Essence Symbiote MTG Card


Essence Symbiote - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Beast
Released2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set nameIkoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set codeIKO
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number149
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJason Felix

Key Takeaways

  1. Essence Symbiote grants card advantage and attributes boost when it’s complementing a mutation-focused deck.
  2. It might be challenging to fit into certain multicolor decks and requires specific board conditions to be effective.
  3. Despite its limitations, it remains a strategic addition for players looking to maximize the mutate mechanic.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control mutates, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature and you gain 2 life.

The Ozolith's appearance spawned a new era of wild mutation on Ikoria. Some creatures hunted different prey, lived in new habitats, and thrived on mutation itself.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Essence Symbiote shines in decks focused on mutating creatures. Each time you mutate, you draw a card, thereby replenishing your hand and maintaining card flow, which is crucial for staying ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: In addition to card advantage, this creature aids in quickening your pace on the battlefield. It grants an additional +1/+1 counter whenever you mutate, thereby accelerating the strength and resource value of your creatures on the board.

Instant Speed: While Essence Symbiote itself may not function at instant speed, it synergizes well with creatures that do. This allows for unexpected combat tricks or end-of-turn plays that can surprise an opponent, making your instant-speed mutations even more potent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Essence Symbiote’s abilities do not mitigate the loss of card advantage in your hand. In scenarios where you need every card you can get, its lack of interaction with your own hand can be an issue.

Specific Mana Cost: As a creature that requires green mana, Essence Symbiote may not effortlessly slide into multicolored deck schemes, especially those running tight mana bases that struggle to accommodate a purely green creature without potentially compromising the deck’s color consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Essence Symbiote’s value is contingent upon having other creatures with the mutate mechanic. For two mana, its 1/4 stats are reasonable, yet other non-mutate-centric decks may offer more impactful two-drops that provide immediate board presence or utility without relying on complementary pieces.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Essence Symbiote is a valuable addition to decks that focus on mutating creatures. Its ability to give a permanent +1/+1 counter every time you mutate ensures it fits seamlessly within a wide variety of strategies that capitalize on creature permanence and growth.

Combo Potential: Teaming up Essence Symbiote with any mutate-heavy deck maximizes both its health-boosting ability and the draw effect. This makes it an excellent card for synergizing with other mutate cards, thereby enhancing the potency of your play combos.

Meta-Relevance: As mutate mechanics remain a solid strategy in the current meta, Essence Symbiote holds its value. It’s a cost-effective way to bolster your creatures, ensuring that any mutate-centric deck made with it will stay competitive.


How to beat

Essence Symbiote is a creature card that can be quite a powerhouse in decks focused on mutating creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When a creature mutates, Essence Symbiote allows its controller to gain 2 life and puts a +1/+1 counter on that creature, bolstering its offensive and defensive capabilities. While this seems like a resilient combo to some players, there are effective strategies to counter it.

One effective approach to defeat a strategy revolving around Essence Symbiote involves the use of removal spells before the mutation occurs. Instant-speed spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can be used in response to the mutate trigger, preventing the life gain and +1/+1 counter. Alternatively, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation effectively reset the board, wiping out any advantages gained through mutation. Players may also opt to use counter spells to prevent the mutate spell from resolving, thus nullifying the threat of Essence Symbiote’s ability. Additionally, creatures with reach or those that can block multiple creatures can serve as a deterrent to attacking mutants, potentially negating the life advantage altogether.

Focusing on these methods will allow players to maintain control of the battlefield and limit the effectiveness of Essence Symbiote in any MTG match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unlocking the power of Essence Symbiote in your MTG arsenal can be a game-changer, especially if you’re a fan of mutating mayhem on the battlefield. With the ability to bolster your creatures and sustain your life total, this unassuming creature casts a significant shadow in the right deck. But MTG is a game of strategy and constant evolution. To stay ahead of the curve, dive deeper into deck-building techniques, synergies, and ways to counteract opposing strategies. Upgrade your play style by incorporating Essence Symbiote’s strengths and understanding its limitations. If you’re ready to take your deck to the next level and outmaneuver your opponents, explore more with us – your victories await.


Cards like Essence Symbiote

Essence Symbiote brings a unique angle to the playfield, especially for players who favor the creature-heavy, counter-based strategies. As a creature itself, this card bears a resemblance to the likes of Exemplar of Strength or Scrounging Bandar, which also interact with counters, but with distinctly different effects. Where Essence Symbiote shines is in the synergy it builds within the deck, granting both life and power advantages when your creatures with counters on them mutate, adding a layer of value with each mutation.

Comparatively, Ivy Lane Denizen is another card that benefits from creatures entering the battlefield with counters. However, it doesn’t cater specifically to mutating creatures, and lacks the life gain component. Another similar creature, Renata, Called to the Hunt, boosts your team by ensuring each creature enters with an additional counter, yet it misses the ongoing advantages Essence Symbiote provides through consistent mutations.

Ultimately, Essence Symbiote is a standout in its category, complementing the mutate mechanic and adding incremental life gain which can be pivotal in numerous match scenarios, making it a solid consideration for decks that aim to exploit mutating creatures to their fullest potential.

Exemplar of Strength - MTG Card versions
Scrounging Bandar - MTG Card versions
Ivy Lane Denizen - MTG Card versions
Renata, Called to the Hunt - MTG Card versions
Exemplar of Strength - Amonkhet (AKH)
Scrounging Bandar - Aether Revolt (AER)
Ivy Lane Denizen - Gatecrash (GTC)
Renata, Called to the Hunt - Theros Beyond Death (THB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Essence Symbiote MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Essence Symbiote and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Essence Symbiote has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-04-17 If Essence Symbiote mutates, its ability triggers.
2020-04-17 You gain 2 life when Essence Symbiote’s ability resolves, even if you can’t put a +1/+1 counter on the mutated creature (most likely because it’s left the battlefield).

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