Phyrexian Plaguelord MTG Card


Plaguelord transforms creature loss into strategic advantage, disrupting opponent plays and fortifying your board. Instant-speed ability offers flexibility, making it a potent tool for real-time tactical decisions. While strong in aristocrat decks, its mana cost and sacrifice requirement limit its versatility.
Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Carrier
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

oc T, Sacrifice Phyrexian Plaguelord: Target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn. Sacrifice a creature: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

"The final stage of the illness: delirium, convulsions, and death." —Phyrexian progress notes


Cards like Phyrexian Plaguelord

In examining Phyrexian Plaguelord’s role within Magic: The Gathering, we see its multifaceted utility as both a creature and a means of controlling the battlefield. Phyrexian Plaguelord shares some common ground with the infamous Nantuko Husk, as both creatures offer the ability to sacrifice other creatures to bolster their own power. However, Phyrexian Plaguelord stands out due to its capability to target creatures or players, exerting pressure through direct life loss.

Viscera Seer is another creature that operates on similar mechanics, allowing sacrifice for the scry ability, thus granting card quality advantage instead of applying offensive pressure. Carrion Feeder, a classic from the Zombie tribe, also presents an avenue for creature sacrifice, growing stronger with every creature consigned. Unlike Phyrexian Plaguelord, it doesn’t have the additional layer of tactical removal but comes at a substantially lower cost.

Conclusively, Phyrexian Plaguelord remains a versatile tool in the MTG arsenal, adept in manipulating the board state through sacrificial mechanics. It’s a testament to its enduring relevance in formats where removal and creature size manipulation can dictate the flow of the game.

Nantuko Husk - MTG Card versions
Viscera Seer - MTG Card versions
Carrion Feeder - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Husk - MTG Card versions
Viscera Seer - MTG Card versions
Carrion Feeder - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Phyrexian Plaguelord by color, type and mana cost

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Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Sengir Vampire - MTG Card versions
Hollow Dogs - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Phyrexian Plaguelord. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Phyrexian Plaguelord, you tap into self-sacrifice mechanics, potentially turning your creatures into tactical advantages. This act can disrupt opponents’ strategies while empowering your board state. In essence, creatures become tools for controlling the game, and even in their loss, they contribute to your overarching strategy.

Resource Acceleration: The Plaguelord can be a crucial cog in the engine of an aristocrats-style deck where creatures are a resource. Sacrificing creatures can advance your game faster than normal summoning would allow, by enabling death-triggered abilities and hastening the development of your battlefield prowess.

Instant Speed: This card delivers power at instant speed, providing you with the flexibility to react dynamically to the flow of the game. Whether it’s disrupting an opponent’s combat phase or finessing your own end-of-turn positioning, the instant-speed sacrifice ability ensures that you always have the potential for a tactical edge up your sleeve.

Understanding and utilizing Phyrexian Plaguelord’s abilities can significantly shape the match in your favor, making it a notable card in MTG deck building.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Phyrexian Plaguelord necessitates sacrificing a creature for its activated ability. This cost can be detrimental if you’re low on creatures or if you need to maintain a board presence against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost demands two black mana, potentially restricting the card to mono-black or heavy black decks, making it less flexible for multicolored deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of 3 colorless and 2 black mana, Phyrexian Plaguelord has a steep mana requirement when compared to other creature removal options available in the game, reducing its overall efficiency in faster-paced matches.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Phyrexian Plaguelord offers a flexible solution to many in-game situations, providing both control over the board and a way to utilize creature deaths beneficially.

Combo Potential: Its ability to sacrifice creatures can enable numerous strategic plays and interact with decks that capitalize on death triggers or graveyard mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: With changes in the meta, the Plaguelord remains relevant by offering a method to deal with indestructible or problematic creatures, keeping your plays sharp and responsive.


How to beat

Phyrexian Plaguelord stands as a formidable creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering. With the ability to sacrifice other creatures to give a creature -1/-1 until end of turn, it can disrupt your field and your game strategy. Dealing with this threat requires a mix of sharp tactics and timely card play.

To outmaneuver this menacing card, consider using instant-speed removal spells that can target and destroy the Plaguelord before its controller has the opportunity to utilize its grim ability. Cards like Path to Exile and Swords to Plowshares can exile it from the game, ensuring it doesn’t get the chance to affect the board state. Additionally, countering it upon casting with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent it from entering the battlefield at all.

Beyond direct counters or removals, maintaining card advantage and board presence will pressure your opponent and reduce the impact of the Phyrexian Plaguelord. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation clear the field, nullifying the advantage provided by the Plaguelord’s sacrificial power. Keeping these strategies in mind will increase your chances of maintaining control and eventually triumphing over the Phyrexian horror.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phyrexian Plaguelord MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and World Championship Decks 1999, 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 Phyrexian Plaguelord and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Phyrexian Plaguelord Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-02-15Urza's LegacyULG 621997NormalBlackKev Walker
21999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 js621997NormalGoldKev Walker
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1532003NormalWhiteKev Walker
42003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 153★2003NormalBlackKev Walker
52010-03-19Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the CoalitionDDE 132003NormalBlackKev Walker
62011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 482003NormalBlackKev Walker
72015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1312015NormalBlackKev Walker
82017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 612015NormalBlackKev Walker
92019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7312015NormalBlackKev Walker
102020-09-26The ListPLST CMA-612015NormalBlackKev Walker
112022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 1232015NormalBlackRaf Kayupov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Phyrexian Plaguelord has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal