Insolent Neonate MTG Card


Enables deck sifting by discarding unwanted cards, bolstering strategies like reanimator decks. Sacrifice at instant speed offers strategic timing, enhancing responses to opponents’ plays. The mandatory discard can be a drawback when options in hand are limited or too valuable.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Vampire
Abilities Menace
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) Discard a card, Sacrifice Insolent Neonate: Draw a card.

"Manners are for mortals."


Cards like Insolent Neonate

Insolent Neonate holds its unique place in the pantheon of one-drop creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This little Vampire sets itself apart with an ability that allows players to draw a card after a discard, somewhat echoing the mechanics of costlier discard outlets. A comparable card in this space could be Tormented Voice, which also requires a discard to draw cards. However, Insolent Neonate provides a creature on the board which can be crucial in the early game.

Skirk Prospector, another one-mana creature, offers a different kind of utility by allowing the sacrifice of a Goblin to generate a red mana. While not a direct comparison in terms of draw mechanics, the Prospector shares the Neonate’s sacrificing theme for an instant benefit. Faithless Looting stands out as well, being a direct card draw spell with instant benefit, but it lacks the on-board presence and potential for combat that Insolent Neonate provides.

These similarities and differences shape the strategies players might deploy. Insolent Neonate does well, offering both an aggressive early play and a later game draw mechanism, a duality that’s valuable across multiple MTG formats.

Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Faithless Looting - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Faithless Looting - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Insolent Neonate by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Digging Team - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Goblin Artisans - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
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Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
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Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Digging Team - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Goblin Artisans - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Roc Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Red Deck WinsRed Deck Wins Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
Sword Point RedSword Point Red Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
Rakdos UnearthRakdos Unearth ModernAsmo Food$10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:00 am (Gold)
Rakdos ScamRakdos Scam ModernRakdos ScamModern League 2024-04-09
CrabvineCrabvine Modern*HALF PRICE FRIDAY* $5K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 1:00 pm
Mono-Red MadnessMono-Red Madness ModernVengevineHBMO24 - Sunday Modern ReCQ
Gruul AsmoGruul Asmo ModernVengevine2024 Hunter Burton Memorial Open
Rakdos ElementalsRakdos Elementals ModernSkelementals$10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Philadelphia - Saturday - 9:00 am
Hollow OneHollow One ModernHollow OneModern League 2023-12-12
Asmo FoodAsmo Food ModernAsmo FoodModern League 2024-02-18

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Insolent Neonate offers an efficient way to sift through your deck by discarding a card and drawing a card. This can be particularly potent in strategies that benefit from discarding, such as reanimator or madness decks.

Resource Acceleration: While Insolent Neonate doesn’t produce mana, its discard-draw effect can help you filter into more useful cards or set up graveyard synergies faster, effectively accelerating your strategic resources.

Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice Insolent Neonate at instant speed provides flexibility. You can wait until the most opportune moment, whether that’s in response to removal or just before your next draw, to make the most of its ability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The ability of Insolent Neonate to draw a card comes with the caveat of mandatory card discard. This can be a setback when you’re running low on cards in hand, forcing you to potentially lose valuable resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of Insolent Neonate’s ability is specifically red mana. This can restrict the card’s integration into multi-colored decks that may not always have red mana readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Insolent Neonate itself is low-cost, the act of sacrificing it to draw benefits from its ability essentially means you’re losing a creature on the battlefield. There are instances where other one-drop creatures may provide more lasting board presence or effects without the need for self-sacrifice.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Insolent Neonate is a flexible card that can be slotted into a variety of decks, particularly ones emphasizing on quick starts or graveyard synergy. Its ability to sacrifice for card filtering grants any deck an efficient cycling tool.

Combo Potential: This card shines in strategies that leverage the graveyard. By discarding a high-impact card like a reanimation target or delve enabler while also drawing a card, players can set-up powerful plays for future turns.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where the metagame favors aggressive starts and graveyard interactions, Insolent Neonate proves to be a key component. It’s also a resilient one-drop creature against control decks that tend to rely heavily on non-targeted removal.


How to beat

Insolent Neonate is an intriguing card that players might encounter in red-centric MTG decks. This card poses a unique challenge with its ability to let its controller discard and draw a card as it’s sacrificed. Given its low cost and ability to impact the game immediately, it can seem like a tough nut to crack.

Despite its strengths, players can neutralize the threat of Insolent Neonate effectively. Since it has a meager toughness, removal spells that deal even a single point of damage or -1/-1 effects can dispatch it efficiently. Additionally, graveyard interaction is crucial when facing a deck featuring Insolent Neonate. Utilize cards that exile from graveyards to ensure that any discarded card that may have synergy with the Neonate’s ability is rendered useless. Also, considering its activation is part of the cost, counterplay must be more preemptive than reactive to maximize your position against this pesky creature.

When paced correctly, a player can mitigate the effect of Insolent Neonate and maintain control of the match. A keen awareness of the timing to employ removal and graveyard disruption will prove to be your best strategy in overcoming decks that incorporate this card.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’ve been grappling with Insolent Neonate’s dual nature of self-sacrifice for card advantage, BurnMana suggests reflecting on the broader strategy of your MTG arsenal. This versatile little creature could be the linchpin in streamlining your deck’s performance, specifically in fast-paced matches where graveyard mechanics are in play. Balancing its drawbacks and maximizing its instant-speed flexibility can garner advantages that might otherwise be overlooked. Keen to enhance your strategic play or curious about integrating this card into a potent new deck configuration? Embark on the journey to masterfully leveraging Insolent Neonate’s potential with us and uncover advanced tactics that could change the tide of your battles.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Insolent Neonate MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Mystery Booster, 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 Insolent Neonate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Insolent Neonate Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 1682015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9842015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
32020-09-26The ListPLST SOI-1682015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
42021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 4752015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
52023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 1652015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Insolent Neonate has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal