Smallpox MTG Card


Turn Smallpox’s symmetric effect into card advantage with a tailored deck build. It can level the playing field by balancing resources through land sacrifice. Effective timing of Smallpox plays can disrupt opponents in the early game.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Each player loses 1 life, discards a card, sacrifices a creature, then sacrifices a land.

"Great losses often bring only a numb shock. To truly plunge a victim into misery, you must overwhelm him with many small sufferings." —Ratadrabik of Urborg


Cards like Smallpox

Smallpox has carved its niche in Magic the Gathering as a potent disruption tool, standing out in decks that aim to systematically dismantle an opponent’s strategy. Its power comes from forcing each player to sacrifice a creature, discard a card, lose one life, and sacrifice a land, thus affecting all aspects of the game. It is similar in spirit to Pox, the card from which it derives its name. Both cards aim to create a resource imbalance, but Smallpox is less devastating than Pox, requiring smaller sacrifices at a lower mana cost, making it a more manageable but still impactful play.

Another card that echoes the balanced trade-off of Smallpox is Hymn to Tourach. Although it doesn’t impact the board by forcing a sacrifice, it targets an opponent’s hand, with the potential to discard two cards at random, stripping away strategic options. Lastly, Innocent Blood is another card offering creature sacrifice without targeting, but unlike Smallpox, it is limited to creatures and excludes the additional layers of sacrifice and life loss.

Deciding which of these similar cards to include in a deck comes down to the specific strategy and the desired level of disruption. While Smallpox affects multiple resource types, its counterparts can be more specialized, focusing on either hand disruption or creature sacrifice.

Pox - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Innocent Blood - MTG Card versions
Pox - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Innocent Blood - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Smallpox by color, type and mana cost

Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Black PoxMono-Black Pox LegacyMono-Black PoxLegacy League 2024-03-25
8-Rack8-Rack Modern8-RackModern League 2024-04-22
Orzhov MidrangeOrzhov Midrange ModernOrzhov MidrangeModern League 2024-03-27
SmallpoxSmallpox ModernSmallpoxModern Preliminary 2024-04-01 (1)
Mono-Black ControlMono-Black Control LegacyLegacy Easter eggs
4c Midrange4c Midrange Modern4c MidrangeModern League 2024-04-12
Golgari LoamGolgari Loam Legacy3 Etapa - 3 Liga Legacy Jundia
Mono-Black MidrangeMono-Black Midrange ModernMono-Black MidrangeModern Challenge 64 2024-03-24
Orzhov SmallpoxOrzhov Smallpox ModernMardu MidrangeModern League Week 12

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Smallpox leads to each player losing a card, a creature, and a land. This can translate to card advantage for the player who builds their deck to mitigate these losses, turning the tide in their favor.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct accelerator, Smallpox can act as a resource balancer. By forcing each player to sacrifice a land, those who recover from land loss quicker gain a significant advantage in resource progression.

Instant Speed: While Smallpox is a sorcery, its strength lies in the ability to disrupt opponents at a crucial early juncture, potentially at a time when instant-speed reactions are not yet available or limited.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Smallpox card mandates that both you and your opponent discard a card, potentially disrupting your game plan especially in situations where your hand is crucial for forthcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Smallpox requires one swamp and one generic mana, restricting its usage to decks that can reliably generate black mana in the early turns of the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While costing only two mana, Smallpox’s symmetrical effect also affects the casting player, requiring careful timing to ensure it doesn’t backfire by hindering your own board state more than your opponent’s.


Reasons to Include Smallpox in Your Collection

Versatility: Smallpox is a card that can find a place in various deck types, widening the strategies you can deploy. It forces each player to sacrifice a creature, discard a card, lose 1 life, and sacrifice a land, impacting multiple facets of gameplay.

Combo Potential: The symmetric effect of Smallpox can be manipulated to your advantage in decks built around sacrifice and graveyard synergies. Combining Smallpox with cards that benefit from discard or creature death can turn its balanced effect into a targeted disruption.

Meta-Relevance: In games where the board state quickly escalates or decks rely heavily on perfect mana curves, Smallpox can drastically shift the momentum in your favor. It disrupts early game plans and can set back opponents significantly if played at the right moment.


How to beat

Smallpox is a potent card that can be difficult to navigate in MTG. Its strength lies in the equal sacrifice it demands from each player, impacting life totals, creatures, and land resources. To effectively counter this card, it’s essential to maintain card advantage and play conservatively, holding back critical resources until after Smallpox has been played. Cards with resilience or abilities that activate upon entering the graveyard, such as undying or persist creatures, can provide some protection against its effects.

Another tactic is leveraging graveyard retrieval cards that allow you to recover from the loss of a valuable creature or land. Furthermore, playing lands that don’t mind being sacrificed, like those with landfall abilities or those that can be returned from the graveyard, helps mitigate Smallpox’s impact on your mana base. Adopting a strategy to minimize Smallpox’s disruption can keep you ahead in the game. Ultimately, timely and strategic play, along with a deck resilient to forced sacrifice, are your best tools in turning the tide against Smallpox.


BurnMana Recommendations

Smallpox has a unique place in MTG, serving as a powerful disruption tool that can significantly alter the course of a game. Deck builders who skillfully incorporate this spell find that it can tilt resource balance in their favor. If you’re intrigued by its potential to disrupt, balance, and challenge both you and your opponents, further exploration of this card’s strategic depth is warranted. With careful integration into your decks, Smallpox can become a formidable weapon in your arsenal. For players eager to master the intricacies of this complex spell and optimize their gameplay, our platform offers in-depth guides and insights. Elevate your strategy—discover how to utilize Smallpox to full effect and outmaneuver your opponents with finesse.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Smallpox MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Magic 2012, 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 Smallpox and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Smallpox Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 1312003NormalBlackJanine Johnston
22011-07-15Magic 2012M12 1082003NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
32014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1252003NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
42016-09-02Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob NixilisDDR 612015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
52021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1392015NormalBlackJanine Johnston

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Smallpox has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-03-19 Any abilities of the lands sacrificed may modify or trigger on the creatures being sacrificed and on the cards being discarded. Abilities of the creatures won’t modify or trigger on the lands being sacrificed, but may modify or trigger on the cards being discarded.
2021-03-19 Any abilities that trigger while Smallpox is resolving will wait to be put onto the stack until Smallpox is done resolving.
2021-03-19 As Smallpox resolves, first each player loses 1 life at the same time. Next, each player chooses a card in hand without revealing it, then all of the cards are discarded at the same time. Then starting with the player whose turn it is and proceeding in turn order, each player chooses a creature, knowing the choices made before them. All of the creatures are sacrificed at the same time, then finally repeat this process for lands.