Startling Development MTG Card
2020-04-24 - Number 68
2022-12-02 - Number 350
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Cycling |
Text of card
Until end of turn, target creature becomes a blue Serpent with base power and toughness 4/4. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
Remarkably, dinner continued with no further interruptions.
Cards like Startling Development
Startling Development shines within Magic: The Gathering’s suite of blue instant spells that impact creatures on the battlefield. It presents similarities to cards like Unsummon, providing a swift response to threats, albeit through different mechanics. Unlike Unsummon, which returns a creature to its owner’s hand, Startling Development temporarily transforms any creature into a 4/4 blue Serpent, which can be a surprising twist during combat or in response to removal spells.
Comparatively, Dive Down is another card that provides instant protection, though it increases toughness instead of changing a creature’s power. Moreover, it also grants hexproof, something Startling Development doesn’t offer. On the other side of the spectrum, we find cards like Giant Growth, favoring green decks that aim to enhance their creatures’ power and toughness permanently for the turn. This contrasts with Startling Development’s temporary buff though both can be used to turn the tide during crucial combat phases.
Ultimately, Startling Development’s uniqueness lies in its versatility to disrupt opponents’ strategies while providing an instant power boost to any creature, positioning it as an invaluable tool in many MTG blue decks that prioritize tactical surprise and adaptability.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When it comes to maintaining momentum in MTG, cards like Startling Development play a critical role. This versatile Simic Sigil spell allows you to replace itself by drawing a card upon cycling, ensuring your hand doesn’t deplete too quickly.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly adding to your available resources, Startling Development’s low cycling cost provides a cheap way to churn through your deck. This helps you reach crucial land drops or other accelerants more consistently.
Instant Speed: The ability to surprise an opponent at instant speed is what sets Startling Development apart. Whether you’re buffing a creature before damage or out of nowhere during the end step, the flexibility of acting on your opponent’s turn gives you a distinct tactical advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For players casting Startling Development, the need to cycle the card by discarding another can be a setback. Cycling requires you to forfeit another card in your hand, which can be a significant cost when your hand resources are already stretched thin.
Specific Mana Cost: Although the cycling cost of Startling Development is generic, the main casting cost requires a single blue mana. This specific mana requirement means that the card may not fit seamlessly into all deck types, particularly those that run on tight mana bases or primarily non-blue strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Startling Development offers the ability to turn a creature into a 4/4, its three mana cost for its main effect is high when compared to other combat tricks or creature buffs. In formats where mana efficiency can dictate the pace of the game, this cost could be considered a disadvantage, as it may not provide the best value for the mana invested.
Reasons to Include Startling Development in Your Collection
Versatility: Startling Development shows its flexibility by readily fitting into a wide array of blue-based decks. It particularly shines in strategies that need to quickly turn any creature into a significant threat or utilize the surprise factor to adapt during combat.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with decks capitalizing on +1/+1 counters or prowess-like effects. It can be the key to unexpected wins by transforming a benign creature into a 4/4 powerhouse at instant speed.
Meta-Relevance: With its low mana cost and instant speed, Startling Development is well-placed in a meta where tempo plays can determine the course of a game. It’s a smart addition, countering opponents’ removal strategies and offering flexibility in both offensive and defensive situations.
How to beat
Startling Development brings a unique twist to combat scenarios in Magic the Gathering, transforming any creature into a 4/4 blue Serpent. This can turn the tides during battle, especially when applied to a creature with negative counters or to bypass detrimental auras. To effectively counteract this sudden shift in power, having instant-speed removal spells is key. This way, you can respond to Startling Development by eliminating the creature before it can benefit from the transformation.
Another strategy is to use counterspells to prevent Startling Development from resolving. Cards like Essence Scatter are particularly effective since they target creature spells, and Startling Development aims to turn a non-threatening creature into a formidable opponent. Additionally, maintaining a board presence with creatures that can handle a 4/4, such as those with deathtouch or high toughness, will dampen the impact of your opponent’s intended surprise.
Remember, anticipating when to disrupt your opponent’s attempt to use Startling Development can preserve your board state and keep you in a favorable position. Having a plan to deal with unexpected shifts in creature size is a critical aspect of ensuring your deck can handle such trickery.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Startling Development MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Startling Development 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
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Printings
The Startling Development Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Simon Dominic.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020-04-24 | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | IKO | 68 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 350 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Startling Development 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 |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Startling Development card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-04-17 | Because damage remains marked on a creature until the damage is removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to the target creature may become lethal once its base toughness becomes 4. |
| 2020-04-17 | Effects that modify the affected creature’s power or toughness without setting it will apply no matter when they started to take effect. The same is true for counters that change the creature’s power or toughness. |
| 2020-04-17 | Startling Development overwrites all previous effects that set the affected creatures’ color, creature types, power, and/or toughness to specific values. Other effects that set these characteristics to specific values that start to apply after Startling Development resolves will overwrite that part of the effect. |
| 2020-04-17 | The affected creature doesn’t lose any abilities when it becomes a Serpent. |