Cosmic Larva MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Beast
Abilities	Trample
Released	2004-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Fifth Dawn
Set code	5DN
Power	7
Toughness	6
Number	63
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeff Easley

Key Takeaways

Cosmic Larva challenges players to balance early game advantage against its hefty upkeep cost.
Its significant power for low mana cost makes it a potential game-changer in the right decks.
Understanding its unique mechanics is key to effectively using or countering this potent card.

Text of card

Trample At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Cosmic Larva unless you sacrifice two lands.

For millennia they wandered from plane to plane, devouring all metal. Finally, their wanderings are over.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cosmic Larva demands attention as it offers a robust challenge to manage resources creatively. When played strategically, it can place you well ahead of your opponent by pressuring them early in the game, forcing them to deal with a substantial threat.

Resource Acceleration: While Cosmic Larva itself doesn’t accelerate resources in a traditional sense, its heavy 7/6 presence for three mana can lead to a significant tempo gain. This can often put you in a position where your resources are effectively used to pressure your opponent, potentially leading to rapid game-winning situations.

Instant Speed: Although Cosmic Larva is not an instant-speed spell, its very existence on the board can influence your opponent’s play, as they must constantly consider the potential for you to either protect it or capitalize on it, thus indirectly affecting the pace and decisions of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cosmic Larva requires you to sacrifice two lands during your upkeep, a steep cost that can severely disrupt your mana base and hamper your game progression.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two generic and one red mana, this creature can be challenging to play in multi-colored decks that may not always have the necessary red mana available when it’s needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its formidable power and toughness, the initial three mana cost can be taxing in fast-paced games where efficiency and speed are key. In such environments, players might find better value in creatures with lower mana requirements and less demanding upkeep costs.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cosmic Larva brings flexibility to your deck, serving as a powerful beater in the early game. Its ability to deliver substantial damage turns it into a significant threat that must be addressed by your opponent.

Combo Potential: This card is an excellent choice for decks focused on life total manipulation or sacrifice mechanics, as it can be used as a resource to enable potent combos and synergies with other cards.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive strategies are effective, Cosmic Larva can shine as a formidable force on the battlefield. Its place in the meta depends on the prevalence of quick damage-dealing decks that can capitalize on its strengths before its downside becomes a liability.

How to beat

The Cosmic Larva card presents a unique challenge to overcome in MTG due to its potent ability to offer a massive power spike early in the game. As a formidable creature with the potential for significant attack force, the key to countering it lies in understanding its double-edged nature. One should exploit the card’s demanding sacrifice clause, which requires its controller to sacrifice two lands if it attacks.

Players looking to neutralize Cosmic Larva can strategically focus on land destruction or land incapacitation, hindering the opponent’s ability to make the necessary sacrifices and thereby neutralizing the threat. Additionally, creature removal spells or effects that force opponents to sacrifice attacking creatures can be immensely effective. By carefully managing resources and employing a well-timed removal strategy, players can ensure that the Cosmic Larva’s might is kept in check, and its potential for game-altering swings is significantly hampered.

Ultimately, defeating this powerful entity requires calculated risks and a thorough understanding of the opponent’s abilities to ensure that the immense power of the Cosmic Larva does not dominate the battlefield. Approaching the challenge with a mix of preventive and reactive tactics will serve as the foundation to outmaneuver an opponent wielding this high-risk, high-reward card.

Cards like Cosmic Larva

Cosmic Larva holds a unique place within the roster of power-heavy creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some functional similarities with cards like Jokulmorder, which wield enormous power and toughness stats. However, Cosmic Larva’s requirement to sacrifice two lands during your upkeep is a steep price for maintaining its presence on the battlefield. Jokulmorder offers a similar initial land sacrifice when it comes into play but doesn’t demand a recurring upkeep cost.

Exploring similar ground, we encounter the card Lord of the Pit. This formidable creature also demands a tribute, but instead of land, it requires sacrificing another creature during your upkeep, or it inflicts significant damage to you. While cosmic Larva avoids dealing damage to its controller, ensuring lands to sacrifice can be quite challenging in gameplay. Comparably, Lord of the Pit’s creature sacrifice can be manipulated with token generation strategies to offset its downside.

In essence, Cosmic Larva proposes a tempting deal of early game dominance at the cost of land resources, a unique aspect that sets it apart from other high-risk, high-reward creatures in the multiverse of MTG.

Cards similar to Cosmic Larva by color, type and mana cost

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions

Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions

Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions

Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions

Thunder-Thrash Elder - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cosmic Larva MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn, 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 Cosmic Larva and other MTG cards: