Filth MTG Card


Filth enables creatures to bypass blockers using swampwalk, pivotal during drawn-out board stalls. Synergy with graveyard-filling tactics enhances its strategic value significantly. Despite some limitations, Filth’s unique benefits justify its inclusion in certain deck types.
Filth - Judgment
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Incarnation
Abilities Swampwalk
Released2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set nameJudgment
Set codeJUD
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number66
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byThomas M. Baxa

Text of card

Swampwalk As long as Filth is in your graveyard and you control a swamp, creatures you control have swampwalk.

"As the portal closed, Filth oozed through. The stench of evil followed it in." —*Scroll of Beginnings*


Cards like Filth

Filth is an intriguing Magic: The Gathering card that subtly enhances a deck’s offensive capabilities. It shares this theme of improving creature attacks with Whispering Shade, which also grants creatures the ability to be unblockable provided that Swamps are controlled. Filth, however, grants this ability to all creatures as long as a Swamp is present, making it especially powerful in monoblack or multicolor decks that include black mana.

Likewise, we can draw parallels to Spirit of the Night, a card that arrives with the benefit of being inherently unblockable. While Spirit of the Night confers this advantage to itself alone, Filth provides a wider swath of your army the same formidable benefit. Keep in mind, though, that Spirit of the Night comes with inherent protection and haste, unlike Filth.

In essence, Filth operates best in an environment rich in Swamps, ideally in concert with methods to get it into the graveyard swiftly to exploit its influential static ability. This consideration places Filth into a niche category, where its impact can be immensely positive for the right deck composition in Magic: The Gathering.

Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Spirit of the Night - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Spirit of the Night - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Filth by color, type and mana cost

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Magus of the Abyss - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Magus of the Abyss - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Filth provides a strategic edge by remaining impactful posthumously via graveyard interaction, enabling continued advantage without occupying hand or board slots.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana, Filth accelerates your gameplay by allowing unimpeded attacks, often leading to a swifter victory and less turns spent navigating through potential blockers.

Instant Speed: Whilst Filth itself isn’t an instant, its synergies with instant speed graveyard enablers or effects that put cards into play from the graveyard can catch opponents off guard, creating sudden shifts in the game state at critical moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable hurdle for players using Filth in their decks is its reliance on being in the graveyard to unlock its full potential. This mechanic forces players to find ways to discard Filth strategically or to wait for it to be destroyed, which can be challenging if hand flexibility is limited.

Specific Mana Cost: Filth’s mana cost is exclusively black, which means it naturally fits into mono-black or black-heavy decks. However, this requirement can be restrictive as it limits the card’s inclusion in more varied or multi-colored decks that could benefit from its abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Filth competes with other impactful four-mana spells and creatures within black’s part of the color pie. Players often evaluate its utility against other options that could provide more immediate board presence or value.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Filth, known for its swampwalk ability, can be a game-changer in decks that easily populate or manipulate graveyards. The innate ability to pass through unblocked can turn the tide in games where board stalls are common.

Combo Potential: Combined with cards enabling all your lands to become Swamps, such as Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Filth transitions from a simple creature to an enabler of unstoppable attacks, strengthening strategies that capitalize on dealing combat damage.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape dotted with multicolor decks, the ability to secure damage through blockers can be critical. Filth shines in such environments, especially when the graveyard can be leveraged as a resource or in concert with reanimation tactics.


How to beat

Filth is a sneaky MTG card known for granting creatures unblockable power thanks to its ability to provide swampwalk. What makes Filth particularly challenging is its synergy with decks that can easily dump it in the graveyard, thereby unleashing its full potential. However, like all cards, Filth has its vulnerabilities.

To counter this ominous force, consider altering the terrain of battle. Land altering spells that change an opponent’s swamps into another basic land type can nullify Filth’s advantage. Spell cards capable of reshaping the battlefield, such as Blood Moon or Spreading Seas, can effectively render Filth’s ability useless. Additionally, graveyard hate cards which exile or remove cards from the graveyard, such as Rest in Peace or Tormod’s Crypt, ensure that Filth doesn’t provide its advantage from beyond the grave.

In essence, strategic timing and a mix of land alteration or graveyard disruption are key to outmaneuver Filth and prevent its effects from overwhelming the game. While Filth can be formidable, understanding the landscape of the game and including versatile responses in your deck can assure victory even against the murkiest of threats.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuanced impact of Filth on your MTG gameplay adds depth to both strategy and deck building. With its unique swampwalk ability, mastering this card spells the difference between an ordinary match and a commanding victory. By integrating cards like Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, or employing clever graveyard management, Filth can become a cornerstone of a formidable black-focused deck. We encourage you to explore the avenues of synergy Filth opens up and to consider the card’s potential to elevate your game when pitted against a variety of opponents. Dive deeper into tactics, deck analysis, and card interactions by joining us, where expanding your MTG knowledge is just a click away.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Filth MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Filth and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Filth has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal