Blister Beetle MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Insect
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	66
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony S. Waters

Key Takeaways

Targets and disrupts opponents by removing their one-toughness creatures, providing subtle card advantage.
Its low mana cost enables strategic early plays without sacrificing board progression.
Though not an instant, it offers key timing flexibility for optimal battlefield impact.

Text of card

When Blister Beetle comes into play, target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

Warriors of the Rip Clan wear their beetle-acid scars proudly, even modifying clothing and armor to better display the trophy.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blister Beetle’s when-cast effect enables you to target and eliminate your opponent’s key one-toughness creatures. This can disrupt an opponent’s game plan while maintaining your creature presence on the board, thereby generating a subtle card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Blister Beetle itself does not directly provide mana or resource acceleration, its low casting cost aids in curving out your plays efficiently, which can be pivotal in the early game. It allows for a strategic setup for later turns without falling behind on board development.

Instant Speed: While Blister Beetle isn’t an instant, its enter-the-battlefield effect can be capitalized on during your main phase. This gives you the flexibility to use it effectively when the situation is most advantageous, such as right before your attack step to clear a path for other attackers or after post-combat to surprise your opponent and remove a vital blocker for future turns.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Blister Beetle compels you to discard a card upon entering the battlefield, which can deplete your hand and reduce future options, especially if you are already running low on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature has a specific mana requirement that can be challenging to meet in multicolored decks, leading to potential delays or inability to play the card when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that may seem steep for its in-game impact, Blister Beetle can be considered inefficient, particularly when compared to other creatures or spells available at the same or lower mana tiers that offer more significant board presence or utility.

Reasons to Include Blister Beetle in Your Collection

Versatility: Blister Beetle offers a unique blend of creature utility and tactical disruption. It’s easily slotted into decks that require removal upon entry, making it a flexible choice for those who appreciate utility creatures that can help control the board.

Combo Potential: With the ability to provide immediate impact on the board by destroying smaller creatures or chipping away at larger threats, Blister Beetle fits into strategies hingeing on creature death triggers or those looking to capitalize on a creature entering or leaving the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: If token strategies or decks relying on important low-toughness creatures are prevalent, Blister Beetle can act as an effective counter, disrupting your opponent’s plans and maintaining pressure without committing to a high-cost spell.

How to beat

Blister Beetle is a unique card to handle in Magic: The Gathering due to its enter the battlefield ability to make an opponent lose 1 life. While seemingly minor, its effect can be amplified in decks utilizing black’s strengths in creature recursion and sacrifice strategies. To effectively counter this, one must be proactive in managing the battlefield.

Maintaining control over the number of creatures on the field is crucial. Employing removal spells or abilities that can consistently deal with creatures can prevent the Blister Beetle from recurring. Counterspells are also an effective line of defense for those playing blue, as they can prevent the beetle from hitting the field in the first place.

It’s also beneficial to limit the advantages your opponent garners from sacrificing creatures. Graveyard hate cards that exile or otherwise disrupt graveyard mechanics can cripple strategies relying heavily on the Blister Beetle’s abilities. In essence, to nullify the Blister Beetle’s impact, one has to address not only the card itself but also the broader strategy that seeks to capitalize on its life-draining effect.

Cards like Blister Beetle

Within the expansive universe of Magic: The Gathering, the Blister Beetle stands as a unique creature. Echoing the functionality of other one-time effect creatures, Blister Beetle allows you to target and eliminate a single creature’s strength upon its arrival to the battlefield. This can be directly compared to the Fleshbag Marauder which, while forcing each player to sacrifice a creature, also includes the potential to impact your own side, which Blister Beetle avoids.

Two cards, Shriekmaw and Plaguecrafter, also share similar functionalities. Shriekmaw, offering the option of evoking for a lesser cost, has a stronger effect by outright destroying a target nonartifact, nonblack creature. On the other hand, Plaguecrafter forces all players to sacrifice a creature or planeswalker, again presenting a broader range of targets at the potential cost of one’s assets. Unlike Shriekmaw and Plaguecrafter, Blister Beetle provides a more controlled, albeit less potent, effect on the game.

Evaluating Blister Beetle in the context of creature-based control, its precision and low cost make it a favorable option for players seeking targeted board impact without the drawback of potentially harming their own field presence.

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

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blister Beetle MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Blister Beetle and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blister Beetle has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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