Necrobite MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Necrobite offers instant speed flexibility to surprise opponents during combat, enhancing creature survivability.
  2. Despite its utility, Necrobite’s specific mana cost can be restrictive in multicolored decks, limiting its spontaneity.
  3. Pairing Necrobite with creatures that thrive on entering or leaving the battlefield can create formidable combos.

Text of card

Target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn. Regenerate it.

An undead snake doesn't bite in self-defense. It hungers as any zombie, never sated.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Necrobite can turn any of your creatures into a more formidable blocker or attacker with its regeneration ability. This can potentially save your creature from dying and effectively counter your opponent’s removal spells, preserving your resources on the board.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, Necrobite enhances your existing resources by making a single creature much harder to kill. This increased resilience allows you to keep your threats on the battlefield and make the most of the creatures you’ve invested in.

Instant Speed: Necrobite’s instant speed gives you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn. You can wait to see how your opponent plays before deciding the best course of action, potentially catching them off guard by turning a would-be unfavorable block or attack into a table-turning maneuver.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some other combat tricks that offer pure upside, Necrobite poses a significant drawback in certain situations by requiring the sacrifice of a valuable creature to fully utilize its effect should you need to regenerate the targeted creature, which can deplete your board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Necrobite comes with a rigid mana requirement, demanding one black mana specifically. This can be restrictive, especially for decks that run multiple colors and may not always have the necessary black mana available when this card is needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one black, Necrobite’s investment can be substantial compared to other instant-speed options that could provide more immediate board impact or durability for your creatures on the battlefield at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include Necrobite in Your Collection

Versatility: Necrobite, with its ability to give a creature deathtouch and regenerate, can be a game-changer in both aggressive and defensive decks. This makes it a flexible addition that can adapt to various in-game situations.

Combo Potential: Its properties align well with strategies focused on creature survival and combat tricks. Pairing Necrobite with cards that benefit from creatures dying or entering the battlefield can set up powerful interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature combat is frequent, Necrobite shines by turning any creature into a potential threat, making it a potent tool for tipping the scales in your favor during pivotal moments of a match.


How to beat

Necrobite is a card that can be quite tricky to manage in MTG due to its deathtouch and regeneration abilities. To effectively combat this card, it’s important to adopt strategies that minimize its impact during gameplay. One method is to use spells that exile creatures rather than destroy them, which bypasses Necrobite’s regeneration. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares are excellent choices for neutralizing threats that are protected by Necrobite.

Another approach is to manage the threat before it becomes a problem. Counterspells can prevent Necrobite from ever hitting the battlefield, so keeping mana open for spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can be crucial. Alternatively, applying pressure with a fast-paced aggro deck can overwhelm an opponent before they establish a board presence that includes Necrobite-protected creatures.

Ultimately, by anticipating your opponent’s moves and having a plan in place, Necrobite’s potency can be drastically reduced. Whether it’s through removal that circumvents regeneration, timely counterspells, or simply winning the race, the key is to adapt your strategy to ensure Necrobite doesn’t turn the tide of battle in your opponent’s favor.


Cards like Necrobite

Necrobite is an intriguing option within the arsenal of combat trick spells in MTG. It mirrors other spells like Supernatural Stamina which also grants a creature temporary invincibility in the form of indestructibility or regeneration. Supernatural Stamina gives the added bonus of returning the creature to the battlefield if it dies the same turn, similar to Necrobite’s resurrection ability when it grants regeneration.

Valor Made Real shares a similarity with Necrobite by redirecting damage and focus during combat, although it lacks the regeneration component. Another related spell is Unnatural Endurance which, like Necrobite, provides a creature with not just an increase in toughness but also the potential to survive what would otherwise be a lethal encounter.

However, what sets Necrobite apart is its combination of features – granting deathtouch and regeneration. This combination allows for strategic plays during combat that could result not just in the creature’s survival but also in eliminating a key threat from the opponent. This multifaceted utility makes Necrobite a useful card to have in any MTG player’s toolkit for its capability to sway the outcome of battles significantly.

Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions
Valor Made Real - MTG Card versions
Unnatural Endurance - MTG Card versions
Supernatural Stamina - Amonkhet (AKH)
Valor Made Real - Dissension (DIS)
Unnatural Endurance - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)

Cards similar to Necrobite by color, type and mana cost

Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Dark Banishing - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Hideous End - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Drag Down - MTG Card versions
Spoils of Evil - Ice Age (ICE)
Dark Banishing - Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic (DVD)
Carrion - Mirage (MIR)
Sick and Tired - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Corpse Dance - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Bone Harvest - Beatdown Box Set (BTD)
Slay - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Afflict - Odyssey (ODY)
Dismember - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Body Count - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Reaping the Graves - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Execute - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kill! Destroy! - Unhinged (UNH)
Sudden Death - Time Spiral (TSP)
Footbottom Feast - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Fevered Strength - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Hideous End - The List (PLST)
Corpse Lunge - Innistrad (ISD)
Murder - Murders at Karlov Manor (MKM)
Drag Down - Modern Masters (MMA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Necrobite MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Born of the Gods, 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 Necrobite and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Necrobite Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2014-07-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 1152003normalblackNils Hamm
22014-02-07Born of the GodsBNG 772003normalblackIgor Kieryluk
32014-07-18Magic 2015M15 1052015normalblackNils Hamm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Necrobite has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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