Beast Within
Instant
Destroy target permanent. Its controller creates a 3/3 green Beast creature token.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- G
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Commander 2016
- Price
- $1.01
- EDHREC rank
- #24
Beast Within is green's answer to everything — at three mana at instant speed, it destroys any permanent unconditionally, which no other color can claim at this rate. The 3/3 token it leaves behind is real, but in Commander that downside is almost always irrelevant against the permanent you just answered. Hearthhull, the Worldseed and other must-answer threats exist in every game; Beast Within ensures you have an out regardless of type.
Where It Shines
Where the extra mana on turn one matters most
Big-mana shells like Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm
Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm decks are already stretching into Simic or Temur, and Beast Within slots in as the catch-all removal that doesn't require red or white backup. When your curve is full of expensive dragons, having an instant-speed answer for any permanent at three mana keeps you from being cold to a combo or a problematic enchantment you'd otherwise have no line against.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is where Beast Within earns its staple label — the format's density of planeswalkers, artifacts, lands, and indestructible threats means unconditional permanent removal is worth a 3/3 rider almost every time. In Legacy and Vintage, it sees fringe play in green-based midrange and combo shells that need flexible interaction, though faster formats dilute its appeal against one-mana disruption. Modern is legal but Beast Within barely registers there; the format moves too quickly and Assassin's Trophy covers similar ground with less token risk in most cases. Oathbreaker mirrors Commander's logic closely enough that Beast Within holds the same value in that format.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$1.01 cheap tier
At $1.01, Beast Within sits at the bottom of the budget range for a card that appears in roughly half of all Commander decks. Multiple printings have kept the price stable and low — this is a pickup that rewards buying in bulk rather than watching for a deal.
Explore
Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.