5 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 407 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Grzegorz Rutkowski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dune Beetle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
