Primal Huntbeast MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Beast
Abilities Hexproof
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. The hexproof ability of Primal Huntbeast offers notable in-game resilience, thwarting targeted removal attempts by opponents.
  2. While sturdy, its four mana cost for a 3/3 creature can be unfavorable compared to alternatives, challenging its efficiency.
  3. A versatile component for combos, it’s a dependable asset in decks that exploit protective tactics and consistent combat presence.

Text of card

Hexproof (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

"To the unskilled, it appears as blurred patches of distorted light. Few have seen its true form." —Garruk Wildspeaker


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Primal Huntbeast doesn’t inherently provide card advantage, its resilience in the battlefield allows you to maintain presence without expending additional cards, effectively putting you ahead if your opponent is forced to deal with it multiple times.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly accelerate resources, but its sheer presence can preserve your mana resources for other spells. Also, surviving longer due to hexproof means you’re more likely to reach a stage in the game where you can deploy multiple threats in a single turn.

Instant Speed: Primal Huntbeast is a creature, not an instant, but its enduring power forces your opponent to play at your pace. This advantage means you can dictate the flow of the game, setting up plays on your terms, effectively using your mana and spells with greater efficiency during your turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Given that Primal Huntbeast is simply a creature without additional abilities, its playability is not directly affected by discard mechanics. However, its vanilla nature means that holding this card in hand while facing discard effects could be a liability, particularly if you’re pressured to pitch more versatile cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Primal Huntbeast’s casting cost requires one green mana. While this is straightforward for mono-green decks, it may not seamlessly fit into multicolored deck strategies, potentially making it a less versatile choice in a player’s creature line-up.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana for a 3/3 creature, Primal Huntbeast’s cost-effectiveness is questionable. Its mana value does not necessarily match up with its in-game impact, especially when compared to other creatures at the same mana range that might offer additional abilities or greater stats.


Reasons to Include Primal Huntbeast in Your Collection

Versatility: Primal Huntbeast, with its feature of hexproof, becomes a reliable creature that dodges targeted removal, which is a boon in any deck aiming for resilience.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its hexproof ability, it serves as an ideal candidate for aura and equipment combos, ensuring your invested buffs remain secure.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment filled with spot removal, the Primal Huntbeast stands out by being notoriously difficult for opponents to handle directly, carving a niche role in specific meta games.


How to beat

Primal Huntbeast, while formidable with its hexproof ability, isn’t unbeatable in Magic: The Gathering. Often, players rely on this creature for its resilience against targeted spells. However, its defense isn’t comprehensive. Board wipes, such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” easily circumvent the hexproof protection by not targeting the beast directly. Wrath effects are particularly effective against a deck relying on creatures like Primal Huntbeast.

On another front, imposing big blockers can also stifle the Huntbeast’s impact on the game. Since it possesses a modest attack power, creatures with high toughness can shut down its offensive efforts without the need for targeted removal. Moreover, cards that alter the rules of combat, such as “Ensnaring Bridge,” prevent it from attacking under certain conditions, thereby neutralizing the threat it poses.

Tactics can range from outpacing your opponent with aggressive strategies to rendering the Primal Huntbeast irrelevant by achieving your win condition swiftly. Invariably, strategies that don’t depend on targeting creatures will find it easier to contain the otherwise elusive beast. Thus, while Primal Huntbeast presents a challenge, it’s one that seasoned players can overcome with the right approach.


Cards like Primal Huntbeast

Primal Huntbeast stands out in Magic: The Gathering with its inherent ability to be unblockable due to hexproof. This creature resembles the pattern seen in cards like Gladecover Scout and Invisible Stalker, which are also known for their evasion tactics. What Primal Huntbeast brings to the table, however, is its size. With a 3/3 body, it overshadows the smaller Gladecover Scout but misses out on the latter’s lower casting cost.

Another creature worthy of comparison is the Silhana Ledgewalker. Similar to Primal Huntbeast, it offers a form of evasion but trades hexproof for the can’t be blocked except by creatures with flying ability. Lastly, when talking about robustness and resilience, Bassara Tower Archer must be mentioned. Like Primal Huntbeast, it boasts hexproof, but with an added benefit of reach, allowing it to also be a formidable defender against creatures with flying.

Choosing between these creatures often depends on individual strategy and format. Primal Huntbeast serves well in decks that capitalize on protecting valuable creatures while allowing for consistent combat pressure. Its size and hexproof make it a reasonable option for one’s creature lineup.

Gladecover Scout - MTG Card versions
Invisible Stalker - MTG Card versions
Silhana Ledgewalker - MTG Card versions
Bassara Tower Archer - MTG Card versions
Gladecover Scout - Magic 2012 (M12)
Invisible Stalker - Innistrad (ISD)
Silhana Ledgewalker - Guildpact (GPT)
Bassara Tower Archer - Journey into Nyx (JOU)

Cards similar to Primal Huntbeast by color, type and mana cost

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
Erhnam Djinn - MTG Card versions
War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Alligator - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Saber Ants - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Tenth Edition (10E)
Marsh Viper - The Dark (DRK)
Scarwood Bandits - The Dark (DRK)
Carnivorous Plant - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Erhnam Djinn - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
War Mammoth - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Aurochs - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Lhurgoyf - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Jackalope Herd - Exodus (EXO)
Rootwater Alligator - Exodus (EXO)
Golden Bear - Portal Second Age (P02)
Argothian Swine - Urza's Saga (USG)
Elvish Piper - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Erithizon - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Saber Ants - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Skyshroud Cutter - Nemesis (NEM)
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fungusaur - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Viridian Lorebearers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Monkey Monkey Monkey - Unhinged (UNH)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Primal Huntbeast MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013 and Battlebond, 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 Primal Huntbeast and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Primal Huntbeast Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Chris Rahn.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1822003normalblackChris Rahn
22018-06-08BattlebondBBD 2082015normalblackChris Rahn

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Primal Huntbeast has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks