War Behemoth MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 29
2019-11-07 - Number 273
2020-09-26 - Number KTK-29
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Morph |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
Morph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
"The Houses always hope for peace, but we always pack for war." —Gvar Barzeel, krumar commander
Cards like War Behemoth
Exploring the vast roster of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, War Behemoth is a robust creature that can have a significant presence on the battlefield. Its likeness can be seen when compared to other high-toughness creatures, such as Siege Mastodon. While both cards require five mana to cast, the Mastodon lacks the formidable “Morph” ability that War Behemoth possesses, allowing the latter flexible and often surprise deployment during the game.
Another card worth considering is Loxodon Wayfarer. This creature boasts a similar mana cost and stays within the theme of heavy defense, yet it trails in toughness and lacks the Morph ability, which gives War Behemoth an edge in terms of versatility. Alternatively, we have Venerable Lammasu, another mammoth creature that flies high above the rest. Though it offers an aerial advantage with its flying trait, its higher casting cost makes it a slower addition to the board compared to the ground-stabled War Behemoth.
Upon comparison, War Behemoth stands out with its flexibility and substantial blocking capability. In a format where timing and surprise can turn the tides, the incorporation of the Morph mechanic gives this particular creature an advantage in strategic deployment, making it a staple in certain decks that value such traits.
Cards similar to War Behemoth by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gaining an edge with War Behemoth ensures you have consistent access to powerful creatures on the battlefield. This behemoth of a card can keep your hand filled when facing attrition-based strategies.
Resource Acceleration: War Behemoth enables you to maximize your mana usage, putting you ahead of your opposition by allowing faster deployment of threats. Its considerable presence often requires an immediate answer, influencing your opponent’s resource allocation.
Instant Speed: Functional at instant speed, War Behemoth can surprise your adversaries during combat or at the end of their turn, maintaining the tempo and giving you a tactical advantage in the ongoing duel.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The War Behemoth card demands a discard from the player’s hand, a trade-off which can deplete a player’s crucial hand resources and lead to a disadvantageous position, especially in tight situations where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature has a casting cost that necessitates both generic and white mana, which may not be seamlessly integrated into multicolored or off-theme decks, potentially making it a less versatile pick for players who favor highly flexible mana bases.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its higher mana requirement for summoning to the battlefield, War Behemoth might not be the optimal choice considering alternative creatures or spells that could provide similar or greater impact for the same or lower investment, thereby affecting deck tempo and overall efficiency.
Reasons to Include War Behemoth in Your Collection
Versatility: War Behemoth stands out as a formidable defensive option for decks needing to reinforce their lines against aggressive opponents. Its morph ability allows for flexible play, adapting to the needs of the game whether it be early deployment or late-game surprise.
Combo Potential: Being able to turn face-up at a moment’s notice, War Behemoth pairs well with cards that manipulate or benefit from morphing mechanics, enhancing synergies within a deck that focuses on such surprise elements.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where combat tricks and board presence are key, War Behemoth maintains strategic importance. Its potential to deter attackers can be critical in preserving life totals while setting up for game-winning moves in various metagames.
How to Beat War Behemoth Mtg Card
War Behemoth is a card that can potentially dominate the battlefield with its size in MTG. To tackle this daunting creature, having sufficient removal spells in your deck is essential. Enchantment-based removal like Pacifism can neutralize it without triggering any possible death effects. For a more permanent solution, cards such as Murder or Doom Blade offer quick and decisive action to take out War Behemoth before it can establish control.
Alternatively, War Behemoth can be overwhelmed by swarming the board with multiple creatures, diminishing its impact on the game. Combining this with combat tricks or spells that grant evasion to your creatures will help you get past the Behemoth and chip away at your opponent’s life total. Effective counterspells can also preemptively deal with War Behemoth by never letting it hit the field in the first place, illustrating the importance of a diverse and strategic deck composition.
Overall, a balanced approach that incorporates removal, evasion, and counters can ensure your MTG matches are not overrun by the War Behemoth or similar threats, thus maintaining a stable and controlled game environment.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase War Behemoth MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, 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 War Behemoth 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
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Printings
The War Behemoth Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Zoltan Boros.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 29 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 273 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | KTK-29 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where War Behemoth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering War Behemoth card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | A permanent that turns face up or face down changes characteristics but is otherwise the same permanent. Spells and abilities that were targeting that permanent, as well as Auras and Equipment that were attached to the permanent, aren’t affected. |
| 2014-09-20 | Any time you have priority, you may turn the face-down creature face up by revealing what its morph cost is and paying that cost. This is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to. Only a face-down permanent can be turned face up this way; a face-down spell cannot. |
| 2014-09-20 | At any time, you can look at a face-down spell or permanent you control. You can’t look at face-down spells or permanents you don’t control unless an effect instructs you to do so. |
| 2014-09-20 | Because the permanent is on the battlefield both before and after it’s turned face up, turning a permanent face up doesn’t cause any enters-the-battlefield abilities to trigger. |
| 2014-09-20 | If a face-down permanent leaves the battlefield, you must reveal it. You must also reveal all face-down spells and permanents you control if you leave the game or if the game ends. |
| 2014-09-20 | Morph lets you cast a card face down by paying , and lets you turn the face-down permanent face up any time you have priority by paying its morph cost. |
| 2014-09-20 | The face-down spell has no mana cost and has a converted mana cost of 0. When you cast a face-down spell, put it on the stack face down so no other player knows what it is, and pay . This is an alternative cost. |
| 2014-09-20 | When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. It’s colorless and has a converted mana cost of 0. Other effects that apply to the creature can still grant it any of these characteristics. |
| 2014-09-20 | You must ensure that your face-down spells and permanents can easily be differentiated from each other. You’re not allowed to mix up the cards that represent them on the battlefield in order to confuse other players. The order they entered the battlefield should remain clear. Common methods for doing this include using markers or dice, or simply placing them in order on the battlefield. |