Parcelbeast MTG Card


Parcelbeast offers consistent card advantage, filling your hand for strategic responses. Lands accelerate resources, enabling casting of substantial spells earlier. Instant speed mutations grant unexpected tactical creature upgrades.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elemental Beast
Abilities Mutate
Power 2
Toughness 4

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.) , : Look at the top card of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield. If you don't put the card onto the battlefield, put it into your hand.


Cards like Parcelbeast

Parcelbeast stands out in the Magic: The Gathering menagerie as a creature that doubles as a card advantage engine. It draws parallels to the likes of Coiling Oracle, which may also put a land card onto the battlefield or draw a card upon entering. Where Parcelbeast gains an edge is in its repeatable ability; it’s not limited to just an enter-the-battlefield effect, allowing players to exploit its card-drawing ability multiple times throughout the game.

Another creature that echoes similar utility is Elvish Reclaimer, which can also manipulate the land base by sacrificing a land to search for another. However, Parcelbeast’s ability is less disruptive to your own board, appealing to players who prefer to maintain a steady land count. Additionally, the Reclaimer requires activation to be untapped, whereas Parcelbeast can be both an attacker or blocker before using its ability on your turn or even on your opponent’s turn.

Within the theme of leveraging creature abilities for card advantage, the Parcelbeast provides a balanced mix of creature aggression and strategic depth to Magic: The Gathering decks. It offers the flexibility to adapt to various situations, maintaining card flow while contributing to board presence.

Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Elvish Reclaimer - MTG Card versions
Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Elvish Reclaimer - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Sultai MidrangeSultai Midrange ModernSultai MidrangeModern Preliminary 2024-01-03 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Parcelbeast excels at providing ongoing card advantage by enabling you to glimpse at the top card of your deck at each activation. This can lead to a consistent stream of creatures and lands, keeping your hand filled and ready to respond to your opponent’s moves.

Resource Acceleration: With its ability to put lands onto the battlefield from the top of your deck, Parcelbeast acts as a formidable resource accelerator. This steady placement of lands can significantly ramp up your available mana, allowing you to cast more substantial spells or activate abilities earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: The mutability of Parcelbeast affords you the flexibility of mutating at instant speed, under the right circumstances. This gives it the tactical advantage of surprising an opponent by upgrading a creature when most beneficial, such as during the end step of your opponent’s turn, keeping your strategy adaptive and fluid.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Parcelbeast doesn’t have a discard requirement, it’s important to consider how such a mechanic would impact its effectiveness if this was a factor. Discarding as part of the cost would diminish your hand, potentially putting you at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Parcelbeast’s activation cost necessitates both green and blue mana. This specific mana requirement means the card is best suited for multicolored decks, which can limit its inclusion only to those that can reliably generate both types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Parcelbeast has an initial casting cost of four mana, with two of that being color specific. While its mutate ability can reduce the mana spent, the cost may still be deemed high compared to other creatures with similar abilities. This higher mana investment makes it less attractive in fast-paced games where efficiency is crucial.


Reasons to Include Parcelbeast in Your Collection

Versatility: Parcelbeast is an adaptable addition, capable of sliding into numerous deck builds that capitalize on landfall and creature synergy. Its function as a mana sink and a card advantage engine means it is well-suited for both aggressive and long-game strategies.

Combo Potential: Its mutate ability allows for powerful interactions, particularly in decks that manipulate the top of the library or benefit from creatures entering the battlefield. This can create unexpected and potent combo plays that escalate your board position significantly.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where board presence and card advantage are key, Parcelbeast holds its own. Its constant ability to pull extra cards from your deck can give you the edge in attrition wars, making it a relevant creature in various meta scenarios.


How to beat

Parcelbeast is a card that presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to tap and look at the top card of your library, you have the option to either put that card into your hand if it’s a land or put a creature with converted mana cost 3 or less onto the battlefield. This makes Parcelbeast an engine of card advantage and board presence.

To effectively counteract Parcelbeast, one must employ disruption tactics. Removing it before its activated ability can be used is key, so instant-speed removal is highly efficient here. Consider cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile that can dispose of it swiftly and cost-effectively. Additionally, keeping Parcelbeast tapped with cards like Frost Lynx or by denying its activation conditions with cards like Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can mitigate its impact. Cards that prevent creatures from entering the battlefield, such as Grafdigger’s Cage or Hushbringer, can also neutralize Parcelbeast’s ability to sneak creatures onto the field.

Ultimately, staying ahead of the Parcelbeast and disabling its abilities quickly or inhibiting them from producing any meaningful advantage is the key strategy to beat this card and maintain the upper hand in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Parcelbeast presents a duality of power in MTG – as both a source of card advantage and a means to streamline your mana resources. Its potential to consistently provide creatures and lands makes it a compelling pick for decks designed around landfall and growth. Keep in mind that to truly harness Parcelbeast’s capabilities, it thrives in a mix of green and blue mana environments. Unleash imaginative combinations and continuous utility by incorporating Parcelbeast in your arsenal, especially if your strategy orbits around evolutionary gameplay and maintaining board presence. To delve deeper into incorporating Parcelbeast effectively into your deck and learning about robust tactics, join our thriving community and recreate the magic at your battlefield.


Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Parcelbeast Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2020-04-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 810032015MutateBlackJustine Mara Andersen
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 1992015MutateBlackMilivoj Ćeran
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 3042015MutateBlackJustine Mara Andersen
42020-09-26The ListPLST IKO-3042015MutateBlackJustine Mara Andersen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Parcelbeast has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Parcelbeast 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 If the top card of your library is a land card, you may just put it into your hand instead of putting it onto the battlefield. If you do, you don’t reveal that it’s a land card.
2020-04-17 If you don’t put the top card of your library onto the battlefield, you put it into your hand without revealing it.
2020-04-17 Parcelbeast’s effect doesn’t count as playing a land. It can put a land card onto the battlefield even if you’ve already played your land for the turn.