Behold the Beyond MTG Card


Behold the Beyond excels in card advantage, accelerating strategies by securing precise combo pieces. Its heavy discard requirement and mana cost require careful timing to avoid self-sabotage. The card’s versatility and meta relevance make it valuable for methodical, long-game strategies.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityMythic
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Discard your hand. Search your library for three cards and put those cards into your hand. Then shuffle your library.

There is power in the abyss, in blackness more profound than the darkest dreams.


Cards like Behold the Beyond

Behold the Beyond adds depth to the pool of powerful search spells within Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to Demonic Tutor when considering cards that directly influence your ability to find what you need in a game. However, Behold the Beyond takes this a step further by allowing a player to discard their hand to search for not one, but three cards. Demonic Tutor doesn’t have the same degree of hand disruption or the scope of card acquisition.

Entering the field of triple-card search, Dark Petition should be considered. It bears semblance with the mana invested to cast and the ability to search for any card. However, it offers a limited Spell Mastery bonus instead of fetching multiple cards. Spell Mastery can indeed refund some of the mana spent if there are enough spells in your graveyard, which is absent in Behold the Beyond.

Thus, weighing them against each other, Behold the Beyond is a card of grandiose risk and reward, setting a high bar in its category for Magic: The Gathering players looking to make a decisive move despite its steep cost and hand sacrifice requirement.

Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dark Petition - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dark Petition - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Behold the Beyond by color, type and mana cost

Vampiric Feast - MTG Card versions
Return of the Nightstalkers - MTG Card versions
Morality Shift - MTG Card versions
Peer into the Abyss - MTG Card versions
Necrotic Hex - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - MTG Card versions
Cabal Conditioning - MTG Card versions
Wit's End - MTG Card versions
Phthisis - MTG Card versions
Plague of Vermin - MTG Card versions
Absorb Vis - MTG Card versions
Repay in Kind - MTG Card versions
Ichor Explosion - MTG Card versions
Sorin's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Covenant of Blood - MTG Card versions
Necromantic Selection - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Conscription - MTG Card versions
Cruel Entertainment - MTG Card versions
Kindred Dominance - MTG Card versions
Never // Return - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Feast - MTG Card versions
Return of the Nightstalkers - MTG Card versions
Morality Shift - MTG Card versions
Peer into the Abyss - MTG Card versions
Necrotic Hex - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - MTG Card versions
Cabal Conditioning - MTG Card versions
Wit's End - MTG Card versions
Phthisis - MTG Card versions
Plague of Vermin - MTG Card versions
Absorb Vis - MTG Card versions
Repay in Kind - MTG Card versions
Ichor Explosion - MTG Card versions
Sorin's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Covenant of Blood - MTG Card versions
Necromantic Selection - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Conscription - MTG Card versions
Cruel Entertainment - MTG Card versions
Kindred Dominance - MTG Card versions
Never // Return - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Behold the Beyond. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Hidden StringsHidden Strings PioneerHidden StringsPioneer Challenge 64 2024-03-09
California Dreamin'California Dreamin' Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
Lotus Field ComboLotus Field Combo PioneerHidden StringsUOL MKM Pioneer League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Behold the Beyond delivers substantial card advantage by enabling you to search for any three cards and add them to your hand, ensuring that you get the exact tools you need during a game. This is particularly potent in decks that are designed to assemble specific combinations of cards to secure a win.

Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t directly place resources onto the battlefield or into your mana pool, the sheer selection power can effectively accelerate your strategy by fetching the right mana generators or cost-reducing spells. Properly used, it’s an investment in your future board state and can serve as a catalyst for a game-winning combo.

Instant Speed: Although Behold the Beyond is a sorcery, its impact on the game is so immediate and commanding that it can rival the flexibility of instant speed spells. Once played, it transforms your hand and potential plays in such a way that the advantages gained can affect the board as if you’ve cast multiple instants in a single turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Behold the Beyond comes with a steep price beyond its mana cost. When played, you are required to discard your hand, which can leave you vulnerable if you can’t capitalize on the new cards immediately. It’s a risky move, especially if the game is not yet tipping in your favor or if you discard crucial answers to your opponent’s threats.

Specific Mana Cost: This powerful sorcery demands a substantial commitment to black mana, requiring three black mana symbols as part of its overall cost. This makes it a challenging fit in multicolored decks that may not have consistent access to triple black mana in the early to mid-game, potentially delaying the casting of this impactful card.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of seven mana, Behold the Beyond is one of the more mana-intensive spells in your arsenal. This high mana cost can be especially taxing in faster-paced games where tempo and early board presence are critical. There are alternatives in the pool of MTG cards that allow for card advantage or graveyard manipulation at a lower cost, potentially providing more immediate value or interaction with the board state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Behold the Beyond is a dynamic card that can slide into various deck archetypes. Its ability to give players a fresh grip of seven cards makes it an asset in strategies that work from the hand, enabling powerful play sequences.

Combo Potential: The card excels in setting up game-winning combinations. By discarding your hand, it synergizes with graveyard-based tactics while also fetching the perfect trio of cards to achieve victory out of seemingly nowhere.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where longer, grindy games prevail, Behold the Beyond’s capacity to refill your hand and cherry-pick solutions becomes increasingly crucial, making it a noteworthy contender in your magic arsenal.


How to beat

Behold the Beyond is both powerful and high-risk with its potential to dramatically change the board state in Magic: The Gathering. Playing against this formidable card, one must be strategic and deliberate. The key to countering Behold the Beyond lies in timing and disruption. Utilizing counterspells is one reliable method, as preventing the spell from resolving neutralizes the threat before it becomes a reality.

Discard effects are also potent against this card. By forcing your opponent to discard before they can amass the seven mana needed to cast Behold the Beyond, you limit their opportunity to utilize its powerful effect. Additionally, graveyard manipulation can prove effective. By exiling key pieces targeted by Behold the Beyond from the graveyard, you diminish the value your opponent can glean from their search.

Strategic play and foresight can help navigate the treacherous waters Behold the Beyond presents. By implementing denial tactics and preventing your opponent from capitalizing on its potent tutor effect, this card becomes less daunting. Remember, careful planning and executing disruptive strategies are key to triumphing over this high-stakes card and maintaining control of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Behold the Beyond MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Promos, 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 Behold the Beyond and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Behold the Beyond Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2016-04-08. Illustrated by Noah Bradley.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 1012015NormalBlackNoah Bradley
22016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 101s2015NormalBlackNoah Bradley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Behold the Beyond has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal