Anthroplasm MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Shapeshifter |
| Released | 1999-02-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Urza's Legacy |
| Set code | ULG |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 0 |
| Number | 25 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ron Spencer |
Key Takeaways
- Anthroplasm excels in versatility, altering its power/toughness to counter threats or synergize with other cards.
- While powerful, growing Anthroplasm comes at a cost, potentially depleting your hand or burdening your mana base.
- Smart inclusion of Anthroplasm in your deck can capitalize on its adaptability and combo potential for dynamic play.
Text of card
Anthroplasm comes into play with two +1/+1 counters on it. o X, oc T: Remove all +1/+1 counters from Anthroplasm and put X +1/+1 counters on it.
I never metamorphosis I didn't like.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Anthroplasm’s ability to manipulate its own power and toughness can equate to card advantage as it adapts to various threats on the battlefield without the need for additional spells or creatures.
Resource Acceleration: When paired with cards that untap creatures or proliferate counters, Anthroplasm can become a powerful tool for resource acceleration, quickly becoming a large threat that must be dealt with.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Anthroplasm’s ability being usable at instant speed lets you adjust its size in response to combat or certain spells, potentially outmaneuvering your opponent’s strategies during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Anthroplasm requires you to discard cards to fuel its ability to grow, which can be detrimental if your hand is already limited.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana needed to summon Anthroplasm includes both blue and generic mana, necessitating a dedicated color commitment and potentially restricting its integration into multi-color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial investment of four mana to cast Anthroplasm, it may take up valuable turns that could be spent on setting up other strategic plays or fielding creatures that provide instant benefits.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Anthroplasm is a unique addition offering flexible adaptability to various deck strategies. Its ability to manipulate +1/+1 counters allows it to become as big as your mana resources allow, fitting seamlessly into counter-centric or voltron-style decks.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Anthroplasm can become a powerhouse. Pair it with cards that multiply counters or benefit from creatures entering at a particular power and toughness. This can lead to explosive plays that catch opponents off-guard.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where the board state can change rapidly, having a creature that adjusts its power and toughness accordingly can be crucial. Anthroplasm’s malleability makes it relevant in metas that reward responsive playstyles and strategic adaptability.
How to beat
Anthroplasm is a unique creature card that stands as a test for MTG players who aim to sculpt the perfect strategy on the battlefield. With its ability to morph into a creature of varying size each turn, it can become a significant threat if left unchecked. To tackle this shapeshifter, it is vital to embrace removal spells that don’t rely on a creature’s power or toughness. Cards like Path to Exile or Murder, which can target and remove a creature irrespective of its stats, are perfect counters.
Another tactic is to prevent Anthroplasm from receiving its +1/+1 counters in the first place, putting a halt to its ever-changing nature. Counterspells that stop the activation of abilities or Counterbalance can shut down Anthroplasm before it grows out of control. Players should also consider utilizing the timing of their spells, as Anthroplasm’s abilities only take effect at the beginning of the upkeep, allowing for a strategic window to act.
In summary, understanding and anticipating the versatility of Anthroplasm can give players the upper hand. Utilizing instant removals, ability counters, and timing your spells just right are key methods to beat this mutable creature and maintain an edge in your game of MTG.
Understanding Anthroplasm’s Mechanics
Anthroplasm is a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering a blend of versatility and adaptability that can be matched by few. It stands out with its ability to adjust its power and toughness through its specialized ability to reconfigure itself using +1/+1 counters. This brings to mind the simic guild from Ravnica, known for manipulating counters and evolving their creatures.
Cards like Anthroplasm
Anthroplasm shares similarities with other MTG creatures that capitalize on +1/+1 counters. Consider Cytoplast Manipulator, another blue creature that can gain control of opponents’ creatures by moving counters onto them. Anthroplasm’s ability, however, remains internal, focusing on self-modification rather than interaction with others. Then there’s Gilder Bairn, which can double the number of counters on any permanent. This ability could synergize well with Anthroplasm, exponentially increasing its size.
Triskelion is another noteworthy comparison, a creature that comes into play with +1/+1 counters and can remove them to deal damage directly. While Anthroplasm lacks a direct damaging ability, the capacity to set its own power and toughness each turn offers a different strategic value. Unlike Triskelion, Anthroplasm can be a surprise blocker or an aggressive attacker based on the current board state. Both cards, however, require a strategic setup to utilize their full potential.
Although not as straightforward as other creatures, the strategic flexibility of Anthroplasm ensures its place in decks that revolve around +1/+1 counters and combos, lying somewhere between adaptable creatures and those built for direct confrontation.
Cards similar to Anthroplasm by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Anthroplasm MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy, 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 Anthroplasm and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Anthroplasm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Anthroplasm card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | While Anthroplasm does become 0/0 for a moment while its ability resolves, state-based actions are not checked until the ability has finished resolving. By that time, it will have some +1/+1 counters on it (assuming X was greater than 0), and so will not be put into its owner’s graveyard. |
