Maybe Borzard is an idiot? Much like those people.
Vinifera7
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(8 votes)
@Arachibutyrophobia I think we can imagine that Borzard is not speaking with scientific accuracy.
RisingMoon
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(8 votes)
Yeah, but then it's too good. You have five forests, and you have five tokens. Besides, that's what Heartstone's there for.
mtgexchange
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(5 votes)
I agree with RisingMoon the cost they gave it is fine, imagine a turn 5 Ant Queen (or sooner with Rampand Growth) and 5 tokens at the end of every turn at least followed by an Overrun.
SocialExperiment
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Fearsome card to have in the same deck as a Master of the Wild Hunt. Get Wolf and some insects every turn, then when you draw Overrun (or it's evil sibling Titanic Ultimatum) you simply declare everyone as an attacker. Even if your opponent survives that kind of barrage, they won't be able to beat you on their turn, and you should have enough firepower to finish them on your next turn.
Grimn777
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(17 votes)
Ok... not sure what you are talking about savagebrain. This is the fastest token machine in standard my friend. While the ability does require 1G and not just G, it lacks that all-restrictive clause, "tap". Because you can power out several tokens a turn, ant queen is far faster than jund battlemage or whatever. If you think paying G instead of 1G will save you the game, at the cost of 1, and only 1 token per turn (not to mention tapping the token machine, losing the use of that as a creature), by all means see how that goes. Me? I'll drop an ant queen turn 5, and if there is a lack of other spells. I will gladly create 3 1/1 tokens turn 6 while still attacking with my 5/5. 4.5/5
Iiory
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(3 votes)
that is one evil ant.....imagine your ant army in a late game
Shendrag
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(7 votes)
I like the comment of Grimm777, I have been using this card with my "Token Factory" deck and it works just perfect -You just have to get enough mana.
The Ant Queen is almost as good as the Sliver Queen.
skoll92
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(3 votes)
it reminds me of living hive, but... not as fun to crush people with;.....(
PaladinOfSunhome
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
This card is aweosme, mostly becasue you don't have to tap to get the ants and they are cheap. Not only that, but he can hold herself in a fight, too.
4.0
madformedusa
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The best queen in standard right now. FAAAAAAAAAAAAAABULOUS!!!!!
MrPink343
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Sigil Captain moves this card well into the obscene range.
zpfriem
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Gave this a 4.0, only because Mycoloth, IMO, is a better card, however, this card paired with Mycoloth and a bunch of mana accelerators, like Llanowar Elves and Obelisks, and you have a pretty beefy base for a Standard deck. Attack of the spores and ants With options to make it a killer Vintage deck with some more mana creating elves, oh, and maybe a Doubling Season or four?
Alex123321
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(3 votes)
first of all ant queen is a 5 for 5/5, second of all it flashes tokens on the field and puts tokens on like crazy. Cause most of the token producers use tap abilities and ant queen doesnt. Also ant queen is a perfect solution to sleep if u have the land.
AbyssalManZero
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This card is pretty cool because it's a 5/5 for five which you really don't see, plus the ant production is non-tap plus works great with the plainswalker, Goruk, to me atleast.
Donovan_Fabian
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Ok, so.. here's the things that are awesome about ant queen vs. the bad points.
Pro: It's only 5 mana, all in one color, easy to cast. It can make ants as soon as it hits the field, potentially doing more later in the game. It's still a 5/5. Can combo with naya 5 power matters, can combo with eldrazi monument, and glorious anthem.
Con: No anti removal. Since you have to pay mana for your tokens compared to say mycoloth, your spending mana on tokens that could be used to play another card. There are other powerful 5 - 6 mana token producers, namely mycoloth and oona. No form of anti removal.
If your playing pure green and can go nuts with the mana, it's better than a mycoloth, but in the event you actually need the mana or are tapping out, for example you are playing splash red, then it's less effective. In most cases you're going to want to play a token producer who doesn't cost anything to make it's tokens, the only advantage to being able to pay mana for it is if you have something like patron of the orochi in play and can go nuts with it.
@clow, that would be true if you had to sacrifice something to make the mycoloth's ability work, but you can always jund charm, soul's might, or mayael's aria counters to it. Also, I would argue mycoloth is more versatile, as if you have any way to steal your opponents creatures you can have the mycoloth devour them, and it can come in as a bigger creature for 5 mana. Ant queen also wont generate any extra tokens until the turn after she hits play unless it's late in the game.
ClowWizardEriol
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Myocloth is not necessarily better than Ant Queen. You only have one chance to give Mycoloth a bunch of +1/+1 counters (by sacrificing your own creatures) and then you have to wait until your next upkeep to get the tokens. During your opponent's turn, Myocloth can be eliminated. Ant Queen is more versatile, as you can generate tokens the turn it enters the battlefield. If an opponent attempts to eliminate Ant Queen, you can respond by generating tokens. It's definitely one of the better token generators. I've used Ant Queen's tokens with Garruk Wildspeaker's ultimate ability and have also generated tons of tokens through Mirari's Wake.
@Donovan_Fabian: I had not thought about other cards that can add +1/+1 counters. In that case, Mycoloth can be more flexible. The debate here seems to be what you can do for 5 mana (or turn 5 without mana acceleration). If you cast Ant Queen with exactly 5 mana, then it is potentially inferior to Mycoloth, because you won't have additional mana at that point to generate tokens. Mycoloth, if you do not have creatures to sacrifice, requires additional cards to support adding +1/+1 counters.
So, both creatures are viable depending on the deck's strategy.
donjohnson
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I use both Ant Queen and Mycoloth in my token deck. Neither is 'better' than the other, just different.
Mycoloth needs at least 2 creatures sacked to work well in the game. Ant Queen requires you to keep pumping mana into her to get more tokens. Both are excellent cards and both deserve a spot in any green token deck. They are both good, solid creatures that will win you games, as both have won me games.
Toss in some Epic Struggle, Coat of Arms, Overrun and Biorhythms and dance all over your opponents face.
Ant Queen is a solid 5 star creature in my book....as is Mycoloth.
epochei
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
love it
.Fighter.
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(6 votes)
I managed to use this card to amazing advantage. I had 5W and 5G, with a Beastmaster Ascension, and after attacking with a few tokens I quickly completed the latter.
I pumped out 5 6/6 tokens every turn and raped my opponent for 134 damage while he was @ 8 life.
I had 14 life.
beyond_malachi
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(7 votes)
A perfect design for a 3GG creature.
An enjoyably powerful body at 5/5 that makes it satisfying to drop. A nice ability - fun but not ridiculously overpowered. Most importantly, at 3GG it is one of the best cost:power cards they've ever made: not undercosted (like worst-card-ever-made Baneslayer) and not overcosted either.
Great, great card! Throw in Doubling Season and Door of Destinies and you're ready for the massive invasion. Of course I use the Door with insects, there's some very good ones out there like Scute Mob.
arshad
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(6 votes)
its useful.
zeyette
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This, Citanul Hierophants, Doubling Season and Emblem of the Warmind. Infinite insects.
NeoSin
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(2 votes)
I dont know, Im liking Mycoloth better. Amazing card though, and still at least a 4.5
sliver queen vs. ant quen dual deck
epic if they thought of it capabilties
Ideatog
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(7 votes)
Mana Echoes, anyone? Esp. since it counts as an insect itself.
GTGMaximo
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
Great card, especially with a Green mana battery like Omnath, Locus of Mana. With so many ants, it'll be like a B-grade horror flick on your side of the battlefield in no time!
EternalLurker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Wizards seems determined not to reprint any good Green cards from M10, apparently.
land_comment
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Poor Sliver Queen. Never to be reprinted. Though, to be fair, this wasn't reprinted in M11, and I have my doubts on M12.
And GTMaximo: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS................... You cannot fight worldwake!!!!!!!11
ROBRAM89
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
THEM! THEEEEEEEEEEM!
lordnubit
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
i really like this card and have played with it before but do not own a copy. what decks is it in?
Arachibutyrophobia
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
umm...I don't mean to spoil one of my favorite cards ever...but...drones don't fight. the drones are the males. the soldiers and workers are the ones that fight.
Steinhauser
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Very efficient token production alongside Oran-Rief, the Vastwood. Pumping out two or three beefy 3/3s or 4/4s every end step becomes unstoppable fast. Swarmyard helps keep Ant Queen alive, so it's easier to protect than most token factories, which all tend to be removal magnets.
I combo this with forgotten ancient and it rules, I also pair it with my lovely xantid swarm
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Best part, you can tap out at instant speed. In , hold mana for counterspells, then tap out at end of their turn, and swing with your fresh token army.
Comments (47)
I think we can imagine that Borzard is not speaking with scientific accuracy.
The Ant Queen is almost as good as the Sliver Queen.
4.0
Pro: It's only 5 mana, all in one color, easy to cast. It can make ants as soon as it hits the field, potentially doing more later in the game. It's still a 5/5. Can combo with naya 5 power matters, can combo with eldrazi monument, and glorious anthem.
Con: No anti removal. Since you have to pay mana for your tokens compared to say mycoloth, your spending mana on tokens that could be used to play another card. There are other powerful 5 - 6 mana token producers, namely mycoloth and oona. No form of anti removal.
If your playing pure green and can go nuts with the mana, it's better than a mycoloth, but in the event you actually need the mana or are tapping out, for example you are playing splash red, then it's less effective. In most cases you're going to want to play a token producer who doesn't cost anything to make it's tokens, the only advantage to being able to pay mana for it is if you have something like patron of the orochi in play and can go nuts with it.
@clow, that would be true if you had to sacrifice something to make the mycoloth's ability work, but you can always jund charm, soul's might, or mayael's aria counters to it. Also, I would argue mycoloth is more versatile, as if you have any way to steal your opponents creatures you can have the mycoloth devour them, and it can come in as a bigger creature for 5 mana. Ant queen also wont generate any extra tokens until the turn after she hits play unless it's late in the game.
@Donovan_Fabian: I had not thought about other cards that can add +1/+1 counters. In that case, Mycoloth can be more flexible. The debate here seems to be what you can do for 5 mana (or turn 5 without mana acceleration). If you cast Ant Queen with exactly 5 mana, then it is potentially inferior to Mycoloth, because you won't have additional mana at that point to generate tokens. Mycoloth, if you do not have creatures to sacrifice, requires additional cards to support adding +1/+1 counters.
So, both creatures are viable depending on the deck's strategy.
Neither is 'better' than the other, just different.
Mycoloth needs at least 2 creatures sacked to work well in the game. Ant Queen requires you to keep pumping mana into her to get more tokens. Both are excellent cards and both deserve a spot in any green token deck.
They are both good, solid creatures that will win you games, as both have won me games.
Toss in some Epic Struggle, Coat of Arms, Overrun and Biorhythms and dance all over your opponents face.
Ant Queen is a solid 5 star creature in my book....as is Mycoloth.
I pumped out 5 6/6 tokens every turn and raped my opponent for 134 damage while he was @ 8 life.
I had 14 life.
An enjoyably powerful body at 5/5 that makes it satisfying to drop.
A nice ability - fun but not ridiculously overpowered.
Most importantly, at 3GG it is one of the best cost:power cards they've ever made: not undercosted (like worst-card-ever-made Baneslayer) and not overcosted either.
epic if they thought of it capabilties
And GTMaximo: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS................... You cannot fight worldwake!!!!!!!11
How many cards can claim that? Uh... probably a lot...