Beast Within

Beast Within Full Guide

Planechase Anthology Uncommon
Mana Cost: {2}{G}
Type: Instant
Beast Within Text:
Destroy target permanent. Its controller creates a 3/3 green Beast creature token.
Flavor:
"Kill the weak so they can't drag the strong down to their level. This is true compassion." —Benzir, archdruid of Temple Might
Artist: Dave Allsop
Collector Number: 57
Release Date: 2016-11-25
Art crop

Strategy Guide

Last updated 2025-06-26
TL;DR Summary

Beast Within: A straightforward, mid-range instant that destroys a target permanent and generates a token. Its power level is moderate, likely seeing play in casual and competitive formats where removal spells are valuable.

In terms of main use cases: * Removal: Use Beast Within to clear problematic creatures or enchantments from the board. * Token generation: Create a 3/3 token to press advantage on your next turn.

Its popularity stems from being a versatile, cheap instant that can be played in various decks, including: * Commander: A popular choice for its efficiency and ability to generate tokens. * Modern: Can see play as part of more aggressive strategies. * Standard: May appear in removal-heavy decks.

Card Mechanics & Interactions

Card Mechanics & Interactions: Beast Within

Beast Within is an instant card that destroys a target permanent and creates a 3/3 green Beast creature token for its controller.

Keyword Abilities: None, but it interacts with various keywords like "Flying", "Trample", and "Deathtouch" on other creatures.

Functioning on the Stack:

  1. Cast: When you play Beast Within from your hand, it resolves immediately unless an effect prevents it.
  2. Resolution: The target permanent is destroyed, and its controller creates a 3/3 green Beast creature token. This happens regardless of whether the destroyed permanent had any abilities or effects attached to it.

Edge Cases:

  • If you cast Beast Within targeting a non-existent permanent (e.g., a creature that's already been destroyed), nothing will happen.
  • If the target permanent is an artifact or enchantment with a "destroy" prevention ability, it won't be destroyed.
  • If the controller of the destroyed permanent has no creatures on the battlefield, they'll create a 3/3 Beast token.
  • Abuse Potential: Consider pairing Beast Within with Shattering Blow (PDC) to destroy an opponent's creature and generate tokens. Alternatively, use it in combination with Tangle Wire (MBS) to destroy a creature and leave your opponent with a crippled board state.

Unusual Interactions:

  • Mass Destruction: With enough Beast Within copies or in conjunction with other destruction effects like Supreme Verdict (WWK), you can clear the entire battlefield, potentially setting up for future token generation.
  • Token Swamping: Using Beast Within to generate tokens can lead to a snowball effect if combined with cards that enhance your creatures, such as Bloom Titan (FRF) or Elvish Piper (ZEN).

Commander-Specific Quirks:

  • Beast Tokens: As the card creates green Beast tokens, consider pairing it with Nylea's Presence (Iked), which allows you to create a 4/4 Beast token for each creature on the battlefield.
  • Token Overkill: With cards like Sylvan Caryatid (MBS) or Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth (MOS), your tokens can grow in power and become formidable threats.

Key Takeaways:

  • Beast Within is an instant that destroys a target permanent and creates a 3/3 green Beast token.
  • Its functionality is straightforward but offers opportunities for strategic play when paired with other cards or abilities.
Strategic Applications

Beast Within is a versatile instant that can be used in various green deck archetypes. Its ability to destroy a target permanent while creating a 3/3 creature token makes it an attractive inclusion for strategies focused on removing problematic permanents or generating card advantage.

One of the primary uses of Beast Within is as a removal spell in combo decks, particularly those featuring Golgari Findbroker and Sylvan Caryatid. By destroying an opponent's key artifact or enchantment, players can disrupt their plans while simultaneously generating a beneficial creature token. In this context, Beast Within serves as a flexible alternative to more expensive removal spells like Path to Exile.

Beast Within also finds a home in ramp and mana dork-based green decks, such as those centered around Nyiara Wildspeaker and Llanowar Elves. Here, the card's ability to create a 3/3 creature token serves as an added bonus, providing additional board presence while the deck accelerates towards its more powerful spells. This synergy allows players to develop their mana advantage while dealing with problematic permanents.

Additionally, Beast Within can be used in more niche strategies focused on tribal or swarm-based card advantage. In such decks, the ability to create a 3/3 creature token provides an efficient way to scale up and overwhelm opponents with a large number of low-toughness creatures. Cards like Fertile Ground and Giant Growth can be used in conjunction with Beast Within to further amplify this effect.

In terms of competitive builds, Beast Within is most commonly found in green-based combo decks and ramp strategies. However, its versatility also makes it a popular inclusion in more casual or niche deck archetypes that focus on tribal or swarm-based card advantage.

Advanced Techniques

Synergies with Green Stompy Decks

Beast Within pairs well with large, green creatures like Wilt-Leaf Liege and Falkenrath, Ultimate Master, as its ability to destroy a permanent allows you to clear the way for these massive beasts. Additionally, when combined with tokens from Sylvan Caryatid, Beast Within can create a swarm of 3/3 green creatures.

Interactions with Enchantments

Beast Within's destruction effect makes it an excellent target for enchantments like Goblin Rascals and Lure. These spells can destroy the permanent you want to clear, while also leaving behind a token that Beast Within will create. Consider running these in combination with Beast Within to amplify its impact.

Combos with Removal Spells

Beast Within complements removal spells like Path to Exile and Abrupt Decay, which can be used to clear a permanent before creating a 3/3 beast token with Beast Within. This combo is particularly effective against opponents controlling large, flying creatures.

Token Generation

As an instant, Beast Within provides an immediate response to threats on the board. Its ability to generate tokens makes it a solid addition to decks focused on Evolving Wilds or Fertile Ground. The 3/3 beast token can also serve as a body for your deck's other abilities, such as Kraul Shatterspike's trample.

Countering Flying Creatures

When facing opponents with large flying creatures like Soul-Scar Mage, Beast Within offers a unique solution. By destroying the creature and creating a 3/3 beast token, you can neutralize the threat while also potentially gaining card advantage through additional tokens.

These examples illustrate the versatility of Beast Within in various Commander decks. Its ability to clear a permanent and generate a token makes it an attractive addition to any green-based strategy.

Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid with Beast Within

When playing Beast Within in Commander, it's essential to be mindful of the following common mistakes.

Timing Issues

  • Waiting too long: Failing to cast Beast Within promptly after a creature is attacked or dealt damage can leave your opponent time to respond and prevent the token creation. For instance, if you wait until after an opponent's creatures attack to cast Beast Within, they may have already gained combat advantage.
  • Not considering opponent's plays: Neglecting to account for your opponent's potential plans can lead to missed opportunities. For example, if your opponent has a removal spell in hand, it might be better to hold off on casting Beast Within until the removal is resolved.

Misunderstood Rules

  • Ignoring creature types: Failing to consider the specific creature type of the token created by Beast Within (in this case, "green Beast") can lead to unexpected interactions with other cards. For example, if you play a card that cares about only creating tokens with a certain creature type (e.g., Fangren Rebirth), Beast Within may not be as effective.
  • Not accounting for permanent destruction: Failing to consider the potential for opponent's permanents being destroyed can lead to unexpected interactions. For example, if an opponent casts a card like Chandra, Torch of Defiance, it might destroy their own permanent, allowing you to create a token.

Poor Synergies

  • Not combining with creature abundance: Failing to pair Beast Within with cards that generate a large number of creatures can limit its impact. For example, playing Beast Within in an empty board state or without a way to trigger additional tokens (e.g., Llanowar Elves or Elvish Mystic) reduces its effectiveness.
  • Not leveraging token synergies: Neglecting to pair Beast Within with cards that benefit from large numbers of creatures can lead to missed opportunities. For example, playing cards like Griselbrand or Meren of Ibaw] ] without a way to create multiple tokens (e.g., using [[Fangren Rebirth) limits their potential.
Conclusion

Beast Within is a versatile and powerful card that can be used in various Commander decks. Its ability to destroy a target permanent and create a 3/3 green Beast creature token makes it an attractive addition to any deck.

In terms of budget-friendliness, Beast Within is priced at $1.49 USD and has been reprinted in several sets, making it accessible for players building Commander decks on a budget.

When building a green Commander deck, consider the following alternatives to Beast Within:

  • Garruk Wildspeaker: A more expensive but powerful option that creates 2/2 beast tokens.
  • Elvish Mystic: A less expensive option that adds 1G to your mana pool and creates a 2/3 green Beast creature token.
  • Llanowar Elves: Another budget-friendly option that adds 1G to your mana pool.

When using Beast Within in a game, keep in mind its unique ability to destroy a target permanent and create a powerful 3/3 token. This can be particularly devastating when combined with other creatures or spells that benefit from having multiple green creatures on the board.

In terms of flavor and lore, Beast Within is a testament to the primal forces that simmer just beneath the surface of the natural world. In the world of Magic, this phenomenon is not unique to the Beast Within. Other creatures, like those found in the depths of the forest or atop mist-shrouded mountains, can tap into this primal power.

Overall, Beast Within remains a staple in many Commander decks due to its versatility and potential for explosive board impact.

Deckbuilding & Synergies

Beast Within is a versatile Instant that can be used in various green deck builds, particularly those focusing on creature tokens and removal. Its ability to destroy a target permanent while creating a 3/3 Beast token makes it an excellent addition to strategies centered around token generation and swarm effects.

Commanders and Color Identities

  • Gruul tribal decks: This card pairs well with commanders like Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient and Yarok the Desecrated, who thrive on generating large swarms of creatures.
  • Green devotion decks: Beast Within complements green devotion strategies, which focus on accelerating mana and ramping into larger creatures. Cards like Fertile Ground and Temple Garden help to accelerate this process.
  • Token generators: Commanders such as Kemba, Kha Regent and Gorbag, Cursed Patriarch, who generate multiple tokens at once, benefit from the extra token created by Beast Within.

Synergy Cards

  • Fertile Ground: Accelerates green devotion and provides a mana advantage for casting Beast Within on turn 2.
  • Temple Garden: Another powerful ramp spell that helps to accelerate the development of your deck and increases the chances of successfully casting Beast Within on an earlier turn.
  • Sylvan Caryatid: While not a direct synergy, this creature provides additional green mana acceleration and can help you develop a stronger board presence more quickly.

Combo Notes

  • Token swarm: Use Beast Within to clear the way for your token-generating spells or abilities. For example, if you have [[Golgari Findbroker in play, clearing the target permanent will allow you to generate even more tokens.
  • Ramp and acceleration: With cards like Fertile Ground and Temple Garden, you can ramp into casting larger creatures that benefit from the extra token generated by Beast Within.

In summary, Beast Within offers a simple yet effective way to destroy unwanted permanents while creating an additional creature token. Its versatility makes it a great fit for various green deck strategies, and its synergy with cards like Fertile Ground and Temple Garden only adds to its appeal.

Format Roles

Beast Within is an instant that can significantly disrupt the board in Commander. It allows its controller to destroy a target permanent while simultaneously creating a formidable 3/3 green Beast creature token. This card can be particularly effective when combined with creatures that have protection from artifacts or enchantments, as they become nearly indestructible when paired with Beast Within.

In terms of competitive play, Beast Within has seen moderate play in some Commander decks. Its ability to clear the board while also generating a large threat makes it an attractive addition to certain strategies. However, its relatively high mana cost and limited flexibility can make it less appealing in more aggressive or tempo-oriented decks.

Some notable examples of cards that pair well with Beast Within include Tangle Wire, which provides a free 2/3 token when Beast Within resolves, and Chainer's Torment, which can further amplify the impact of Beast Within by allowing its controller to sacrifice it for additional card advantage. On the other hand, cards like Atraxa, Praetors' Voice can potentially mitigate the effects of Beast Within by protecting their permanent from destruction.

In casual play, Beast Within is often used as a late-game tool to clear the board and create an overwhelming board presence. Its straightforward ability and high power/toughness creature token make it an appealing choice for players who want to quickly ramp up their creatures without worrying about intricate combos or gameplan interactions.

Overall, Beast Within remains a staple in many Commander decks due to its versatility and potential for explosive board impact. Its relatively low price point also makes it an attractive addition to more budget-conscious players looking to build competitive lists.

Key Scenarios

Key Scenarios & Matchups

Beast Within excels in a variety of scenarios, taking advantage of its ability to destroy a target permanent and create a 3/3 green Beast creature token. In multiplayer Commander games, it can be particularly effective against opponents with large, flying creatures that are blocking your life total.

  • Against flyers: When facing an opponent's flying creature, Beast Within can destroy the blocker and generate a green Beast to take its place on the battlefield. This can be especially powerful if combined with Fertile Ground or other tokens that benefit from having multiple green creatures.
  • Against problematic permanents: If an opponent has a problematic permanent like Sword of Feast and Famine or Worn Powerstone, Beast Within can destroy it, negating its effects and creating a token in the process. This can be especially valuable if you have a way to utilize the generated tokens, such as with Garruk Wildspeaker.
History & Meta

Beast Within, a 2G Instant from the Portal Companion set (pca), has made appearances in various formats over the years. In terms of EDHREC statistics, it holds an impressive rank of 23, indicating its popularity among Eternal Deck players.

Its versatility has led to inclusion in several iconic decks, including Monastery Mentor and Atraxa, Praetors' Voice. When played, Beast Within destroys a target permanent and creates a 3/3 green Beast creature token for its controller. This can be particularly devastating when combined with Sylvan Caryatid or Llanowar Elves, allowing players to quickly swarm the board.

In terms of tournament presence, data is limited due to its relatively old set release. However, its uncommon rarity and versatile effect make it an attractive addition to many Eternal decks. Its price remains moderate, sitting at around $1.49 USD, making it accessible to most players.

Flavor & Lore

The card Beast Within is a testament to the primal forces that simmer just beneath the surface of the natural world. In the vast expanse of the planes, there exist beings who have mastered the art of harnessing this raw power.

As a spellcaster's hand moves to cast Beast Within, they tap into a reservoir of untamed energy. The mere act of destruction – be it a creature or an enchantment – awakens a furious response from the land itself. A 3/3 green Beast creature token is born, embodying the unbridled ferocity that lies within the earth.

In the world of Magic, this phenomenon is not unique to the Beast Within. Other creatures, like those found in the depths of the forest or atop mist-shrouded mountains, can tap into this primal power. The Llanowar Elves, for instance, have been known to channel the fury of the land, summoning massive, gnarled treants to do their bidding.

The magic that permeates the planes is a delicate balance between order and chaos, with forces like Beast Within pushing against the boundaries of civilization. Those who wield such power must be mindful of its consequences, lest they unleash a maelstrom of destruction upon the world.

Budget/Alternatives

Budget-Friendliness and Reprint Status

Beast Within is an uncommon instant from the Pauper-legal set, Pioneer. Its price point is relatively affordable, with a USD value of $1.49. This makes it accessible for players building Commander decks on a budget.

Set Price (USD)
Pauper $1.49
Pioneer $3.99 (on average)

Beast Within has been reprinted in several sets, including the Pauper set. Its reprint status and affordable price make it a great option for budget-friendly Commander decks.

Commander-Friendly Options

If you're building a green Commander deck on a budget, consider the following alternatives to Beast Within:

  • Garruk Wildspeaker: A more expensive but powerful option that creates 2/2 beast tokens.
  • Elvish Mystic: A less expensive option that adds 1G to your mana pool and creates a 2/3 green Beast creature token.
  • Llanowar Elves: Another budget-friendly option that adds 1G to your mana pool.

Comparison

Card Mana Cost Oracle Text
Beast Within {2}{G} Destroy target permanent. Its controller creates a 3/3 green Beast creature token.
Elvish Mystic {G} Add {G}.
Llanowar Elves {G} Add {G}.

Beast Within's unique ability to destroy a target permanent and create a powerful 3/3 token makes it a valuable addition to any green Commander deck. Its affordable price point and Pauper-legal reprint status make it an attractive option for budget-friendly players.