Decimator Beetle

Decimator Beetle card image

Decimator Beetle: Creature - Insect, Amonkhet. When this creature enters, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature you control. On Mana Grove.

Mana cost
{3}{B}{G}
Mana value
5
Type
Creature - Insect
Colour identity
Black and green (BG)
Power / toughness
4/5
Rarity
Uncommon
Set
Amonkhet (AKH)
Released
2017-04-28
Collector number
197
Artist
Adrian Majkrzak
Commander rank
18,255 (by how often it appears in Commander decks)

Build around this card with Grover

About Decimator Beetle

Decimator Beetle is a Magic: The Gathering card, an uncommon black and green creature from Amonkhet (AKH), an expansion set released in April 2017. It is collector number 197 in that set, with art by Adrian Majkrzak. It costs {3}{B}{G} (three generic, one black and one green mana) to cast, for a mana value of 5. It is a 4/5 creature. Its colour identity is black and green. It is legal in Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Commander, Duel Commander and Oathbreaker. Amonkhet is its only printing so far. The latest aggregated market price for this printing is $0.19 (normal finish, as of 2026-11-12).

Card text

When this creature enters, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature you control.

Whenever this creature attacks, remove a -1/-1 counter from target creature you control and put a -1/-1 counter on up to one target creature defending player controls.

Market price

Latest aggregated market price for the normal finish of this printing: $0.19 (as of 2026-11-12).

The figure covers this printing only; other printings carry their own price on their own page.

Format legality

Legality of Decimator Beetle by format. Formats in which it is not legal are not listed.

PioneerLegal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
Duel CommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal

Official rulings

Two official rulings apply to Decimator Beetle, newest first.

  • Decimator Beetle’s second ability can target any creature you control, not just one with a -1/-1 counter on it. It’ll put a -1/-1 counter on the opponent’s creature even if there isn’t one to remove from your creature.
  • If one target of Decimator Beetle’s second ability becomes illegal, the other will still be affected.

Similar cards

Other creature cards with a black and green colour identity, ranked by how often they appear in Commander decks.

Mentioned in these guides

These guides mention Decimator Beetle.

Explore Mana Grove