Fungus Sliver MTG Card


Fungus Sliver provides significant card advantage by consistently empowering your Sliver army during MTG games. Its dependency on other Slivers and specific mana can limit its use, demanding strategic deck building. A valuable collectible for its synergy and meta impact, yet other cards may offer quicker benefits.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Fungus Sliver
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

All Slivers have "Whenever this creature is dealt damage, put a +1/+1 counter on it." (The damage is dealt before the counter is put on.)

"When a sliver of this breed enters the hive, the others claw each other in frenzied fits, thereby ensuring their rapid growth." —Rukarumel, field journal


Cards like Fungus Sliver

The Fungus Sliver is a unique entity in the Sliver tribe of Magic: The Gathering, most known for bestowing all Slivers with the ability to gain a +1/+1 counter whenever they’re dealt damage—a trait not widely found. In comparison, Spiteful Sliver deals damage to each opponent whenever it or another Sliver is dealt damage, radiating a forceful offensive strategy rather than a growing defensive one.

Looking at the broader MTG card pool, the Fungus Sliver echoes the mechanics of creatures like Mycoloth which also thrives on +1/+1 counters, although it differs by devouring other creatures as a means to accumulate counters rather than relying on combat damage. Mycoloth offers a more explosive counter gain, yet it’s more susceptible to removal before payoff. Another kindred spirit might be Borrowing the East Wind in terms of collective fortification, a card that increases all your creatures’ power, although it’s purely offensive without the incremental growth aspect.

Ultimately, Fungus Sliver may not possess the immediate impact of some alternatives. Still, its synergy with the Sliver tribe and potential to create an ever-growing threat on the board makes it a staple in MTG decks seeking to leverage long-term advantage and resilience.

Mycoloth - MTG Card versions
Borrowing the East Wind - MTG Card versions
Mycoloth - MTG Card versions
Borrowing the East Wind - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Fungus Sliver by color, type and mana cost

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
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Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions
Order of the Sacred Bell - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
Erhnam Djinn - MTG Card versions
War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions
Order of the Sacred Bell - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The presence of Fungus Sliver in a game of MTG can drastically increase card advantage by bolstering the strength and resiliency of your Sliver creatures. Each time a Sliver is targeted, Fungus Sliver’s effect can trigger, effectively thickening your battlefield with hard-to-remove threats that can eventually overwhelm your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Although Fungus Sliver itself does not directly provide mana or resources, its ability to enhance and protect your Sliver army allows for a more efficient use of the creatures you deploy. Better protection and synergy mean that every resource spent on casting Slivers achieves greater value, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration through board presence longevity and synergy exploitation.

Instant Speed: While Fungus Sliver operates at sorcery speed, its influence on the board synergizes well with instant-speed spells in the MTG Sliver archetype. Its continuous ability enables it to augment your Slivers at any time, including during combat on your opponent’s turn, which maximizes the effectiveness of your instant-speed interactions, giving your sliver strategy another layer of unpredictability and response power.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Fungus Sliver is that it doesn’t have an immediate standalone impact when played without other Slivers on the board. Unlike other MTG cards that could bolster your position individually, this card’s interdependence might be its Achilles’ heel in non-Sliver decks.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific mana assembly to cast—green and generic mana. This specificity could potentially restrict its inclusion only to decks with a base in green, making it less versatile than colorless or single-color options available in the MTG universe.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana including two generic and one green, Fungus Sliver may compete for a slot against other three-drops with more immediate or potent effects. This is particularly relevant in metagames where speed and efficiency are crucial, and higher-cost cards may slow you down.


Reasons to Include Fungus Sliver in Your Collection

Versatility: Fungus Sliver offers a unique ability to bolster your Sliver army consistently, seamlessly melding into any Sliver-focused deck. Due to its nature of strengthening fellow Slivers, it can adapt and thrive in a multitude of game scenarios.

Combo Potential: When combined with other Slivers, Fungus Sliver transforms each skirmish into an opportunity, creating a formidable board presence through +1/+1 counters that accumulates over time, turning your Slivers into an unstoppable force.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment filled with creature-based strategies, this card’s intrinsic synergy with like-minded Slivers not only fortifies your board against numerous threats but also aligns well with the ever-evolving player dynamics, ensuring its place in both casual and competitive circles.


How to beat

Fungus Sliver is an intriguing creature card that can quickly become a formidable opponent on the battlefield. This card possesses the unique ability to bolster every Sliver, giving it the potential to create an overwhelming Sliver army. One effective strategy to counteract Fungus Sliver is to remove it before its effect can accumulate. Targeted removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Murder, can effectively dispatch this threat before it propagates.

Board wipes are another efficient response to Fungus Sliver. By using spells like Wrath of God or Damnation, players can reset the playing field and neutralize the growing Sliver threat. It’s also advisable to prevent Fungus Sliver from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Counterspells, such as Counterspell or Mana Leak, serve as excellent defensive measures to keep this card from ever coming into play.

Moreover, preventing Slivers from benefiting from Fungus Sliver’s abilities by employing cards that restrict creature abilities, such as Cursed Totem or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can sever the synergy this creature looks to exploit. Minimizing the Sliver advantage is key in maintaining control over the game’s tempo against a Sliver-centric opponent.


BurnMana Recommendations

Beyond individual card analysis, MTG thrives on the connections between cards and players. Fungus Sliver highlights this interplay, enhancing your Sliver strategy and prompting a growth in deck-building techniques. Its unique standing amidst other Slivers adds to the dynamic nature of the game, making it a card worth considering for your collection. To take full advantage of its potential, we encourage you to dive deeper into the Sliver archetype and explore the myriad ways to optimize your playstyle. Mastering the art of adaptation and synergy is crucial in MTG. Elevate your game and build an unbeatable Sliver legion – start by learning more with us today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fungus Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Premium Deck Series: Slivers, 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 Fungus Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fungus Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Daniel Gelon.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 1952003NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
22009-11-20Premium Deck Series: SliversH09 212003NormalBlackDaniel Gelon
32021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 2032015NormalBlackDaniel Gelon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fungus Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fungus Sliver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2013-07-01 Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2013-07-01 If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures.
2021-03-19 If multiple sources deal damage to a Sliver at the same time and that Sliver survives the damage, it gets only one +1/+1 counter despite its impressive efforts.