Spread the Sickness MTG Card


‘Spread the Sickness’ removes threats and proliferates, shifting game momentum in your favor. The sacrifice requirement and specific mana costs can limit the card’s versatility in some decks. Its utility in counter-centric strategies makes it a valuable addition for certain meta plays.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Proliferate

Text of card

Destroy target creature, then proliferate. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there.)

Life is ephemeral. Phyrexia is eternal.


Cards like Spread the Sickness

Spread the Sickness offers a unique multifaceted utility in the realm of MTG black spells. It bears resemblance to cards like Murder, which also provides a straightforward solution to remove creatures from the battlefield. Where Spread the Sickness edges ahead is in its proliferate mechanic, allowing a player to add more of any type of counters already present on the field, not just affecting creatures but potentially sabotaging your opponents’ strategies.

Another analogous card is Grim Affliction, which not only puts a -1/-1 counter on a target creature but also proliferates, much like Spread the Sickness. However, Grim Affliction stands as a more mana-efficient option. On the flip side, there’s Incremental Blight, which distributes three -1/-1 counters over up to three target creatures and then progresses no further. While this spell doesn’t offer proliferation, it does affect multiple creatures at once, which can be a strategic advantage.

Assessing these comparisons, Spread the Sickness holds its own within the MTG library as a card capable of turning the tides of the game—not only by removing key threats but also by amplifying existing counters to cultivate an overwhelming presence on the battlefield.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Grim Affliction - MTG Card versions
Incremental Blight - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Grim Affliction - MTG Card versions
Incremental Blight - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Spread the Sickness by color, type and mana cost

Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Promise of Power - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Incremental Blight - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Plague - MTG Card versions
Monomania - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Revelation - MTG Card versions
Crux of Fate - MTG Card versions
Fugue - MTG Card versions
Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Promise of Power - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Incremental Blight - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Plague - MTG Card versions
Monomania - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Revelation - MTG Card versions
Crux of Fate - MTG Card versions
Fugue - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spread the Sickness shines by enabling you to remove a threat while potentially proliferating your own advantageous counters, tipping the scale in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Though not direct resource acceleration, the card synergizes well with decks that use -1/-1 counters or other counter types, enhancing the value of your existing permanents and resources.

Instant Speed: Despite its sorcery speed, the strategic timing of its casting can work as a setup for instant-speed interactions in your next turns, making it a tactical play in your game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spread the Sickness requires sacrificing a creature as part of its proliferate mechanic. For players without expendable creatures, this can turn into a significant setback, reducing the card’s overall effectiveness in their deck’s strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Spread the Sickness involves both generic and black mana, demanding a heavy commitment in black mana sources. This specificity restricts deck building, as it isn’t as flexible for multicolor decks that may not prioritize black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a five mana cost that includes four generic and one black, Spread the Sickness is on the higher end for single-target removal spells. While the added benefit of proliferating counters is valuable, many MTG players might opt for cheaper alternatives that offer more immediate board impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spread the Sickness offers a dynamic role in decks that emphasize proliferate mechanics or require targeted removal. Its ability to place additional counters on the board can be leveraged in various strategies, enhancing its utility across multiple deck types.

Combo Potential: This card has innate synergy with decks that revolve around counters, enabling creative combinations by multiplying anything from +1/+1 counters to energy counters, intensifying the impact of your strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that prioritizes the longevity and progression of board states, Spread the Sickness can serve as a crucial tool. Its capacity for controlling opponent creatures while advancing your board position keeps it relevant in various competitive formats.


How to beat

Spread the Sickness is a powerful removal card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to eliminate threats on the board while also proliferating their own beneficial counters. When up against this card, it’s essential to utilize creatures with hexproof or protection from black to avoid being targeted by its deadly effect. Another strategy is to play lower-cost creatures, diversifying threats on the board to minimize the impact of the five-mana cost removal.

Counterspells should also be considered when playing against decks that might run Spread the Sickness. By keeping mana open, players can prevent the spell from resolving, protecting their key creatures and maintaining board presence. Finally, instant-speed removal and sacrifice effects can be employed effectively by removing important creatures as a response to the spell, rendering the proliferation aspect futile since there would be no target for the mechanic to affect.

Adapting to removal-heavy decks that include Spread the Sickness requires a combination of foresight, strategic planning, and timely execution to ensure your creatures survive or that their loss doesn’t heavily impact your route to victory. Always anticipate this maneuver when playing against black control decks, and adjust your gameplay to increase your resilience against such potent removal spells.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding MTG card dynamics is key to refining your deck’s strategy. Spread the Sickness presents a multifaceted tool that can swing the momentum in your favor with its targeted removal and counter proliferation capabilities. Whether it’s bolstering your existing counters or innovating new combos, mastering the card’s potential can be a game-changer. This mix of adaptive utility and tactical depth is what makes it a compelling consideration for collectors and players alike. Are you ready to enhance your MTG collection with cards that not only challenge your opponents but also expand your gameplay horizons? Dive deeper with us and discover advanced strategies to optimize your MTG deck’s performance.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spread the Sickness MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged and Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia, 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 Spread the Sickness and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spread the Sickness Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2015-05-22. Illustrated by Jaime Jones.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-02-04Mirrodin BesiegedMBS 562003NormalBlackJaime Jones
22011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 792003NormalBlackJaime Jones
32015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 982015NormalBlackJaime Jones

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spread the Sickness has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2011-06-01 If the creature is an illegal target when Spread the Sickness tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t proliferate.
2013-07-01 If the creature regenerates or has indestructible when Spread the Sickness resolves, you’ll still proliferate.