The Swarmlord MTG Card


Grants card advantage and represents a continuous board threat with relentless token generation. Demands careful hand management and has specific casting requirements, affecting deck design. Surpasses similar cards in creature token production, becoming a linchpin in insect-themed decks.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Tyranid
Abilities Rapid Regeneration,Xenos Cunning
Power 5
Toughness 5

Text of card

Rapid Regeneration — The Swarmlord enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it for each time you've cast your commander from the command zone this game. Xenos Cunning — Whenever a creature you control with a counter on it dies, draw a card.


Cards like The Swarmlord

The Swarmlord summons an array of insect creatures to the forefront of Magic: The Gathering gameplay. In essence, it beckons to the concept of ‘the more, the merrier’. A comparable card is Ant Queen, which also excels in producing insect creature tokens. However, The Swarmlord steps it up with the automatic generation of tokens with each upkeep, diversifying your strategy by offering a relentless swarm without additional mana investment.

Another fascinating parallel exists with The Locust God. It generates flying insect tokens whenever you draw a card, presenting a dual front of offense and defense. While The Swarmlord focuses on ground swarming, The Locust God takes to the skies, offering strategic aerial advances. Additionally, The Scarab God emerges as a similar commander with its ability to animate dead creatures as 4/4 black Zombie tokens while peering into opponents’ strategies and chipping away at their life totals.

Collectively, all these cards embody the theme of incremental advantages, flourishing over time to overwhelm opponents. While each has its distinctive niche, The Swarmlord commands attention with its capacity to create a significant presence on the battlefield, supported by a continuous influx of insect allied forces.

Ant Queen - MTG Card versions
The Locust God - MTG Card versions
The Scarab God - MTG Card versions
Ant Queen - MTG Card versions
The Locust God - MTG Card versions
The Scarab God - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to The Swarmlord by color, type and mana cost

Intet, the Dreamer - MTG Card versions
Snowhorn Rider - MTG Card versions
Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm - MTG Card versions
Intet, the Dreamer - MTG Card versions
Snowhorn Rider - MTG Card versions
Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Swarmlord’s ability offers card advantage by generating additional creature tokens, ensuring a steady influx of threats on the board.

Resource Acceleration: With the right synergies, this card can boost your resource acceleration significantly, allowing you to deploy more creatures or cast impactful spells sooner.

Instant Speed: If the card or its synergies allow for actions at instant speed, it can create unpredictability in your game plan, giving you the upper hand by adapting to the battlefield on the fly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Swarmlord can impose a heavy toll on your hand, requiring you to discard cards which might be crucial for your game strategy. This can leave you at a disadvantage, especially when you’re in need of multiple options during critical turns.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a strict combination of mana types to cast. If you’re running a multi-colored deck, the inflexibility of its mana cost can restrict its playability and force you to adjust your land base or mana-fixing methods, potentially complicating your overall deck design.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to bring The Swarmlord onto the battlefield is significant. When considering other cards with versatile abilities or lower mana costs that can be played earlier in the game to establish board presence or control, The Swarmlord might not always be the optimal choice, as it requires a substantial setup to maximize its value.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Swarmlord flaunts its versatility easily, slotting into various deck archetypes that rely on creature swarms and synergies. Its ability to command the battlefield makes it an asset across a spectrum of strategies.

Combo Potential: This card opens up potential for numerous combos, empowering insect-type synergies or any deck that benefits from high-powered creature presence. Its ability to generate token creatures can be particularly game-changing.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors aggressive and creature-heavy decks, The Swarmlord proves its worth. Its impact on board state and the pressure it can apply aligns perfectly with current strategies that lean towards tempo and board control.


How to beat

The Swarmlord is a potent force in the landscape of creature cards in MTG. Its ability to propagate an insect army can overwhelm unprepared opponents. To counteract this tide, control strategies become paramount. Board wipes like Wrath of God clear the swarm, while single-target removal such as Path to Exile keeps the Swarmlord itself at bay. Permission-based decks utilizing counterspells, like Negate or Mana Leak, can prevent the Swarmlord from hitting the field in the first place.

It’s also viable to outpace the Swarmlord with an aggressive strategy. Fast creature decks, often in Red or White colors, can pressure the opponent before they stabilize their board with the Swarmlord. Cards like Lightning Bolt deliver quick damage, and creatures with haste capitalize on early game momentum. It’s critical to leverage the first few turns, interrupting the setup that a Swarmlord deck aims for.

Understanding the pivotal role that the Swarmlord plays in its respective deck type is key. By disrupting the synergy or outpacing the deck’s inherent rhythm, players can mitigate the threat it poses. Considering these tactics, the Swarmlord, while powerful, can be strategically overcome in MTG matchups.


BurnMana Recommendations

With the insights into The Swarmlord’s strengths and weaknesses in mind, adapting your MTG strategy to utilize or counter this card is essential. Whether you’re harnessing its swarm-generating power or developing counterplay tactics, remember to balance your deck accordingly. For those looking to incorporate The Swarmlord into their collection, the card’s potential to dominate board presence is undeniable. On the flip side, should you seek to triumph over such a threat, precise timing, and strategic removals are key. Dive deeper into the intricate world of MTG with us, and refine your deck-building and gameplay approach to ascend in your MTG endeavors.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase The Swarmlord MTG card by a specific set like Warhammer 40,000 Commander and Warhammer 40,000 Commander, 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 The Swarmlord and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The The Swarmlord Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Antonio José Manzanedo.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 42015NormalBlackAntonio José Manzanedo
22022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 1762015NormalBlackAntonio José Manzanedo
32022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 3212015NormalBlackAntonio José Manzanedo
42022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 1802015NormalBlackAntonio José Manzanedo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where The Swarmlord has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal