Budget Alternatives to Bumi, King of Three Trials
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Bumi, King of Three Trials ($0.17)? Whether you're brewing a 100-card Commander deck, upgrading a budget league list, or trying to avoid spending over $50 on cardboard, these data-ranked substitutes cover the Versatile Deck Staple role for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Substitutes for Bumi, King of Three Trials at a Glance
Bushy Bodyguard
Acts as a Creature alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials's Legendary Creature and costs 4 less mana (2 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #enters-in-company, #gains-pp-counters.
Chrome Replicator
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials's Legendary Creature and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #enters-in-company, #virtual-vanilla.
Saurian Symbiote
Acts as a Creature alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials's Legendary Creature and costs 2 less mana (4 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #enters-in-company, #gains-pp-counters.
Bumi, King of Three Trials
30-day $0.17–$0.17 · +0% (11 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-23
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Bumi, King of Three Trials and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bumi, King of Three Trials (Original) | Legendary Creature | $0.17 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Bushy Bodyguard | Creature (2 MV) | $0.26 | $0.00 | 0% | Partial match |
| #2 Saurian Symbiote | Creature (4 MV) | $0.26 | $0.00 | 0% | Partial match |
| #3 Ambitious Dragonborn | Creature (4 MV) | $0.26 | $0.00 | 0% | Partial match |
| #4 Malamet Veteran | Creature (5 MV) | $0.21 | $0.00 | 0% | Partial match |
| #5 Chrome Replicator | Artifact Creature (5 MV) | $0.05 | $0.12 | 71% | Budget stretch |
| #6 Walltop Sentries | Creature (3 MV) | $0.15 | $0.02 | 12% | Strong match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Bumi, King of Three Trials
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Bushy Bodyguard
(Creature — Squirrel Warrior • 2 MV)
Offspring {2} (You may pay an additional {2} as you cast this spell. If you do, when this creature enters, create a 1/1 token copy of it.) When this creature enters, you may forage. If you do, put two +1/+1 counters on it. (To forage, exile three cards from your graveyard or sacrifice a Food.)
Acts as a Creature alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials's Legendary Creature and costs 4 less mana (2 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #enters-in-company, #gains-pp-counters.
- • Costs $0.26 (0% savings over Bumi, King of Three Trials)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (2 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Saurian Symbiote
(Creature — Fungus Dinosaur • 4 MV)
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) When this creature enters, choose one — • Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. • Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials's Legendary Creature and costs 2 less mana (4 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #enters-in-company, #gains-pp-counters.
- • Costs $0.26 (0% savings over Bumi, King of Three Trials)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (4 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Ambitious Dragonborn
(Creature — Dragon Barbarian • 4 MV)
This creature enters with X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the greatest power among creatures you control and creature cards in your graveyard.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials's Legendary Creature and costs 2 less mana (4 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #cards-in-graveyard-matter, #gains-pp-counters, #virtual-vanilla.
- • Costs $0.26 (0% savings over Bumi, King of Three Trials)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (4 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Malamet Veteran
(Creature — Cat Warrior • 5 MV)
Trample Descend 4 — Whenever this creature attacks, if there are four or more permanent cards in your graveyard, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials's Legendary Creature and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #cards-in-graveyard-matter, #gains-pp-counters.
- • Costs $0.21 (0% savings over Bumi, King of Three Trials)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Chrome Replicator
(Artifact Creature — Construct • 5 MV)
When this creature enters, if you control two or more nonland, nontoken permanents with the same name as one another, create a 4/4 colorless Construct artifact creature token.
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials's Legendary Creature and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #enters-in-company, #virtual-vanilla.
- • Costs $0.05 (71% savings over Bumi, King of Three Trials)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Walltop Sentries
(Creature — Human Soldier Ally • 3 MV)
Reach, deathtouch When this creature dies, if there's a Lesson card in your graveyard, you gain 2 life.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials's Legendary Creature and costs 3 less mana (3 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #cards-in-graveyard-matter, #synergy-lesson.
- • Costs $0.15 (12% savings over Bumi, King of Three Trials)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (3 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Bumi, King of Three Trials's primary trigger role.
Reduces total deck cost below $50 while keeping the curve active.
Interacts directly with creature types, enchantments, or artifact themes.
When Is Bumi, King of Three Trials Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Bumi, King of Three Trials's exact mana cost, unconditional timing, or unique text interaction, budget alternatives may not provide 100% parity. For casual Commander, mid-power EDH, and local game store play, the substitutes above deliver 90%+ functionality without the $0.17 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bumi, King of Three Trials Alternatives
Answers to the most common deckbuilding and replacement queries.
Match scores blend rules-text similarity, shared mechanics, mana-curve proximity, and card-type fit. They rank budget picks against each other — they are not a measurement of competitive power.
What is the best budget alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials?+
Bushy Bodyguard ($0.26) is the best overall alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials ($0.17), saving $0.00 (0% savings), rated a partial match for this swap.
What cards are like Bumi, King of Three Trials in MTG?+
Cards like Bumi, King of Three Trials include Bushy Bodyguard ($0.26), Saurian Symbiote ($0.26), Ambitious Dragonborn ($0.26), Malamet Veteran ($0.21). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Bumi, King of Three Trials?+
Chrome Replicator ($0.05) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 71% compared to Bumi, King of Three Trials.
Why would a player want a replacement for Bumi, King of Three Trials?+
At $0.17, Bumi, King of Three Trials represents a substantial financial barrier for casual Commander decks, budget league builds, or players testing new color identities.
When should a player NOT use a cheaper alternative to Bumi, King of Three Trials?+
The closest pick, Bushy Bodyguard, still has limits: different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies. In top-tier competitive pods where those edges decide matches, the original remains optimal.
Explore More Budget MTG Guides & Tools
Continue optimizing your deck with our dedicated strategy hubs, card replacement engines, and price filters.
Find Swaps for Any Card with the MTGCheap Engine
Use our local PostgreSQL pgvector engine to search any card in Magic: The Gathering and filter by custom price ceilings, strict card types, and Commander color identity.