Signal Pest MTG Card


Signal Pest indirectly supports card advantage by bolstering creature strength, which deters opponent blocks. Acts as an accelerator in aggressive strategies, increasing damage output to hasten victory. Its evasion ability provides flexibility, ensuring consistent threat every combat phase.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Pest
Abilities Battle Cry
Power 0
Toughness 1

Text of card

Battle cry (Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.) Signal Pest can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.

It leaps from tree to tree, revealing the enemy's positions.


Cards like Signal Pest

Signal Pest is an intriguing card within the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering’s aggressive creatures. Its unique ability to boost other creatures with battle cry has notable parallels to other cards, such as Goblin Bushwhacker, which also offers a temporary boost to your creature lineup but requires a kicker cost to activate its ability. However, Signal Pest provides a consistent advantage each turn without additional mana investment, making it a stealthy powerhouse in aggro decks.

Legion Loyalist presents another point of comparison, as it grants first strike and trample to your attacking creatures when battalion is triggered. While both creatures bolster your attacking force, Signal Pest’s evasion allows it to support your army without getting caught in combat. Conversely, Adaptive Automaton can be considered a more versatile but more expensive alternative, as its ability to choose a creature type when it enters the battlefield provides a synergy with the chosen type, similar to Signal Pest’s boost to different creature types.

Ultimately, while each card offers their own strategic benefits to a swarm strategy, Signal Pest stands out through its evasion and consistent team-buffing capabilities at a low cost, solidifying its role in decks looking to overwhelm opponents quickly.

Goblin Bushwhacker - MTG Card versions
Legion Loyalist - MTG Card versions
Adaptive Automaton - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bushwhacker - MTG Card versions
Legion Loyalist - MTG Card versions
Adaptive Automaton - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Signal Pest by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Signal Pest itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its Battle Cry ability indirectly contributes to card advantage by boosting the power of your other creatures and potentially deterring blocks, which can lead to more effective and enduring board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Signal Pest can be a vital part of an aggressive strategy, acting as an accelerant by amplifying the damage output of each creature you control. This can lead to faster games and less time for your opponent to stabilize, providing a form of tempo acceleration.

Instant Speed: Although Signal Pest operates at sorcery speed, its ability to attack and evade most traditional removal methods due to its evasion (can’t be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach) mirrors the flexibility often associated with instant speed interactions, presenting a relentless threat each combat phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Signal Pest card does not have a discard requirement. This metric is not applicable to Signal Pest as it doesn’t require you to discard a card to reap its benefits.

Specific Mana Cost: Signal Pest requires a singular colorless mana to cast, which is advantageous for inclusion across various decks without the constraint of color requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the investment of one colorless mana, Signal Pest is valued for its Battle Cry ability rather than a high mana cost. It is considered efficient within its role in artifact synergistic builds.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Signal Pest is a strong addition to any aggressive deck. Its evasion ability, Battle Cry, allows it to support various deck archetypes by consistently dealing damage and boosting your attacking creatures.

Combo Potential: Its ability to buff other creatures gives it a natural place in synergy-driven decks. Whether you’re amping up an artifact-centric theme or simply stacking buffs in an aggro build, Signal Pest plays well with others.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that lack aerial blockers or those reliant on spot removal, Signal Pest can be a persistent threat. Its low mana cost also means it hits the board early, aligning well with the pace of various metas where quick starts are key.


How to beat

Signal Pest is an evasive threat in MTG that buffs up an attacking army with its battle cry ability. To effectively tackle this nuisance, consider employing creature removals that don’t rely on targeting such as board wipes or spells that can deal damage to each creature your opponent controls. Spot removals that do not specify “target creature with flying” can also be useful, as Signal Pest can only block creatures with flying despite its own evasion.

Another strategy is to strengthen your board presence with larger creatures that can withstand the boosted attack from your opponent’s creatures influenced by Signal Pest’s ability. Including blockers with reach in your deck can also provide a defensive measure against this menace. Fast-paced aggro decks that can outrace Signal Pest’s enhancements often force the opponent into defensive mode, undermining Signal Pest’s offensive contributions.

Lastly, always keep an eye on potentially powerful combos this little artifact creature might enable. Swift and efficient actions against Signal Pest can often disrupt your opponent’s synergistic plays, giving you the upper hand. Always remember that despite its power to boost an army, Signal Pest itself remains a delicate creature easily handled with the right strategy.


BurnMana Recommendations

As a thriving MTG player, your deck’s composition can turn the tides of any match. Signal Pest is a small but mighty force that can bolster your aggressive strategies and lend invaluable support to your creatures. Its evasion makes it a subtle yet persistent threat, ideal for those who favor rapid-fire plays. If you’re looking to enhance your artifact or aggro deck builds, consider this unassuming powerhouse. Keen to discover more about Signal Pest’s potential and how it could be a game-changer in your collection? Dive in with us for deeper insights and tips to optimize your playstyle.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Signal Pest MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and DCI Promos, 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 Signal Pest and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Signal Pest Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-01-02 and 2011-02-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 396482003NormalBlackChippy
22006-01-02DCI PromosPDCI 662003NormalBlackChippy
32011-02-04Mirrodin BesiegedMBS 1312003NormalBlackMark Zug

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Signal Pest has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal