Living Hive MTG Card


Generates 1/1 Insect tokens during combat, boosting board presence and fueling strategic plays. Demands high mana investment, rewarding players in late-game scenarios with impactful presence. Strategically versatile, pairing well with cards enhancing token production for powerful combos.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elemental Insect
Abilities Trample
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Trample Whenever Living Hive deals combat damage to a player, put that many 1/1 green Insect creature tokens into play.

In its center is a single red ant, a queen that regulates the hive's movements.


Cards like Living Hive

Living Hive is a unique entity within the creature dynamics of Magic: The Gathering, sitting comfortably beside other token-generating green behemoths. Its closest cousin is Hornet Queen, which also specializes in insect creation. However, Living Hive distinguishes itself by its ability to spawn insect tokens via dealing combat damage, as opposed to Hornet Queen’s upfront creation upon entering the battlefield. This difference in token production can drastically alter the trajectory of a game, offering continuous threats with each swing.

In the world of creature-centric decks, we also encounter Verdant Force, a card remembered for its token-generating prowess at each upkeep. While Verdant Force ensures a steady board presence, Living Hive’s potential to amass a larger swarm through combat places it in a league of its strategic own. Additionally, the hefty power and toughness of Living Hive make it a formidable force during the late game, as opposed to Verdant Force’s more passive role.

Comparatively speaking, Living Hive requires a tactical approach, rewarding those who navigate the combat phase artfully. It’s this ability to turn the tide with prolific token generation that sets it apart within the green faction’s arsenal of massive, game-altering creatures.

Hornet Queen - MTG Card versions
Verdant Force - MTG Card versions
Hornet Queen - MTG Card versions
Verdant Force - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Living Hive by color, type and mana cost

Scaled Wurm - MTG Card versions
Crash of Rhinos - MTG Card versions
Verdant Force - MTG Card versions
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Myojin of Towering Might - MTG Card versions
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Patron of the Orochi - MTG Card versions
End-Raze Forerunners - MTG Card versions
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Wolf Pack - MTG Card versions
Terastodon - MTG Card versions
Gigantomancer - MTG Card versions
Khalni Hydra - MTG Card versions
Liege of the Tangle - MTG Card versions
Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger - MTG Card versions
Scaled Wurm - MTG Card versions
Crash of Rhinos - MTG Card versions
Verdant Force - MTG Card versions
Deathcoil Wurm - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Might - MTG Card versions
Kamahl, Heart of Krosa - MTG Card versions
Skarrg Goliath - MTG Card versions
Myojin of Towering Might - MTG Card versions
Thousand-legged Kami - MTG Card versions
Uktabi Kong - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Orochi - MTG Card versions
End-Raze Forerunners - MTG Card versions
Walker of the Grove - MTG Card versions
Woodfall Primus - MTG Card versions
Wolf Pack - MTG Card versions
Terastodon - MTG Card versions
Gigantomancer - MTG Card versions
Khalni Hydra - MTG Card versions
Liege of the Tangle - MTG Card versions
Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Living Hive brings a notable strength to the table with its ability to generate creature tokens. Its trigger not only potentially strengthens your board presence but also provides fodder for various strategies. This aspect of the card maintains your hand by reducing the need to play additional creatures from it.

Resource Acceleration: The insect tokens created by Living Hive can be utilized for more than just attacking and blocking. In the right deck, these tokens can translate into additional resources, working well with mechanics like convoke or sacrifice effects, accelerating your gameplay significantly.

Instant Speed: Although Living Hive itself doesn’t play at instant speed, the tokens it creates can be a surprise during the declare blockers step, potentially dissuading opponents from attacking or prompting them to miscalculate during combat. Additionally, the threat of instant-speed interactions with the tokens can be a strong tactical advantage.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Living Hive demands a precise combination of mana to play, including multiple green symbols. This requirement potentially restricts its inclusion to decks that can consistently generate a significant amount of green mana, reducing its flexibility in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its eight-mana cost, Living Hive is quite a commitment of resources. While the payoff can be large, its late-game entrance often means that more immediate threats or answers could be more desirable for a similar mana investment.

Discard Requirement: While Living Hive itself does not have a discard requirement, its high mana cost might force you to hold on to it during earlier turns, possibly leading to difficult decisions about discarding other crucial cards in the hand to deal with your opponent’s early or mid-game plays.


Reasons to Include Living Hive in Your Collection

Versatility: Living Hive shines in decks that benefit from token generation and life-hitting strategies. Its innate ability to create 1/1 Insect creature tokens when dealing combat damage gives it a sturdy place in a variety of green and token-centric builds.

Combo Potential: This card has significant synergy with effects that double token production or enhance creature abilities. Pairing Living Hive with cards like Doubling Season or Parallel Lives can rapidly escalate a board state, encouraging elaborate and potent combinations for the enthusiastic strategist.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where games extend into longer matches, Living Hive proves its worth. As a high-impact late-game threat, it can quickly turn the tides by overwhelming opponents with a swarm of creatures, making it a meta-relevant choice when slower, more developed gameplay is present.


How to beat

Living Hive is a card that can present quite the dilemma on the battlefield. This formidable creature not only boasts a high power and toughness but also spawns Insect token creatures each time it deals combat damage. To successfully navigate against Living Hive, players should aim to prevent it from unleashing its full potential on the board. One effective strategy is the inclusion of removal spells that can bypass the token creation, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, which exile it straightaway.

Another essential tactic is to control the board. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can sweep the board clean, taking out Living Hive and its Insect offspring without a trace. For a more pinpoint approach, countering Living Hive before it comes into play is advisable. A mana leak or a mystical dispute works well in this scenario. It’s also wise to keep up combat tricks or flash creatures to block and subsequently eliminate the Hive before the Insect tokens become overwhelming.

Overall, handling Living Hive requires a blend of foresight, board control, and timely removal. With a proper strategy in place, this creature’s threat can be mitigated, swinging the game back in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the depths of MTG strategy can be as intricate and thrilling as the spells you cast. Living Hive poses a unique opportunity for those looking to harness token-generation power within their decks. Given its pros and cons, including it in your arsenal means understanding the balance between its late-game impact and the deck-building constraints it introduces. Whether you’re capitalizing on Living Hive’s synergistic potential or learning to counteract this formidable force, there’s always room to expand your strategic horizon. Hungry for more insights and interactions? Follow us to delve deeper into MTG tactics that can give you the edge over your opponents.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Living Hive MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Planechase, 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 Living Hive and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Living Hive Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2009-09-04. Illustrated by Anthony S. Waters.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 1242003NormalBlackAnthony S. Waters
22009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 752003NormalBlackAnthony S. Waters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Living Hive has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal