Caress of Phyrexia MTG Card


Offers card advantage, drawing three cards which can dramatically alter a player’s tactical momentum. Demands strategic timing due to instant speed, allowing for unexpected plays and board manipulation. The five-mana cost and discard condition present strategic hurdles that demand careful deck integration.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Target player draws three cards, loses 3 life, and gets three poison counters.

"I am weak. Make . . . me . . . ideal."


Cards like Caress of Phyrexia

Caress of Phyrexia oils the wheels of gameplay in Magic: The Gathering with its sinister mechanics. This card mirrors the functionality of other black spells that offer a trade between life and advantage, akin to Sign in Blood. What distinguishes Caress of Phyrexia is its option to target a player, causing loss of life alongside drawing cards, akin to the often used Pain’s Reward, yet it exchanges immediate pain for a gradual, albeit certain doom through poison counters.

Likewise, Phyrexian Arena stands as a testament to the black color pie’s philosophy of power at a price. While it offers sustained card draw, it lacks the instant depth provided by Caress of Phyrexia, although it foregoes the poison mechanic, favoring life loss over several turns instead. Glistening Oil is another relative in this family of Phyrexian nastiness, delivering poison counters directly to creatures, with card advantage taking a backseat to board control.

Ultimately, in the unforgiving world of Magic: The Gathering, Caress of Phyrexia presents a unique blend of risk and reward that makes it a devious choice for players who wish to gradually tip the scales of the game while cementing their Phyrexian legacy.

Sign in Blood - MTG Card versions
Pain's Reward - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Glistening Oil - MTG Card versions
Sign in Blood - MTG Card versions
Pain's Reward - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Glistening Oil - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Caress of Phyrexia 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
Coveted Prize - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Vicious Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Voices from the Void - 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
Spread the Sickness - 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
Coveted Prize - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Vicious Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Voices from the Void - 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
Spread the Sickness - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Caress of Phyrexia, players unearth significant card advantage by drawing three cards, fueling strategic depth and hand replenishment that can pivot the tides of any match.

Resource Acceleration: While this spell doesn’t directly provide traditional mana acceleration, it efficiently refines a player’s resources by infusing their hand with additional options, enhancing their ability to respond to the evolving board state.

Instant Speed: Its instant speed capability enables surprise plays and strategic reactions. This flexibility allows players to optimize their tactics, holding back on casting until the most opportune moment arises, thereby keeping opponents on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the hurdles players face with Caress of Phyrexia is its discard condition. Casting it means you’ll have to pitch another card from your hand, which can be a tough pill to swallow, especially if your hand is already running low on options.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Caress of Phyrexia is quite specific, requiring not just three black mana but also two additional mana of any color. This specificity could restrict its inclusion in decks that are not built around a strong black mana base or multicolor decks that struggle to produce triple black mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana value of five, Caress of Phyrexia’s cost is on the steep side when considering other options in the card pool. This cost is pivotal to consider because, in Magic the Gathering, efficiently allocating mana resources is critical for maintaining tempo and control within the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Caress of Phyrexia offers a rare blend of life loss, card advantage, and poison counter distribution, fitting seamlessly into decks looking to capitalize on multiple axes of attack.

Combo Potential: This card has the inherent ability to synchronize with strategies focused on proliferate mechanics or infect decks, amplifying the potency of poison counters on your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Within a metagame that favors long games and incremental advantages, Caress of Phyrexia can tilt the balance in your favor by exhausting opponents’ resources while bolstering your own position with additional cards.


How to beat

Caress of Phyrexia is a spell that showcases the tenacious nature of poison counters in Magic: The Gathering, bringing a unique challenge to the battlefield. Players facing off against this card must be prepared with strategies to counteract its potent effects. Staying ahead of the game with a robust life total and using cards that remove or negate poison counters can disrupt its impact. Swift and decisive plays such as countering it directly with spells like Dispel, or removing it from the graveyard before it’s reanimated with cards like Tormod’s Crypt can prevent the tide-turning five poison counters from overwhelming you.

Utilizing artifact destruction spells, or leaning on enchantment removal like Naturalize are also effective ways to dismantle the benefits Caress of Phyrexia brings to your opponent. Leverage exile mechanics or graveyard hate cards to neutralize the threat it poses, and keep your deck flush with these options alongside versatile responses so you can maintain control. Overall, the key is to anticipate and prepare for cards like Caress of Phyrexia, ensuring its attempt to tip the scales in your opponent’s favor ultimately falls short.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth Caress of Phyrexia brings to MTG is undeniable. Whether you’re harnessing its power for card advantage or integrating it into a complex infect strategy, this card can be a game-changer. The key lies in its optimal use, mindful of its mana demands and the trade-offs it requires. If you’re looking to refine your deck’s edge or seeking new avenues to challenge your opponents, Caress of Phyrexia might just be the addition you need. Delve deeper into its potential and discover how to effectively wield this and similar cards in your arsenal. Enhance your gameplay today and make each match a testament to strategy and foresight.


Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Caress of Phyrexia Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-05-13 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-05-13New PhyrexiaNPH 532003NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 922015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Caress of Phyrexia has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal