Birthing Hulk MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Eldrazi Drone
Abilities	Devoid
Released	2016-01-22
Set symbol
Set name	Oath of the Gatewatch
Set code	OGW
Power	5
Toughness	4
Number	121
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jack Wang

Key Takeaways

Birthing Hulk excels in creating 1/1 Scion tokens for strategy flexibility and mana ramping.
Its instant-speed regeneration makes it a lasting battlefield threat, despite removal attempts.
High casting cost and specific mana needs may challenge deck integration and game tempo.

Text of card

Devoid (This card has no color.) When Birthing Hulk enters the battlefield, put two 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens onto the battlefield. They have "Sacrifice this creature: Add to your mana pool." ( represents colorless mana.) : Regenerate Birthing Hulk.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Birthing Hulk offers a reliable way to enhance your board presence, as it comes with the capacity to create 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens, which, in turn, can be sacrificed for mana or used as blockers. This mechanic ensures you are constantly establishing your forces while keeping your hand resources for other strategic moves.

Resource Acceleration: Each Scion token generated by Birthing Hulk not only contributes to your creature count but also functions as a potential mana source. Sacrificing these tokens allows for a boost in mana availability, which can be crucial for executing high-impact plays ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: This behemoth comes with the formidable ability to regenerate at instant speed, safeguarding it against many forms of removal. As a result, Birthing Hulk stays a persistent threat on the battlefield, demanding answers from opponents while you maneuver your strategy unhindered.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Birthing Hulk doesn’t directly compel you to discard cards, it activates its regenerate ability at a cost. This can be burdensome if you’re trying to maintain card advantage or facing resource depletion.

Specific Mana Cost: Birthing Hulk demands a precise mana configuration to be played effectively. With a cost that includes colorless mana, this can present a challenge for decks not optimized to generate such a requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Coming in at seven mana, Birthing Hulk carries a significant casting cost that can delay your game progression. When considering its potential impact on the battlefield, there are alternative creatures that might be summoned earlier or provide more immediate board presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Birthing Hulk fits well into various deck types, particularly those that capitalize on board presence and resilience. As a creature that can self-regenerate by using its colorless mana ability, it allows for consistent threat stability on the board.

Combo Potential: With Birthing Hulk, the synergy is significant in decks that revolve around sacrificing creatures, as it produces multiple Spawn tokens upon entering the battlefield. These tokens can be leveraged for mana acceleration or as fodder for various sacrificial effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where attrition wars and long games are prevalent, Birthing Hulk shines by offering sustainability. Its ability to create blockers and withstand removal attempts make it a solid choice against decks that aim to win through creature combat and control strategies.

How to beat

Birthing Hulk is a resilient creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that poses a significant challenge due to its formidable power and the ability to regenerate. In order to effectively overcome this behemoth, players need to craft a strategy that circumvents its self-repairing capability. Targeted removal spells that exile, such as Path to Exile or Scavenger Grounds, provide a reliable solution, preventing the creature from returning to the battlefield.

Counteracting Birthing Hulk also involves overriding its colorless mana production. Mana disruption strategies can inhibit the player’s ability to utilize Birthing Hulk’s Scion tokens, hinder their ramp capabilities, and reduce the impact of its on-death effect. Thus, a timely introduction of land destruction or mana disruption can prove instrumental.

Finally, spells that impose sacrifice without targeting, such as Crackling Doom, can bypass the regeneration shield, forcing the opponent to part ways with their formidable creature. In summary, dealing with Birthing Hulk requires precise card choices that either remove it from play entirely or neutralize its advantages, thereby maintaining control over the game’s pace.

Cards like Birthing Hulk

Birthing Hulk enters the scene as a unique creature in the Magic: The Gathering ecosystem. It shares characteristics with other formidable creatures, such as Baloth Null, in the sense that both have the potential to return cards from the graveyard to your hand. However, Birthing Hulk stands out with its ability to self-protect by generating Scion tokens that can be sacrificed for mana or to bolster defenses.

Comparatively, Brood Monitor also falls into the same family of creatures that spawn Scions. While it offers more tokens upon entering the battlefield, Birthing Hulk has the advantage of being able to create tokens repeatedly, providing a more sustained source of mana and chump blockers. Then we look to Eyeless Watcher, a smaller creature providing fewer initial tokens but at a lower cost. Yet, Birthing Hulk offers more long-term strategic benefits through its persistency and bulk.

Evaluating these options, Birthing Hulk’s resilience through its regenerative token generation and formidable 5/4 body, undoubtedly places it as a favorable option in creature-based decks that aim for both presence and resource versatility in Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Birthing Hulk MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Birthing Hulk and other MTG cards: