Monster Manual // Zoological Study MTG Card


Monster Manual allows sifting through your deck, optimizing the chance to draw impactful creatures during play. Accelerates resource and creature presence, enhancing board control and potential tactical race advantages. Offers instant speed versatility, letting players strategically cast creatures at the most opportune times.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeSorcery — Adventure
Abilities Mill

Text of card

Mill five cards, then return a creature card milled this way to your hand. (Then exile this card. You may cast the artifact later from exile.)

The detail really makes the monsters jump off the page.


Cards like Monster Manual // Zoological Study

Delving into the rich tapestry of creatures within MTG, Monster Manual has emerged as a staple for players who lean towards the allure of diverse monster summons. It shares the spotlight with enchantments like Fires of Invention, which similarly lifts the constraints of mana to cast spells. Where Monster Manual allows for an array of creature summons using its ability, Fires of Invention does so by letting you play cards without paying their mana costs, based on the number of lands you control.

Another parallel can be drawn to Elvish Piper, a card that embraces the theme of cheating creatures onto the battlefield. With Elvish Piper, you’re able to put a creature card from your hand into play by simply paying a single green mana. In contrast, Monster Manual requires a broader setup to fully exploit its summoning capabilities. Then there’s Quicksilver Amulet, which echoes this summoning concept, albeit at the cost of four mana for activation. It lacks the repeatable use found in Monster Manual but offers a more immediate way to introduce heavy-hitters to the fray.

To sum up, Monster Manual carves its niche with enduring versatility, granting players the freedom to weave an ever-changing tapestry of creatures onto the battlefield. Its utility in creature-focused decks makes it a formidable option, outshining counterparts by opening doors to endless strategic possibilities.

Fires of Invention - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Amulet - MTG Card versions
Fires of Invention - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Amulet - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Monster Manual // Zoological Study by color, type and mana cost

Tsunami - MTG Card versions
Taste of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Splendid Genesis - MTG Card versions
Unyaro Bee Sting - MTG Card versions
Natural Balance - MTG Card versions
Elven Cache - MTG Card versions
Creeping Mold - MTG Card versions
Bee Sting - MTG Card versions
Rejuvenate - MTG Card versions
Titania's Boon - MTG Card versions
Splinter - MTG Card versions
Pack Hunt - MTG Card versions
Reverent Silence - MTG Card versions
Nature's Resurgence - MTG Card versions
Invigorating Falls - MTG Card versions
Natural Order - MTG Card versions
Scapeshift - MTG Card versions
Explosive Vegetation - MTG Card versions
Reap and Sow - MTG Card versions
Joyous Respite - MTG Card versions
Tsunami - MTG Card versions
Taste of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Splendid Genesis - MTG Card versions
Unyaro Bee Sting - MTG Card versions
Natural Balance - MTG Card versions
Elven Cache - MTG Card versions
Creeping Mold - MTG Card versions
Bee Sting - MTG Card versions
Rejuvenate - MTG Card versions
Titania's Boon - MTG Card versions
Splinter - MTG Card versions
Pack Hunt - MTG Card versions
Reverent Silence - MTG Card versions
Nature's Resurgence - MTG Card versions
Invigorating Falls - MTG Card versions
Natural Order - MTG Card versions
Scapeshift - MTG Card versions
Explosive Vegetation - MTG Card versions
Reap and Sow - MTG Card versions
Joyous Respite - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Monster Manual card offers a strategic edge by enabling you to sift through your deck for creature cards, upping your odds of drawing high-impact minions that can tip the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: One of the primary benefits of utilizing this card is its potential to propel your resource development forward. By potentially putting a creature onto the battlefield, you’re not only bypassing mana costs but also possibly accelerating your presence on the board, which can be pivotal in the race against your opponent.

Instant Speed: The agility of instant speed spells is that they provide a tactical advantage, allowing you to be responsive and flexible to the flow of the game. With Monster Manual, this means being able to wait until the most opportune moment to introduce a new creature into the fray without telegraphing your moves too early.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Monster Manual card requires discarding another card, which can put you at a disadvantage by depleting your hand, especially when strategic resources are necessary for later turns.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a very specific mana configuration to cast, which can pose a challenge in multicolored decks that may struggle with mana fixing or require more flexibility in their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its higher mana requirement, the Monster Manual card competes with other high-impact cards at the same cost level. Players must evaluate if the payoff matches the investment compared to other cards that may advance their board state more effectively.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Monster Manual enhances diverse deck types, lending adaptability to creature-heavy or toolbox strategies where summoning the perfect creature at the right time can be pivotal.

Combo Potential: This card opens up various synergies, especially in decks designed around creature abilities and those that manipulate the library to ensure the right creatures are available when you need them.

Meta-Relevance: As players constantly look for ways to stay ahead, Monster Manual’s ability to bring out key creatures can shift the tide in matches dominated by certain archetypes, keeping your deck competitive.


How to beat

The Monster Manual MTG card presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, often proving itself to be a multifaceted tool in the hands of those who wield it effectively. This artifact allows for a roll of the d20, mirroring the tabletop delight of Dungeons & Dragons, and results in summoning a variety of creatures to bolster one’s forces. To successfully navigate against this card, understanding its inherent unpredictability is key.

One strategy to outmaneuver the Monster Manual is by utilizing counter spells and artifact removals, minimizing the chance for your opponent to benefit from its creature-generating effect. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize are efficient at handling such artifacts, keeping the field clear for your strategies to unfold. Moreover, timing is of the essence, so keeping mana open for instant-speed responses can make all the difference when an opponent attempts to activate the Monster Manual.

Equally important is maintaining control of the board. If your opponent does manage to summon a creature, having a robust removal arsenal ensures you can handle any threats swiftly. In essence, to keep the Monster Manual at bay, sharp tactical thinking and a well-constructed deck geared towards disruption and board management are your best tools for victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

As we draw this discussion to a close, the Monster Manual card exemplifies the thrill of MTG with its potential to turn the tides of play. It’s a multifaceted asset, aligning well with diverse strategies and embodying the essence of unpredictability and surprise that monster-themed decks revel in. For those eager to dive deeper and harness the power of such dynamic gameplay, we open our doors to you. A universe of creatures and tactical depth awaits. Delve into our resources, enrich your arsenal, and let Monster Manual guide you to exhilarating victories and undisputed mastery. Join BurnMana’s community and solidify your place in the annals of MTG history.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Monster Manual // Zoological Study MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Monster Manual // Zoological Study and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Monster Manual // Zoological Study Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by David Gaillet.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 2422015AdventureBlackDavid Gaillet
22022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 5912015AdventureBlackDavid Gaillet
32022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate PromosPCLB 242s2015AdventureBlackDavid Gaillet
42022-07-07Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's GateHBG 2172015AdventureBlackDavid Gaillet

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Monster Manual // Zoological Study has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-06-10 An adventurer card is a permanent card in every zone except the stack, as well as while on the stack if not cast as an Adventure. Ignore its alternative characteristics in those cases. For example, while it’s in your graveyard, Altar of Bhaal is an artifact card whose mana value is 2.
2022-06-10 An effect may refer to a card, spell, or permanent that “has an Adventure.” This refers to a card, spell, or permanent that has an adventurer card’s set of alternative characteristics, even if they’re not being used and even if that card was never cast as an Adventure.
2022-06-10 Casting a card as an Adventure isn’t casting it for an alternative cost. Effects that allow you to cast a spell for an alternative cost or without paying its mana cost may allow you to apply those to the Adventure.
2022-06-10 If a spell is cast as an Adventure, its controller exiles it instead of putting it into its owner’s graveyard as it resolves. For as long as it remains exiled, that player may cast it as a permanent spell. If an Adventure spell leaves the stack in any way other than resolving (most likely by being countered or by failing to resolve because its targets have all become illegal), that card won’t be exiled and the spell’s controller won’t be able to cast it as a permanent later.
2022-06-10 If an adventurer card ends up in exile for any other reason than by exiling itself while resolving, it won’t give you permission to cast it as a permanent spell.
2022-06-10 If an effect copies an Adventure spell, that copy is exiled as it resolves. It ceases to exist as a state-based action; it’s not possible to cast the copy from exile.
2022-06-10 If an effect instructs you to choose a card name, you may choose the alternative Adventure name. Consider only the alternative characteristics to determine whether that is an appropriate name to choose.
2022-06-10 If an object becomes a copy of an object that has an Adventure, the copy also has an Adventure. If it changes zones, it will either cease to exist (if it’s a token) or cease to be a copy (if it’s a nontoken permanent), and so you won’t be able to cast it as an Adventure.
2022-06-10 If you cast an adventurer card as an Adventure, use only its alternative characteristics to determine whether it’s legal to cast that spell.
2022-06-10 When casting a spell as an Adventure, use the alternative characteristics and ignore all of the card’s normal characteristics. The spell’s color, mana cost, mana value, and so on are determined by only those alternative characteristics. If the spell leaves the stack, it immediately resumes using its normal characteristics.
2022-06-10 You must still follow any relevant timing rules for the permanent spell you cast from exile. Normally, you’ll be able to cast it only during your main phase while the stack is empty.