Molder Beast MTG Card

Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
2010-10-01 - Number 125

Commander Legends (CMR)
2020-11-20 - Number 243

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Beast
Abilities	Trample
Power	5
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

Molder Beast shines with trample ability and gains power from artifact graveyard synergy.
Its mana cost and specific gameplay requirements can limit flexibility in some decks.
Incorporating Molder Beast can offer striking combos and enhance green-based strategies.

Text of card

Trample Whenever an artifact is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, Molder Beast gets +2/+0 until end of turn.

"A trail of scrap metal can lead it into an ambush. But take care not to overfeed it." —Adaran, Tangle hunter

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Molder Beast’s trample ability ensures that even if it’s blocked, excess damage spills over to the opponent, effectively dealing with multiple threats at once. This inherent capability provides a tactical edge in maintaining board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Molder Beast has the potential to capitalize on any artifact destruction occurring in the game. Whenever an artifact is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, Molder Beast gets a temporary boost. This interaction can be a game-changer in a deck designed to exploit artifact mechanics.

Instant Speed: Although Molder Beast itself is not an instant, having a deck with instant speed removal means you could clear a blocker right before damage calculation, maximizing the potential of Molder Beast’s trample effect. Including instant speed interactions in your deck can maximize the offensive power of Molder Beast each turn it attacks.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Molder Beast necessitates discarding another permanent card to activate its trample ability, potentially putting you at a disadvantage by reducing your board presence or future play options.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature demands a precise combination of green mana, which can be restrictive and not always readily available, especially early in the game or in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Summoning Molder Beast requires a significant investment of five mana, which can be hefty compared to other creatures that might provide more immediate or powerful effects on the battlefield for the same cost or less.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Molder Beast has the potential to fit into a variety of green-based decks, especially those focused on sacrificing creatures or permanents to gain value, making it an adaptable addition to your arsenal.

Combo Potential: This creature synergizes well with mechanics that involve death triggers or artifact destruction, allowing for powerful combos that can significantly increase its power mid-combat.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, where artifacts are abundant and strategies focus on utilizing the graveyard, Molder Beast can be a game-changing card, potentially swinging matches in your favor.

How to beat

The Molder Beast card in MTG offers a unique challenge on the battlefield with its trample ability and the potential to grow stronger whenever an artifact is put into a graveyard from the battlefield. To effectively counter this threat, players should minimize the number of artifacts being used or ensure they have reliable removal spells at the ready. Spot removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can be effective in handling an unwieldy Molder Beast before it becomes too large.

Another strategy is to control the combat dynamics by using creatures with deathtouch to deter your opponent from attacking or by setting up blockers that can endure the damage and survive. Additionally, employing graveyard disruption can also limit the Molder Beast’s ability to capitalize on its strength-building ability. Therefore, including cards like Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze in your deck could be a tactical move to suppress the Molder Beast’s growth and maintain control of the game.

Ultimately, playing around Molder Beast requires an understanding of the match’s tempo and maintaining situational awareness. By carefully managing your artifacts and preparing countermeasures for creature threats, you can undermine the Molder Beast’s advantages and keep the upper hand in your MTG bouts.

Cards like Molder Beast

Molder Beast is an intriguing creature card in Magic the Gathering, sharing a thematic and mechanical kinship with other green creature cards dedicated to power enhancement through land interactions. A close comparison can be made with the card Rubblehulk, which also gains power and toughness equal to the number of lands you control. However, Molder Beast comes with a distinctive trigger, gaining a power boost when any land hits the graveyard, adding a layer of strategy when paired with land sacrifice mechanics.

Another card worth mentioning is Groundbreaker, which also sports the theme of a powerful, hasty green creature but lacks the land-centric power scaling mechanics of Molder Beast. Groundbreaker may have the advantage of immediate impact due to haste, yet doesn’t offer the same potential for growth over the course of a game. Baloth Woodcrasher is another counterpart, rewarding landfall with a temporary power surge while staying engaged in the battlefield, illustrating a variance in the tactical approach compared to the Molder Beast’s permanent power increase with land graveyard synergy.

Each of these cards finds its niche in different decks, with Molder Beast being particularly potent in decks that frequently cycle or sacrifice lands. Its unique ability to capitalize on land movement sets it apart, blending aggression with an intriguing land-based strategy, making it a valuable creature in its own right within the vast ecosystem of Magic the Gathering cards.

Cards similar to Molder Beast by color, type and mana cost

Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Molder Beast MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Commander Legends, 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 Molder Beast and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Molder Beast Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Randis Albion.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2010-10-01	Scars of Mirrodin	SOM		125	2003	Normal	Black	Randis Albion
2	2020-11-20	Commander Legends	CMR		243	2015	Normal	Black	Randis Albion

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Molder Beast has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Molder Beast card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2011-01-01	If Molder Beast and an artifact creature are both involved in combat during the same combat damage step, and that artifact creature is destroyed due to lethal combat damage, Molder Beast's triggered ability will trigger — but it will get the bonus too late to affect that combat.