Specimen Collector MTG Card
2021-06-18 - Number 64
2021-08-26 - Number 253
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Vedalken Wizard |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
When Specimen Collector enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 green Squirrel creature token and a 0/3 blue Crab creature token. When Specimen Collector dies, create a token that's a copy of target token you control.
Cards like Specimen Collector
The Specimen Collector from Magic: The Gathering enters a niche category of creatures offering unique board presence. Its closest relatives might be cards like Hostage Taker, which shares the ability to manipulate creatures on the battlefield. Unlike Hostage Taker that temporarily exiles and lets you cast another creature, Specimen Collector immediately creates a token duplicate when another nontoken creature dies. It’s a nuanced difference but pivotal in terms of board strategy.
Mirror Image is another card that produces a copy of a creature you control, albeit without the death-triggered duplicating effect. Specimen Collector’s ability to replicate upon a creature’s demise can turn the tides, making it a valuable card in decks designed to capitalize on death triggers or token generation. Then consider Progenitor Mimic, which carries the potential for an endless stream of copies but comes with a higher mana cost and without the immediate impact of Specimen Collector’s death trigger.
Analyzing these comparisons, the Specimen Collector stands out for its combined upfront value and tactical advantage in MTG. Its unique death-triggered mechanic can quickly snowball into a dominating board if not addressed, making it a strategic pivot point in any game.
Cards similar to Specimen Collector by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The draw ability of Specimen Collector can replenish your hand, giving you an edge by providing additional options and responses to your opponent’s moves.
Resource Acceleration: By creating creature tokens, Specimen Collector effectively expands your board presence without the need for extra cards from your hand, speeding up your gameplay and strategy execution.
Instant Speed: Its ability to interact at instant speed means that you can adapt to the battlefield’s dynamics on the fly, making surprise blocks or creating creatures when least expected by your opponents.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One potential downside to Specimen Collector is its discard requirement. Each time you want to use its ability, you have to pitch a card from your hand, which could set you back if your hand size is already dwindling. In games where card advantage is crucial, being forced to discard can be a serious detriment to your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Specimen Collector’s mana cost includes specific colors, requiring both blue and green mana. This can be restrictive, making the card less flexible for decks that run more than just those two colors. It’s especially challenging if your mana base isn’t perfectly tuned to accommodate such requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The combined mana cost for Specimen Collector is on the higher side, and this can be a con for players looking to optimize their mana curve. While the card can offer valuable creatures, its cost means that faster, more aggressive strategies might opt for lower-cost alternatives that provide immediate board presence or other advantages.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Specimen Collector brings adaptability to your games with its ability to generate additional creature tokens. This feature can seamlessly integrate with a multitude of deck themes, enhancing both creature-based strategies and those focusing on token manipulation.
Combo Potential: With its unique creature creation, Specimen Collector works as a springboard for various combos, particularly in synergy with sacrifice effects or abilities that capitalize on the presence of multiple creatures on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment that prizes resilience and board presence, Specimen Collector’s utility shines, catering effectively to dynamic game scenarios by establishing incremental advantages as it interacts with evolving board states.
How to beat
Specimen Collector is a multifaceted card that creates a unique board presence in Magic: The Gathering. This card introduces multiple creature tokens, which can be a challenge to contend with. The key to overcoming Specimen Collector lies in managing the tokens it produces. Board wipes are an efficient way to clear multiple creatures at once. Concentrating on removal spells that can deal with several creatures, such as Doomskar or Shatter the Sky, can swiftly negate the advantage Specimen Collector provides.
Spot removals are also valuable, targeting key creatures before the Collector’s ability triggers upon death. Using spells like Heartless Act or Eliminate can be effective to surgically remove vital tokens or the Collector itself before its death trigger becomes a problem. If you’re looking for a more subtle approach, countering it with spells like Absorb or Dovin’s Veto can prevent Specimen Collector from hitting the board entirely.
Ultimately, dealing with Specimen Collector’s dynamic playstyle requires careful planning and prompt action. Controlling the board and prioritizing threats are essential strategies. By managing the tokens and responses wisely, one can mitigate the advantages this card presents, maintaining a stable position in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Specimen Collector MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Specimen Collector and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Specimen Collector Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Ravenna Tran.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 64 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ravenna Tran | |
| 2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 253 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ravenna Tran |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Specimen Collector has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Specimen Collector card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-06-18 | For Specimen Collector's last ability, the target token can be any token you control, not necessarily one of the token creatures you created due to its first ability, and not necessarily even a creature. |