Simian Simulacrum MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Ape
Abilities Unearth
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Simian Simulacrum enables card advantage, key to increasing strategic options during play.
  2. Mana acceleration with Simian Simulacrum can drastically shift game tempo in your favor.
  3. Instant speed play offers tactical reaction advantages, pivotal for game dominance.

Text of card

When Simian Simulacrum enters the battlefield, put two +1/+1 counters on target creature you control. Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Simian Simulacrum offers a significant edge in managing resources through its card advantage capability. Drawing cards is an invaluable aspect in MTG, and with Simian Simulacrum, you can beef up your hand, giving you more options and strategic depth during gameplay.

Resource Acceleration: In the fast-paced world of MTG, every bit of speed counts. Simian Simulacrum acts as a catalyst for resource acceleration, allowing you to ramp up and deploy your strategy faster than your opponent. This can be a game-changer in both the early and late stages of a match when timing is critical.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed spells is what makes them so powerful. With Simian Simulacrum being playable at instant speed, you gain the tactical advantage of reacting on the fly. This ability to respond to the developing board state on your terms often leads to a superior position and possibly a victory.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Simian Simulacrum requires players to discard a card, which could be a strategic setback, especially when every card in hand counts towards potential victory.

Specific Mana Cost: It necessitates a particular combination of mana to cast, which might not align with all deck strategies, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be considered steep for its offered abilities, players might find themselves at a crossroads, evaluating whether its inclusion is worth the potential delay in playing other impactful cards.


Reasons to Include Simian Simulacrum in Your Collection

Versatility: Simian Simulacrum can be an asset in various deck strategies due to its ability to provide both mana acceleration and board presence. Its flexibility makes it a sensible choice for decks looking to ramp up their resources while developing their board state early in the game.

Combo Potential: This card happily sits in combo decks that capitalize on its artifact type and potential to untap. Enabling intricate plays, it can be an essential piece in executing a combo that leads to a decisive victory, showcasing its intrinsic value within certain archetypes.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where speed can determine the winner, Simian Simulacrum holds its ground by offering immediate resource access. This can be incredibly significant when trying to outpace opponents or setting up defenses against more aggressive decks that dominate the current meta.


How to beat

Overcoming the Simian Simulacrum card in a Magic: The Gathering match requires a strategic understanding of its mechanics and abilities. As a potent mana generator and blocker, Simian Simulacrum demands players to adapt their approach on both offense and defense. One effective strategy is to prioritize the removal of this creature before it can be used for mana ramp, as this slows down your opponent’s game development. Instant-speed removal spells are a key component in dealing with the Simulacrum before it yields too much value for the opposing player.

Furthermore, targeting the player’s mana base directly can be a beneficial tactic, disrupting the synergy the Simian Simulacrum offers to decks that utilize it as a cornerstone. Another angle of attack could include utilizing cards that prevent the triggering of abilities or applying creature type restrictions, impairing the flexibility and utility that the Simian Simulacrum provides. By implementing these methods, players will find that their games against Simian Simulacrum decks could shift in their favor, as they effectively dismantle key components of their opponent’s strategy.

In summation, victory against Simian Simulacrum requires precise timing with removal spells, disruption of the opponent’s mana, and hindrance of the creature’s abilities. By weaving these tactical strands into your game plan, the potentially overwhelming presence of Simian Simulacrum can be neutralized, allowing you to regain control of the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

The quest for building a dynamic MTG deck leads many to the versatile doorstep of Simian Simulacrum. As a card of substantial tactical leverage, it offers numerous benefits from card advantage to strategic instant speed play. Yet, managing its challenges such as discard requirements and mana cost is key to harnessing its full potential. For those looking to amplify their gameplay, understanding cards like Simian Simulacrum is crucial. Ready to delve deeper into the strategic nuances and deck-building philosophies of MTG? Explore further with us, and discover how to conquer the battlefield and optimize your collection with powerful and versatile cards.


Cards like Simian Simulacrum

Simian Simulacrum introduces a versatile approach to creature cards in MTG. It’s similar to other mana dorks such as Llanowar Elves, which taps for green mana. Simian Simulacrum, however, is unique because it can be discarded in exchange for a burst of red mana, much like the action of Simian Spirit Guide. While Llanowar Elves allows for repeated mana gains, Simian Simulacrum’s one-time mana boost can be pivotal in the early game to accelerate your strategy.

Analogous to Simian Simulacrum is Metallurgeon, which has flexibility in repairing artifact creatures. It helps maintain board presence, albeit it doesn’t facilitate a swift ramp in mana like Simian Simulacrum. Skirk Prospector is another kindred spirit, allowing you to sacrifice a goblin for red mana. Although it’s tribe-specific, it shares the concept of converting resources immediately for a strategic advantage.

Assessing these comparisons showcases Simian Simulacrum’s dual capacity to either augment your mana pool or serve as a quick-fix mana source in a pinch. This unique combination positions Simian Simulacrum as a noteworthy choice for players looking for flexible role players in their MTG decks.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Simian Spirit Guide - MTG Card versions
Metallurgeon - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Simian Spirit Guide - MTG Card versions
Metallurgeon - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Simian Simulacrum MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and The Brothers' War, 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 Simian Simulacrum and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Simian Simulacrum Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-11-18 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Randy Vargas.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 1057582015NormalBlackRandy Vargas
22022-11-18The Brothers' WarBRO 3522015NormalBlackRandy Vargas
32022-11-18The Brothers' WarBRO 2052015NormalBlackRandy Vargas

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Simian Simulacrum has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-10-14 Activating a card's unearth ability isn't the same as casting that card. The unearth ability is put on the stack, but the card is not. Spells and abilities that interact with activated abilities (such as Defabricate's second mode) will interact with unearth, but spells and abilities that interact with spells (such as Scatter Ray) will not.
2022-10-14 At the beginning of the next end step, a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth is exiled. This is a delayed triggered ability, and it can be countered by effects such as Defabricate that counter triggered abilities. If the ability is countered, the permanent will stay on the battlefield and the delayed triggered ability won't trigger again. However, the replacement effect will still exile the permanent if it eventually leaves the battlefield.
2022-10-14 If a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth would leave the battlefield for any reason, it's exiled instead—unless the spell or ability that's causing the permanent to leave the battlefield is actually trying to exile it! In that case, it succeeds at exiling it. If that spell or ability later returns the card to the battlefield (as Static Net might, for example), the permanent card will return to the battlefield as a new object with no relation to its previous existence. The unearth effects will no longer apply to it.
2022-10-14 If you activate a card's unearth ability but that card is removed from your graveyard before the ability resolves, that unearth ability will do nothing as it resolves.
2022-10-14 Unearth grants haste to the permanent that's returned to the battlefield (even if it's not a creature card). However, neither of the "exile" abilities is granted to that permanent. If that permanent loses all its abilities, it will still be exiled at the beginning of the next end step, and if it would leave the battlefield, it is still exiled instead.