Stag Beetle MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Insect
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Power	0
Toughness	0
Number	285
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony S. Waters

Key Takeaways

Stag Beetle’s entry can significantly increase your hand, aiding long-term strategic play.
It supports explosive turns with synergy in creature-count-based decks.
Flexibility with instant-speed reactions enhances in-game adaptability.

Text of card

Stag Beetle comes into play with X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the number of other creatures in play.

Its voice crackles with the hum of a thousand wings beating at once.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Stag Beetle card shines by potentially boosting your hand when it hits the battlefield. Depending on the creatures you control at that time, you can gain a significant card advantage, setting you up for greater plays and maintaining a robust game presence.

Resource Acceleration: Alongside its inherent abilities, Stag Beetle can be a key player in resource acceleration strategies. Its synergy with other cards that value the number of creatures you control could pave the way for an explosive growth in your resources, catapulting your mana availability.

Instant Speed: The real kicker with Stag Beetle is its interaction with effects that can be played at instant speed. This versatility lets you adapt on the fly during game play, reacting deftly to the changing state of the board and maximizing your strategic options without having to commit to a play until the timing is just right.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One drawback of the Stag Beetle card is its discard condition. This can set you back particularly in tight situations where available cards in hand are crucial for maintaining tactical advantage or when planning your next move.

Specific Mana Cost: Stag Beetle comes with a specific mana cost that may not fit seamlessly into every type of deck. Due to this, players might find it challenging to accommodate the beetle without adjusting their mana base or potentially compromising the deck’s consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its abilities and the current pool of creatures within the same mana range, Stag Beetle’s cost is on the higher side. There are alternative creatures that might provide greater value or more impactful presence on the board for a similar or lower investment.

Reasons to Include Stag Beetle in Your Collection

Versatility: Stag Beetle shines in environments where creature size matters. It has the ability to grow in power and toughness, making it a formidable threat in Green-based creature decks or any deck that takes advantage of +1/+1 counters.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that manipulate counters, such as proliferate mechanics or doubling effects found in cards like “Hardened Scales.” These interactions can exponentially increase its impact on the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by creature combat, Stag Beetle can be a game-changer. Its potential to become a massive blocker or attacker makes it relevant in matchups against aggro decks looking to overrun opponents with sheer force.

How to beat

The Stag Beetle card in Magic: The Gathering is an intriguing creature that brings size to the table. Similar to other large creatures such as Craw Wurm, the Stag Beetle can dominate the battlefield with its significant power and toughness. To effectively counter this creature, understanding its weaknesses is key.

Removal spells are your best ally against the Stag Beetle. Consider a card like Murder, which can outright destroy any creature for three mana, regardless of its size. This levels the playing field instantly. Alternatively, utilizing control spells to manipulate or bypass the Stag Beetle can be effective as well. Cards like Pacifism can neutralize the beetle without having to remove it, allowing you to deal with it at your leisure.

Overall, while Stag Beetle has the potential to be a powerhouse on the battlefield, strategic use of removal and control spells can mitigate the threat it poses. It boils down to having the right answers at the right time to maintain the upper hand in your MTG games.

Cards like Stag Beetle

Within the vast menagerie of creature cards in MTG, Stag Beetle stands out in the category of insect-themed cards. It shares common ground with cards like Hornet Queen, which is also known for generating insect tokens. Stag Beetle, however, has the distinct advantage of getting stronger with more forests you control rather than producing tokens.

Gigantomancer is another card that evokes comparison, where it can turn other creatures into 7/7 giants regardless of their original size. While Stag Beetle’s power is tied to the number of forests in play, Gigantomancer’s ability can be activated to instantly alter the battlefield, making it a flexible powerhouse in creature-based decks.

Another insectile behemoth is Ant Queen, which boasts the ability to create insect tokens at will. Unlike Stag Beetle which doesn’t create tokens, Ant Queen’s strength lies in her swarm potential, capable of overwhelming the opponent with a steadily growing insect army.

When placed side by side, Stag Beetle might seem more situational given its dependency on forest terrains, but for MTG players utilizing green-heavy land bases, it can quickly become a formidable force not to be underestimated.

Cards similar to Stag Beetle by color, type and mana cost

Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stag Beetle MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Stag Beetle and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stag Beetle has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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