Prologue to Phyresis MTG Card


Offers card advantage and accelerates resources, making it a dynamic tool for shaping strategic plays. Instant speed enables reactive gameplay, giving players a significant tactical edge during matches. Demand for specific mana and potential resource loss are notable cons, testing deck versatility.
Prologue to Phyresis - Phyrexia: All Will Be One
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2023-02-03
Set symbol
Set namePhyrexia: All Will Be One
Set codeONE
Number65
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred bySimon Dominic

Text of card

Each opponent gets a poison counter. Draw a card.

"Please, for science, tell me how it feels. Leave nothing out."


Cards like Prologue to Phyresis

Prologue to Phyresis offers a unique twist within the theme of proliferate in MTG. It bears similarities to cards such as Contagion Clasp, which also allows for the spreading of counters across the battlefield. Prologue to Phyresis, however, enables a single, massive proliferate event, impacting all types of counters, which could be potentially game-winning.

Thrummingbird is another close relative in this proliferate family, with a flying creature providing recurring counter additions whenever it deals combat damage to a player. While Thrummingbird’s effect is more incremental than the sweeping impact of Prologue to Phyresis, it shines by offering consistent pressure and counter accumulation over time. Another card that echoes this mechanism is Tezzeret’s Gambit, granting card draw in addition to the proliferate ability, though requiring a Phyrexian mana payment or the conventional four mana to play.

Considering the landscape of proliferate options within MTG, Prologue to Phyresis emerges as a potent card, especially in scenarios favoring a grandiose shift in the distribution of counters. The card is instrumental in decks that can capitalize on its one-time yet widespread influence over the state of the game.

Contagion Clasp - MTG Card versions
Thrummingbird - MTG Card versions
Tezzeret's Gambit - MTG Card versions
Contagion Clasp - MTG Card versions
Thrummingbird - MTG Card versions
Tezzeret's Gambit - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Prologue to Phyresis by color, type and mana cost

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
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Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Flash Counter - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Hurkyl's Recall - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions
Lat-Nam's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Flash - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Updraft - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Rebound - MTG Card versions
Memory Lapse - MTG Card versions
Hoodwink - MTG Card versions
Tidal Bore - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Response - MTG Card versions
Aether Burst - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Snap - MTG Card versions
Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Flash Counter - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
UBGUBG PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-03-10
URGURG PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-14
Esper PoisonEsper Poison StandardEsper PoisonStandard League 2024-03-27
Dimir PoisonDimir Poison StandardDimir PoisonTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 4, 2024
Simic HeroicSimic Heroic StandardSimic HeroicTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 25, 2024
Turbo FogTurbo Fog PauperTurbo FogPauper Challenge 32 2024-03-17

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Prologue to Phyresis allows players to sift through their library effectively, finding the key pieces they need to assert dominance on the battlefield while simultaneously edging closer to that crucial poison counter victory.

Resource Acceleration: By offering a peek at the top seven cards and the ability to put a Phyrexian card from among them into your hand, this card can significantly accelerate your game plan, ensuring your resources outpace those of your opponents.

Instant Speed: The fact that Prologue to Phyresis can be played at instant speed gives players the flexibility to adapt to the fluid dynamics of the game, responding to opponents’ actions with precision and turning the tide with the element of surprise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to playing Prologue to Phyresis is the necessity to discard a valuable card from your hand. This can often put you at a resource disadvantage, especially when you have a hand with pivotal pieces to your overall strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: With its Phyrexian mana in the cost, Prologue to Phyresis demands an exact color commitment or a payment in life. This cost can be restrictive, potentially hampering the card’s compatibility with a variety of decks and diluting its versatility across multiple formats.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its entry on the battlefield demanding three mana, Prologue to Phyresis sits at a higher mana echelon. Considering the current meta and the variety of spells available, this could make the card less appealing to players looking for more cost-effective ways to impact the board state or advance their game plan.


Reasons to Include Prologue to Phyresis in Your Collection

Versatility: Prologue to Phyresis offers flexibility to decks aiming to manipulate life totals. It’s useful in a variety of builds, particularly those seeking to take advantage of poison counters or proliferate effects.

Combo Potential: This card opens up a plethora of combo possibilities, easily sliding into strategies centered around infect mechanics or utilizing poison counters to quickly overrun opponents.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that can sometimes be defined by life-gain and creature-based tactics, Prologue to Phyresis provides a different angle of attack that can catch unprepared players off guard and shift the balance in your favor.


How to beat

Prologue to Phyresis introduces a unique puzzle for players to solve within the game. Leveraging a combination of life-gain strategies, removal spells, and well-timed counter magic is often the key to mitigating its impact. Cards that can boost your life total beyond the threshold posed by its proliferate effect can serve as a buffer, preserving your standing in the match. Cards such as Heroes’ Reunion or Kitchen Finks come to mind, ensuring that your life total is less susceptible to the incremental poison counters that Prologue to Phyresis aims to exploit.

Disruption also plays a pivotal role in keeping the card at bay. Efficient removal spells, like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, can effectively handle creatures that are meant to benefit from the proliferating counters, stifling an opponent’s strategy before it gains momentum. Additionally, countering the spell outright with options like Mana Leak or Negate can prevent the predicament altogether, though timing is crucial due to the sorcery’s relatively low mana cost.

Adapting your game plan and maintaining a keen awareness of the board state can turn the tide against Prologue to Phyresis. By employing these tactics, one can keep their opponent’s poison-based strategies in check and maintain dominance throughout the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG lineup with strategic card choices can make all the difference on the battlefield. If Prologue to Phyresis has caught your attention, it’s clear you appreciate the subtleties of strategy and the thrill of a well-executed plan. Reflecting on its pros and cons, consider how it might synergize with your current deck or inspire a new one entirely. Looking to enrich your collection with this unique card? Explore further insights and deepen your understanding of its potential to escalate your game. With us, discover advanced plays and refine your deck to outmatch the competition. Learn more with BurnMana and forge your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Prologue to Phyresis MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Prologue to Phyresis and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Prologue to Phyresis has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal