Alien SymbiosisHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it Does

Alien Symbiosis grants the enchanted creature a +1/+1 power and toughness boost, the menace keyword, and adds the Symbiote creature type. Menace means the creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures, making it much harder for your opponent to deal with. Most importantly, it has a built-in recursion ability that allows you to cast it directly from your graveyard by paying its mana cost and discarding a card.

Casting from the Graveyard

When you cast Alien Symbiosis from your graveyard, you must pay its mana cost of {1}{B} and an additional cost of discarding a card. This follows normal timing rules, meaning you can typically only do this during your main phase when the stack is empty. The discard happens as you cast the spell, not when it resolves, so if the spell is countered, the discarded card remains in the graveyard.

Strategic Implementation

Because this card allows you to discard a card as part of its cost, it pairs exceptionally well with draw engines that keep your hand full. It effectively turns any dead card in your hand into a fresh buff for your creatures. Since the enchanted creature becomes a Symbiote in addition to its other types, it retains all its previous synergies while gaining new ones.

Interaction examples

Sustaining the Symbiosis

Phyrexian Arena

With Phyrexian Arena on the battlefield, you draw an extra card every upkeep. If Alien Symbiosis is in your graveyard, you can use that extra card to pay the discard cost of its recursion ability. This allows you to constantly re-apply the +1/+1 and menace buffs to your creatures even if they are destroyed in combat.

Creating a Menacing Mercenary

Black Market Connections

First, use Black Market Connections to create a 3/2 Shapeshifter token. Because the token has changeling, it is already a Symbiote. When you attach Alien Symbiosis to it, the token becomes a 4/3 with menace. If the token is later destroyed, you can use the Treasure tokens or extra cards generated by Black Market Connections to cast Alien Symbiosis from your graveyard and buff your next creature.