Malignus MTG Card


Malignus can offer game-ending power, turning opponent life totals into a weapon. The card’s specific mana constraints may limit deck versatility and strategy. Include Malignus in your collection for its power to counter high life total decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Elemental Spirit
Power *
Toughness *

Text of card

Malignus's power and toughness are each equal to half the highest life total among your opponents, rounded up. Damage that would be dealt by Malignus can't be prevented.

It descended on Estwald like a sudden storm. Moments later, only ashes and agony remained.


Cards like Malignus

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, the Malignus card presents a unique threat on the battlefield. Its power and toughness are each equal to half the life total of the opponent with the highest life total, rounded up. This makes it somewhat akin to cards like Serra Avatar, whose power and toughness are directly equal to your life total. Unlike Malignus’s focus on the opponent’s life, Serra Avatar turns your own high life total into offensive potential.

Another similar menace is Realm Seekers, which enters the battlefield with power and toughness each equal to the total number of cards in all players’ hands. While Realm Seekers’ strength is determined by card count rather than life totals, it can also become a dominant force like Malignus. However, Malignus boasts an additional menacing ability; damage that would be dealt by Malignus can’t be prevented, making it a fearsome creature for delivering unblockable damage, setting it apart from many similar cards.

Through comparison, Malignus embodies a unique approach to leveraging opponents’ life totals directly against them, offering an interesting dynamic that differentiates it from other creatures in Magic: The Gathering and adds a strategic element to gameplay.

Serra Avatar - MTG Card versions
Realm Seekers - MTG Card versions
Serra Avatar - MTG Card versions
Realm Seekers - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Malignus by color, type and mana cost

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Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions
Hunted Dragon - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When delving into the abilities of Malignus, card advantage might seem atypical. Unlike traditional draw mechanics, this formidable creature’s ability to potentially halve an opponent’s life total in one swift blow can lead to a significant advantage. This can translate to requiring fewer cards to close out the game, as Malignus itself can quickly become the focal threat that must be answered.

Resource Acceleration: While Malignus doesn’t directly provide mana or resource acceleration, its sheer presence demands immediate answers. This can indirectly accelerate your game plan by exhausting your opponent’s resources in dealing with it. Every removal spent on Malignus is one less the opponent has for your other threats, effectively hastening your strategy.

Instant Speed: Malignus might not operate at instant speed, but its implications on the board are immediate. This power is evident when considering its interaction with effects that grant it haste or when it surprises opponents via means such as “Sneak Attack”. The instant impact it has on life totals can often be as disruptive as any instant-speed interaction, forcing opponents to play differently just by its mere potential to come into play.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Malignus can be a nuanced strategy, as it does not have an inherent discard ability. However, if your strategy relies on card synergy that requires discarding, Malignus may not align well, potentially creating a conflict in deck mechanics.

Specific Mana Cost: Malignus requires a split mana cost, half of which is Red. This demand can pigeonhole the card into Red-aligned or Red-heavy decks, limiting its versatility in multi-color decks that may not prioritize Red mana generation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of 3RR (five mana with two required as Red), Malignus comes with a substantial mana investment. Considering the dynamic MTG landscape, there are alternatives that may offer more immediate board presence or impact for a similar or lower mana cost, potentially making Malignus a less efficient choice in certain situations or deck builds.


Reasons to Include Malignus in Your Collection

Versatility: Malignus is a versatile powerhouse that can be a game-changer in Commander format due to its ability to adapt to the ever-fluctuating life totals in multiplayer games. Its power and toughness are always half the highest life total among your opponents, which makes it a consistently potent force on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: In combination-focused decks, this creature’s damage output can be devastating. Paired with damage amplifiers or effects that assign damage as though it weren’t blocked, Malignus becomes a lethal threat that can slice through an opponent’s life total, bypassing traditional defensive measures.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where life gain decks are prevalent, Malignus holds great value. As opponents increase their life totals, this card’s strength similarly grows, allowing it to serve as a formidable answer to such strategies. By ensuring its power scales with the game’s progression, it retains relevance regardless of the board state dynamics.


How to Beat

Overcoming the formidable Malignus in MTG often requires a strategic mix of removal and prevention. This half-star junky is not only resistant to many forms of spot removal due to its untouchable power but also tends to deal damage in a big way by recognizing the least life total among your opponents. A highly-effective approach involves employing instant-speed removal spells that can bypass the typical damage reduction abilities, such as Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization. Additionally, utilizing effects that change the rules of engagement, like Ensnaring Bridge, which can keep Malignus at bay by preventing it from attacking players with fewer cards in hand, proves invaluable.

Counteracting Malignus also entails a proactive defense game. Cards like life gain spells or continuous life buffs dramatically shift Malignus’ effectiveness. Additionally, ensuring card advantage and board position with tools like board wipes or targeted exile spells can spell the difference between victory and defeat. Through deploying smart defensive tactics and keeping a suite of versatile responses, players find themselves well-positioned to outmaneuver the might of Malignus on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unleashing the full potential of Malignus in your MTG arsenal requires strategic insight and a willingness to harness its raw power. Understanding its pros and cons, as well as the strategic recommendations to include it in your collection, you’re better equipped to make Malignus a staple in your confrontations. Dive deeper into tailoring your deck to support this unique card, leaning into its combo potential and meta advantages for a triumphant strategy in your next match. For savvy players looking to gain an edge, further explore advanced tactics and optimize your playstyle in our comprehensive insights. Unlock the secrets of Malignus and fortify your collection for ultimate dominance in the arena.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Malignus MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and The List, 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 Malignus and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Malignus Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2012-05-04. Illustrated by Jung Park.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 1482003NormalBlackJung Park
22020-09-26The ListPLST AVR-1482003NormalBlackJung Park

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Malignus has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2012-05-01 If Malignus becomes blocked by a creature with protection from red, the damage Malignus deals to that creature won’t be prevented.