Chittering Harvester MTG Card


Mutation triggers let Chittering Harvester force opponent’s creature sacrifices, optimizing your card advantage. Its blend into instant speed strategies allows for disruptive, advantageous board setups. Despite a high mana cost, its potential in the right deck makes it a formidable pick.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Nightmare
Abilities Mutate
Power 4
Toughness 6

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.) Whenever this creature mutates, each opponent sacrifices a creature.


Understanding Chittering Harvester

The world of Magic: The Gathering is diverse, with countless creature cards vying for attention. Among these, Chittering Harvester emerges as an intriguing card with the power to disrupt your opponent’s battlefield through its creature sacrifice effect. Like cards in the harrowed category of removal spells, it has a particular role in the pacing and control of the game.

Cards like Chittering Harvester

Chittering Harvester is often compared to other creatures that initiate sacrifice upon entry. Its potential is reminiscent of effects found on cards like Slum Reaper, which commands each player to sacrifice a creature. While both share this triggering effect, Chittering Harvester is unique with its mutate ability, allowing you to stack not just the sacrifice effect but also all the abilities of the creature under it.

Another noteworthy creature is Fleshbag Marauder, an impactful card that has a similar entrance cost and demands a creature sacrifice from each player. Unlike Chittering Harvester, it doesn’t offer the versatility of mutation but is still a robust choice for forcing opponents into difficult decisions. Moreover, Chittering Harvester’s advantage lies in being part of the mutate mechanic, evolving gameplay through additive creature abilities and creating more complex board states.

In evaluating creature sacrifice cards within MTG, Chittering Harvester holds its ground with its synergistic qualities and strategic utility. It provides not only a method of control but the adaptability inherent to mutate cards. These multifaceted traits make it a formidable choice for players looking to optimize their creature-based interactions and removal strategies.

Slum Reaper - MTG Card versions
Fleshbag Marauder - MTG Card versions
Slum Reaper - MTG Card versions
Fleshbag Marauder - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
All Other DecklistsAll Other Decklists PioneerPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chittering Harvester shines when it comes to whittling down an opponent’s battlefield presence. Each time you trigger its mutate ability, you force your opponent to sacrifice a creature, effectively maintaining or extending your card advantage by reducing their resources while keeping yours intact.

Resource Acceleration: While Chittering Harvester itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in the form of mana or tokens, it supports a broader strategy of resource acceleration in black or black-involved decks by ensuring that the creatures you do spend mana on work double time, as both a threat and a means of disrupting your opponent’s game plan.

Instant Speed: While Chittering Harvester isn’t an instant, its mutate mechanic works at sorcery speed, it is part of an overarching strategy in a deck that values playing at instant speed. This card can blend superbly into a strategy that includes holding up mana for instant speed interaction while setting up the board to utilize Chittering Harvester’s mutate ability when the moment is most advantageous.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chittering Harvester may deplete your hand by forcing you to discard, which can be detrimental if you’re already short on options.

Specific Mana Cost: With a requirement for both black and generic mana, this card can be challenging to cast in multicolored decks not heavily focused on black mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six mana needed to summon Chittering Harvester is substantial, potentially making it too slow in aggressive or tempo-focused matchups where lower-cost creatures could be more impacting.


Reasons to Include Chittering Harvester in Your Collection

Versatility: Chittering Harvester can seamlessly integrate into a variety of black-centered or multicolor decks. Its ability to force opponents to sacrifice a creature upon mutation ensures it’s always relevant regardless of the matchup.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks built around mutate mechanics or ones that aim to control the board by consistently removing opponent’s threats. It pairs well with cards that trigger upon creature death to create strong synergies and game-swinging moments.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based decks are prevalent, Chittering Harvester’s utility can disrupt opponents’ board presence. As it offers removal that bypasses indestructible and hexproof stipulations, its presence can pivot the game’s momentum in your favor.


How to beat

Chittering Harvester requires strategic play to effectively combat its presence on the battlefield. This creature from the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths set can disrupt your play by forcing you to sacrifice a creature whenever it mutates. To counter this, maintain creature flexibility. Instead of deploying all your creatures, keep some in hand to avoid a total wipeout when the Harvester hits the field. You can also utilize instant-speed removal spells to eliminate the Harvester before its mutate ability triggers, as timing is crucial in these scenarios.

Indestructible or hexproof creatures can also serve as a robust defense against Chittering Harvester’s sacrifice effect. Moreover, including cards with exile effects in your deck can bypass the Harvester’s threat entirely, removing it from the game before it forces a sacrifice. Considering graveyard retrieval options can also diminish the impact of sacrificing creatures. Ultimately, while Chittering Harvester can be a menacing card to face, with preplanned counters and strategic deck building, you can mitigate its effect and maintain control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re engrossed in the nuances of MTG and seeking to sharpen your competitive edge, consider Chittering Harvester’s potential in your deck. This card offers a strategic advantage by compelling sacrifices and disrupting your opponent’s board state. Its intrinsic value in resource control and deck synergy makes it a noteworthy addition for anyone looking to enhance their gameplay. Remember, the mutate mechanic isn’t just about the individual play; it’s about crafting a winning strategy. Ready to harness the full power of Chittering Harvester and reshape the battlefield in your favor? Dive deeper with us and let’s elevate your deck together.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chittering Harvester 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 Chittering Harvester and other MTG cards:

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Printings

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

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 809612015MutateBlackCarl Critchlow
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 2882015MutateBlackCarl Critchlow
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 802015MutateBlackGrzegorz Rutkowski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chittering Harvester has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 As the triggered ability resolves, first the next opponent in turn order (or, if it’s an opponent’s turn, the opponent whose turn it is) chooses a creature they control, then each other opponent in turn order does the same, knowing the choices made before them. Then all the chosen creatures are sacrificed at the same time.