Body of Research MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. It can turn your library count into a massive creature, potentially dominating the game.
  2. ‘Body of Research’ demands careful deck construction and precise timing for maximum impact.
  3. The card’s presence can force opponents to shift resources, offering you indirect advantages.

Text of card

Create a 0/0 green and blue Fractal creature token. Put X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the number of cards in your library.

Needledeep had promised that his final project would be his biggest one yet.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: ‘Body of Research’ enables the creation of a massive creature whose power and toughness are equal to the number of cards in your library. This not only presents a substantial threat but also has the potential to shift the dynamics in your favor without depleting your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although ‘Body of Research’ doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its presence can be a resource-dense play, demanding your opponents focus their resources on dealing with it, and indirectly leading to a form of resource acceleration as they may need to divert mana or cards to address the threat it poses.

Instant Speed: The casting of ‘Body of Research’ is not at instant speed, which requires strategic planning to ensure the ideal timing for its deployment. Its sorcery speed nature means it’s a planned play that can be built up to, and while it may not be cast in response to an opponent’s actions, its massive impact can be worth the setup.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Body of Research card necessitates discarding another card which can present a setback when your hand is already sparse. This can diminish your strategic options and force tough decisions about which resources to sacrifice.

Specific Mana Cost: Body of Research has an intense color-specific mana requirement, demanding a precise combination of green and blue mana. This stipulation may restrict the versatility of your deck and can be particularly challenging to fulfill in multi-color decks that are not focused on this color pairing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost for Body of Research is considerable, setting a player back six mana. While the effect of creating a massive creature can be game-changing, it’s a hefty investment, and in games where speed and efficiency are paramount, this card could be unwieldy compared to other, more nimble options available.


Reasons to Include Body of Research in Your Collection

Versatility: The Body of Research card brings a unique dynamism to your deck with its ability to produce a creature with power and toughness equal to the number of cards in your library. This means it can work well in a variety of strategies that emphasize building a big library or ensuring ample card draw.

Combo Potential: This card can be a game-changer when combined with effects that double creature statistics or with strategies that grant evasion, turning it into an immediate threat for a game-ending strike. Its synergy with cards like “Simic Ascendancy” can also pave a path to an alternate win condition.

Meta-Relevance: In the shifting landscape of the metagame, Body of Research holds its ground. It’s a formidable component against mill decks by quickly creating a massive creature, and it functions efficiently to close games in a single attack, making it a meaningful addition in the face of various control or creature-based strategies.


How to beat

The Body of Research card introduces a unique twist to creature strategies in Magic the Gathering, challenging players to find effective counterplays. This card creates a creature whose power and toughness are equal to the number of cards in your library, potentially setting the stage for a colossal entity early in the game. To suppress this burgeoning threat, hand disruption strategies become essential. Cards like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can pluck it from an opponent’s hand before it hits the table, preventing the summoning of the formidable creature altogether.

Control decks have a fair share of tools as well, such as countermagic like Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto to deny Body of Research outright. Furthermore, after a Body of Research creature has landed, removal spells that bypass toughness, like Path to Exile or Terminate, offer a clean solution regardless of the creature’s size. Lastly, ensure to apply pressure and reduce their library size, which simultaneously weakens any Body of Research creatures and edges them closer to defeat by depleting their library.

Considering these methods, the key is to remain proactive and adaptive. Whether through hand disruption, direct countering, or strategic removal, there are multiple avenues to effectively check the might of the Body of Research card and sustain control over the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

To thrive in MTG, adapting a fine balance between strategic plays and a responsive deck is crucial. Body of Research carves a niche for those who wield its library-scaling might wisely. With its potential to tip the scales overnight, ensuring your arsenal includes reliable counters and enhancements can make the difference between defeat and dominance. Dive deeper into how to optimize your tactics with Body of Research, tailor your deck composition, and encounter new synergies that bolster your pathway to victory. Embrace the depth of MTG strategy and engage with fellow enthusiasts who share your passion for innovation and mastery.


Cards like Body of Research

When examining Body of Research within Magic: The Gathering, one immediately notices it’s a unique addition to the creatures category. It shares some thematic relation with cards like Hydra’s Growth that emphasize exponential growth based on specific triggers or parameters. Body of Research stands out by creating a creature with power and toughness equal to the number of cards in your library, an instantly substantial presence on the battlefield.

Similar to Body of Research, Simic Ascendancy also thrives on adding +1/+1 counters, albeit through a different win condition. While Body of Research’s potential resides in a single creature’s enormity, Simic Ascendancy aims for a longer-term strategy, counting the +1/+1 counters placed on your creatures over time to eventually claim victory. Then, there’s Chasm Skulker, which grows larger with each card drawn and leaves behind a swarm of Squid tokens upon its demise, offering a mix of threat increase and board presence after its exit.

Conclusively, while all these cards have their strengths and encourage building around, Body of Research’s ability to instantly create a lethal threat gives it a noteworthy place among MTG’s suite of creature-centric, growth-oriented spells.

Hydra's Growth - MTG Card versions
Simic Ascendancy - MTG Card versions
Chasm Skulker - MTG Card versions
Hydra's Growth - Theros Beyond Death (THB)
Simic Ascendancy - Ravnica Allegiance Promos (PRNA)
Chasm Skulker - Magic 2015 Promos (PM15)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Body of Research MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Body of Research and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Body of Research Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-24. Illustrated by Antonio José Manzanedo.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 902742015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo
22021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 1682015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo
32021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 3362015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo
42021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 168p2015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo
52021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 168s2015normalblackAntonio José Manzanedo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Body of Research has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

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