Symbiotic Beast MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 287
2023-01-13 - Number 180
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Insect Beast |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
When Symbiotic Beast is put into a graveyard from play, put four 1/1 green Insect creature tokens into play.
The insects found a meal in the carrion of the beast's prey. The beast found a spiffy new hairstyle.
Cards like Symbiotic Beast
In the ecosystem of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, Symbiotic Beast carves out its unique space. It can be paralleled with cards such as Penumbra Wurm, which also leaves behind creature tokens upon death. Symbiotic Beast, with its ability to generate four 1/1 insect tokens, provides a defensive buffer post-demise. Penumbra Wurm yields a single 6/6 black Wurm creature token, which is more offense-centric.
Exploring further, Mycoloth also stands out with its devour ability, offering an escalating threat, potentially creating numerous saproling tokens each upkeep, underlining the card’s synergistic growth potential. Unlike Symbiotic Beast, Mycoloth requires upfront investment in creatures, which can be risky. Then there’s Ant Queen, another creature that gives its controller an insect-producing advantage but allows for more control over when and how many tokens are created, albeit at an additional mana cost.
Assessing these options showcases Symbiotic Beast as a formidable card. It ensures that even in death, it leaves a lasting impact on the battlefield, bolstering defenses. This endows it with a resilience that holds strategic value in creature-centric decks within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Symbiotic Beast by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: On its face, Symbiotic Beast may seem like a simple creature, but its true potential shines when it leaves the battlefield. Upon dying, this 4/4 creature bestows you with four 1/1 Insect creature tokens, pivoting from one substantial threat to multiple smaller ones and ensuring that your board presence remains consistent. This transformation helps maintain your grip on the game by providing card advantage through additional creature cards.
Resource Acceleration: Those four Insect tokens aren’t just for attack and defense; they can also become critical assets in decks that capitalize on sacrificial strategies. With the right synergies in play, these tokens can be harnessed for various benefits, such as ramping up your mana resources faster than your opponents expect. This can be particularly effective in green-based decks that thrive on having plentiful resources to summon even larger threats.
Instant Speed: While Symbiotic Beast itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it certainly influences instant speed interactions on the board. Your opponents must consider the aftermath of dealing with the Beast. Opting to remove it on their turn could leave you with an instant army of Insect tokens, ready to be utilized on your next turn, potentially disrupting their strategies and giving you the upper hand during the unfolding turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Symbiotic Beast offers a beneficial end-game effect, it requires players to discard when it dies. This might not always align with a player’s strategy, especially if maintaining hand advantage is crucial for their game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Symbiotic Beast’s casting cost demands a mix of generic and green mana. This specificity can make it challenging to cast in multicolored decks, potentially reducing its versatility and necessitating a commitment to green mana resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a six mana requirement, including four generic and two green, Symbiotic Beast competes with other high-impact cards in that slot. Players might find other creatures or spells that provide more immediate board presence or effects at a lower cost.
Reasons to Include Symbiotic Beast in Your Collection
Versatility: Symbiotic Beast functions as an all-around solid addition to decks focusing on creature-based strategies. The ability to leave behind smaller creatures upon its death makes it a valuable asset both in life and in demise.
Combo Potential: When Symbiotic Beast leaves the battlefield, you get four 1/1 green Insect creature tokens, setting the stage for myriad combos with cards that capitalize on creature tokens or death triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where board presence and resilience against sweepers are key, Symbiotic Beast provides persisting value, ensuring your side of the battlefield is never left barren.
How to beat
The Symbiotic Beast is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a valuable mix of creature size and a death-trigger ability. Sitting at a solid 4/4, when this creature meets its demise, it showers the player with four 1/1 green Insect creature tokens – a noteworthy last hurrah that can be both a boon for its controller and a thorn in the side for opponents.
To effectively counter Symbiotic Beast, paying attention to timing is key. Utilize removal spells that exile it, preventing the death trigger from even occurring. Cards such as Path to Exile and Scavenging Ooze can disrupt this synergistic moment. If the creature tokens are already in play, consider sweepers like Wrath of God or Pyroclasm to clear the field. Moreover, taking control of the battlefield with counterspell strategies when Symbiotic Beast is cast can prevent any threats before they manifest.
Understanding the mechanics surrounding Symbiotic Beast can turn a potential setback into a tactical advantage. Preventive measures, control-based strategies, and a keen sense of timing can all ensure this creature and its swarming aftermath are nothing more than a minor hiccup in your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Symbiotic Beast MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Dominaria Remastered, 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 Symbiotic Beast 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 Symbiotic Beast Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 287 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Franz Vohwinkel | |
| 2 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 180 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ilse Gort |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Symbiotic Beast has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |