Glowstone Recluse MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Spider
Abilities Mutate,Reach
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Glowstone Recluse provides strategic advantage with +1/+1 counters, increasing threat levels on the board.
  2. The card’s mutate ability accelerates resource usage, enabling dynamic play and combo potential.
  3. Specific mana requirements and cost analysis are crucial for deck integration and competitive play.

Text of card

Mutate (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.) Reach Whenever this creature mutates, put two +1/+1 counters on it.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Glowstone Recluse’s interaction with +1/+1 counters can provide a strategic advantage over time, enhancing board presence and multiplying threat levels.

Resource Acceleration: With its mutate ability, the Glowstone Recluse allows the player to potentially play a more costly creature for less, effectively accelerating resource utilization and opening up the board for more dynamic plays.

Instant Speed: Though Glowstone Recluse itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its inclusion in decks can complement strategies that pivot around instant-speed interactions, leading to significant swings in the game state during crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Glowstone Recluse doesn’t have a discard requirement, it’s important to evaluate the card in the context of decks where cycling or discarding could be synergizing factors. Not having discard synergy could be seen as a missed opportunity in specific deck builds.

Specific Mana Cost: Glowstone Recluse demands two green mana in its casting cost. This requirement can restrict deck building, necessitating a focus on green mana sources or mana fixing capabilities to ensure its timely play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana for a creature that starts as a 2/3, players may find Glowstone Recluse a bit steep when considering other creatures at a similar mana point. In competitive play, the mana efficiency versus the benefit provided by the mutating mechanism can influence its inclusion in decks.


Reasons to Include Glowstone Recluse in Your Collection

Versatility: Glowstone Recluse can effortlessly adapt to various deck builds, particularly those that appreciate creatures with scaling abilities. As the game progresses, this creature grows stronger, contributing to both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This spider’s Mutate ability allows it to combine with other non-Human creatures, potentially unlocking powerful synergies and enabling intricate combo plays that benefit from counters and creature size upgrades.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based combat is prominent, Glowstone Recluse rises in value. It performs exceptionally well against decks that struggle with increasingly large and formidable creatures, making it a useful card to adapt to changing meta conditions.


How to beat

Glowstone Recluse is a creature card that can be a real threat due to its mutate ability, allowing it to grow rapidly over time. Engaging with it can be tricky due to its potential size increase, so timing and strategy are essential. One efficient tactic is to use removal spells before the creature has the chance to mutate and become more formidable. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can handle Glowstone Recluse cost-effectively before it spirals out of control.

Countering the mutate action itself is another sound approach. Keep counterspells like Negate or Essence Scatter at the ready to halt the mutation process and maintain a manageable board state. Lastly, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, eliminating Glowstone Recluse and any mutations it may have gathered. It’s crucial to prevent the creature from leveraging its full potential, and these strategies provide pathways to managing and ultimately triumphing over the Glowstone Recluse.


BurnMana Recommendations

As your journey with MTG evolves, the Glowstone Recluse can be a cornerstone in enhancing your gameplay, especially if you’re intrigued by the mechanics of mutating creatures and amplifying them with +1/+1 counters. Understanding the right time to deploy its abilities and integrate it into your green-centric deck is pivotal. With every card, comes a story, a strategy, and a way to victory. We encourage you to dive deeper into the realm of MTG, enrich your deck with versatile cards like Glowstone Recluse, and continuously adapt to the ever-changing battlefield. Let’s advance together in this intricate game and claim the win with smart, nuanced play. Learn more and augment your MTG prowess with us.


Cards like Glowstone Recluse

Glowstone Recluse shines in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering as a creature that not only grows in power but also supports the counter strategy. It’s akin to other creatures like Ironshell Beetle, which also arrives with the purpose of empowering other creatures or itself through the placement of a +1/+1 counter. Glowstone Recluse, however, evolves with every mutation, a trait that Ironshell Beetle does not share.

Exploring further, the card Wildwood Scourge enters the comparison. Both creatures swell in size; however, Wildwood Scourge’s growth potential is tied to every +1/+1 counter placed on other creatures you control. Unlike Glowstone Recluse, it doesn’t have the mutating ability to trigger its growth multiple times in a turn. Conversely, Iridescent Hornbeetle, requires a dedicated token strategy to produce +1/+1 counters, compared to Glowstone Recluse’s inherent capability to bolster itself through mutation.

Altogether, Glowstone Recluse stands out with its unique mutation feature among MTG creatures, enhancing its appeal in decks that focus on +1/+1 counter synergies and offering a robustness that complements the adaptability expected from players in the evolving game environment.

Ironshell Beetle - MTG Card versions
Wildwood Scourge - MTG Card versions
Iridescent Hornbeetle - MTG Card versions
Ironshell Beetle - Judgment (JUD)
Wildwood Scourge - Core Set 2021 (M21)
Iridescent Hornbeetle - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Glowstone Recluse MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and 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 Glowstone Recluse and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Glowstone Recluse Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2020-04-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 809692015mutateblackDenis Medri
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 1562015mutateblackYeong-Hao Han
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 2962015mutateblackDenis Medri

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Glowstone Recluse has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

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