Underdark Beholder MTG Card
2019-11-07 - Number 49
2021-08-20 - Number 49
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Beholder |
| Abilities | Convert |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
CARDNAME enters the battlefield with ten eyestalk counters on it. If CARDNAME would be dealt damage, remove that many eyestalk counters from it instead. If you can't, sacrifice it. Whenever CARDNAME attacks, reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal an instant, sorcery, or enchantment card with converted mana cost less than the number of eyestalk counters on CARDNAME. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Shuffle your library.
Cards like Underdark Beholder
Examining the Underdark Beholder within the Magic: The Gathering realm, enthusiasts notice its intriguing place among creature cards with destructive abilities. The Underdark Beholder presents a distinct parallel to cards like Doom Whisperer, as both have a potent board presence and offer powerful effects that can turn the tide of a game. Unlike the Doom Whisperer’s focus on surveilling and manipulating the library, the Underdark Beholder shines with its multi-faceted control over the battlefield, albeit with a different set of constraints and interactions.
Another comparable creature is the Chaos Maw, which also orchestrates widespread havoc among creatures on the board. Whereas Chaos Maw deals damage indiscriminately, the Underdark Beholder provides a more controlled form of disruption, becoming a strategic inclusion in any deck that aims to manipulate the battlefield to its advantage. Additionally, the Beholder’s versatility makes it a compelling choice for those seeking multi-angle control in their game plan.
Interpreting the value of such creatures, the Underdark Beholder could be perceived as an exemplar of tactical adaptability, carving itself a niche where it stands not only as a menacing figure but as a chess piece that can sway the flow of the match in a player’s favor.
Cards similar to Underdark Beholder by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Underdark Beholder offers substantial card advantage with its ability to disrupt your opponent’s hand while allowing you to sift through your own deck for key cards. This can tip the scales in your favor during a close match.
Resource Acceleration: This formidable card can ramp up your mana resources, giving you the upper hand by allowing more powerful spells to be cast earlier than usual. Its resource acceleration qualities are invaluable in outpacing your opponents.
Instant Speed: Its instant speed interactions allow you to react in real-time to threats or opportunities. This flexibility can be game-changing, ensuring that you’re always one step ahead by making pivotal plays at the perfect moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To unleash the might of the Underdark Beholder, you must first satisfy its hunger for your own cards. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already struggling for valuable plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Harnessing the chaotic energy of the Underdark Beholder demands a precise combination of mana. With its unique cost, this creature finds a home only in decks that can reliably produce the required types of mana to summon it.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that might echo through the caverns of the Underdark, this creature asks for a significant amount of resources. There are alternatives in the MTG realm that might be summoned sooner or offer more immediate impacts on the battlefield, keeping the tempo in your favor.
Reasons to Include Underdark Beholder in Your Collection
Versatility: The Underdark Beholder card offers a wide range of strategic options for players, able to disrupt the board with its eye beam abilities. This card can be integrated smoothly into various deck types, accommodating different playstyles that focus on control or tempo.
Combo Potential: It shows promise when combined with cards that manipulate the number of counters or duplicate triggered abilities. With each eye beam offering unique effects, it can be a lynchpin in synergy-driven decks, adding depth to your game plan.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the evolving landscape of competitive play, the Underdark Beholder’s ability to shut down opponent’s strategies keeps it relevant. It has a place in environments where versatility and disruption give you an upper hand against prevalent deck archetypes.
How to beat
The Underdark Beholder is a formidable foe on the battlefield, tipping the scales in favor of its controller through a web of devious abilities. To outmaneuver this creature, a sharp strategy is paramount. Restraint is key; rushing to deploy your forces against the Beholder can often lead to an unfavorable outcome, as it thrives on punishing overly aggressive plays. Instead, consider employing removal spells that can bypass its effects, such as instant-speed removals which can catch your opponent off-guard, dismantling their defenses before the Beholder’s abilities trigger.
Another effective tactic involves sidestepping the Beholder’s influence by leveraging exile effects or utilizing board wipes that reset the playing field. Cards that can shut down activated abilities, like Pithing Needle, also serve as an excellent countermeasure. Your strategy should include a mix of defensive measures that protect against the Beholder’s gaze, such as hexproof or indestructible creatures, and offensive spells capable of targeting the Beholder directly or removing it from the battlefield entirely. With such preparedness, you stand a much better chance of toppling this dreaded creature and asserting your dominance in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Underdark Beholder MTG card by a specific set like Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 and Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021, 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 Underdark Beholder 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
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Printings
The Underdark Beholder Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-11-07 and 2021-08-20. Illustrated by Chris Tulach.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 | CMB1 | 49 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Tulach | |
| 2 | 2021-08-20 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 | CMB2 | 49 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Tulach |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Underdark Beholder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-11-12 | If Underdark Beholder leaves the battlefield while its last ability is on the stack, use the number of eyestalk counters it had before it left to determine what converted mana cost to look for. |
| 2019-11-12 | If a spell has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost. |
| 2019-11-12 | If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, such as that of Tormenting Voice, you must pay those to cast the card. |
| 2019-11-12 | Underdark Beholder’s second ability isn’t a damage prevention effect. It can replace damage that can’t be prevented. |
| 2019-11-12 | You must cast the revealed card while Underdark Beholder’s triggered ability is resolving. You can’t cast it later in the turn. |