Yavimaya Ants MTG Card
1996-06-10 - Number 105
2001-12-01 - Number 32
2002-07-01 - Number 5
2007-09-10 - Number 140
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Insect |
| Abilities | Cumulative upkeep,Haste,Trample |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Trample Cumulative Upkeep: o Go G Yavimaya Ants can attack the turn it comes into play on your side.
"Few natural forces are as devastating as hunger." —Kaysa, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order
Cards like Yavimaya Ants
Yavimaya Ants finds itself in a niche category of high-power, low-cost creatures within Magic: The Gathering’s ecosystem. It can be contrasted with fellow two-drop aggressive creatures like Strangleroot Geist. This card also boasts a fast-paced impact on the game with its haste attribute, but Yavimaya Ants ups the ante (pun intended) with trample, allowing potential damage to spill over to the opponent. Strangleroot Geist differs with its undying mechanic, ensuring it comes back for a second bout.
Another card to consider in this comparison is Tarmogoyf. While Yavimaya Ants has the potential for immediate heavy damage thanks to its high attack and trample, Tarmogoyf’s power and toughness can grow significantly as both players’ graveyards fill up, representing a longer-term threat. Both have a similar mana cost, making them competitive options for decks looking to hit hard and fast in the early game.
Each of these creatures offer their own strategic advantages, but Yavimaya Ants stands out for those looking to quickly overwhelm their opponents with brute force in the early rounds of play. Selecting the best fit might come down to personal playstyle preference and the overall strategy of your MTG deck.
Cards similar to Yavimaya Ants by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Yavimaya Ants can bring significant card advantage on the battlefield. Deploying multiple creatures early in the game, it can quickly overwhelm opponents with sheer numbers.
Resource Acceleration: This card is a powerhouse when it comes to resource acceleration. By generating an army of insect tokens, it converts a single card into multiple threats, essentially ramping up your board presence in a short span of time.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Yavimaya Ants at instant speed adds a layer of versatility to your gameplay. Activate it during the end step of your opponent’s turn to surprise them with sudden blockers or simply to bolster your forces right before your turn begins.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the less favorable features of Yavimaya Ants is the discard condition it imposes on the player. This necessity can put a strain on your hand, especially in situations where maintaining card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires a particular blend of mana to cast, including green, which could potentially restrict its inclusion to decks that run heavily on green or have reliable mana-fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Yavimaya Ants comes with a substantial mana cost that might be considered high for its overall impact on the game. When evaluating the efficiency of your deck’s curve, it’s worth considering alternatives that could accomplish similar goals for less mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Yavimaya Ants offers flexibility to your green decks by providing swift offensive capability and the potential for early pressure on your opponent, perfectly slotting into aggro and tempo strategies.
Combo Potential: As part of a deck focused on creature-based synergies, these ants can work harmoniously with cards that capitalize on summoning creatures quickly, or with effects that benefit from multiple attackers.
Meta-Relevance: Given the fast-paced nature of many current MTG decks, Yavimaya Ants could serve as a valuable addition for combatting similarly aggressive strategies, or for quickly diminishing the life total of players relying on slower, more control-oriented decks.
How to beat
Yavimaya Ants is a formidable green creature card that can be quite a challenge on the battlefield. With its trample ability and the potential to grow stronger with each attack, it demands a solid strategy to manage effectively. One effective tactic is to use creature removal spells to prevent it from escalating. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can exile Yavimaya Ants before it becomes too big of a threat.
Another angle is to use board wipe spells. Wraths like Damnation or Wrath of God can clear the board, including Yavimaya Ants, no matter how much it has powered up. Additionally, counterspells are also an efficient way to handle this creature. Countering it before it enters the battlefield with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can save you from dealing with its aggressiveness altogether.
In essence, while Yavimaya Ants can be challenging with its growth and trampling over blockers, there are numerous ways in Magic: The Gathering to prevent it from overrunning you. Early removal, strategic counterspells, or timely board wipes can ensure that the Ants don’t take control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Yavimaya Ants MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Deckmasters, 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 Yavimaya Ants 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 Yavimaya Ants Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Pat Lewis.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 105 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Pat Lewis | |
| 2 | 2001-12-01 | Deckmasters | DKM | 32 | 1997 | Normal | White | Pat Lewis | |
| 3 | 2002-07-01 | Hobby Japan Promos | PHJ | 5 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pat Lewis | |
| 4 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 140 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pat Lewis |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Yavimaya Ants has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Yavimaya Ants card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | Paying cumulative upkeep is always optional. If it’s not paid, the permanent with cumulative upkeep is sacrificed. Partial payments of the total cumulative upkeep cost can’t be made. For example, if a permanent with “cumulative upkeep ” has three age counters on it when its cumulative upkeep ability triggers, it gets another age counter and then its controller chooses to either pay or sacrifice the permanent. |