Contagion Engine MTG Card


Contagion Engine excels in delivering sustained advantages through consistent Proliferate triggers, boosting various counters. Acts as a resource accelerator, speeding up plans by increasing loyalty and charge counters on key permanents. Despite its high activation cost, its strategic flexibility makes it a powerful tool in numerous MTG decks.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeArtifact
Abilities Proliferate

Text of card

When Contagion Engine enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature target player controls. , : Proliferate, then proliferate again. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there. Then do it again.)


Cards like Contagion Engine

Contagion Engine is a unique artifact in the world of Magic the Gathering, boasting an ability to proliferate not once, but twice with each activation — a feature uncommon amongst cards with similar effects. It nestles into the niche of counters manipulation, sitting alongside the likes of Inexorable Tide, an enchantment that proliferates whenever you cast a spell. While having a broader trigger condition, Inexorable Tide can’t match the Engine’s immediate and repeatable impact on the board state.

Comparable too is Throne of Geth, another proliferate tool that requires sacrificing an artifact to activate, thereby presenting a costlier mechanism compared to Contagion Engine’s straightforward mana investment. Nonetheless, it offers a quicker and lower mana threshold for its proliferation. Moreover, Core Prowler presents a subtle approach, proliferating upon death and providing additional pressure for opponents through its creature status. Still, none rivals the targeted swathe of counter doubling that makes Contagion Engine a formidable piece in decks aimed at amassing numbers of counters rapidly.

When considering utility and strength in proliferating strategies within Magic the Gathering, Contagion Engine stands out as a powerful engine capable of altering the tide of any match with its unparalleled potential for counter multiplication.

Inexorable Tide - MTG Card versions
Throne of Geth - MTG Card versions
Core Prowler - MTG Card versions
Inexorable Tide - MTG Card versions
Throne of Geth - MTG Card versions
Core Prowler - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Contagion Engine by color, type and mana cost

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Mirror Universe - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Ages - MTG Card versions
Planar Gate - MTG Card versions
Urza's Avenger - MTG Card versions
Bronze Tablet - MTG Card versions
Celestial Sword - MTG Card versions
Voodoo Doll - MTG Card versions
Tetravus - MTG Card versions
Joven's Tools - MTG Card versions
Serpent Generator - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Sculpture - MTG Card versions
Workhorse - MTG Card versions
Well of Discovery - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Hulk - MTG Card versions
Wurmcoil Engine - MTG Card versions
Brass Herald - MTG Card versions
Mirror Golem - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Contagion Engine excels at providing incremental advantage by doubling the number of Proliferate triggers. Over the course of a game, this can lead to significant gains in counters, whether they be on creatures, players, or permanents, setting the stage for a dominant board presence.

Resource Acceleration: The engine also acts as a resource accelerator. By utilizing the Proliferate ability, it can increase the number of loyalty counters on planeswalkers or charge counters on artifacts that produce mana, thus speeding up your game plan and outpacing your opponent.

Instant Speed: While Contagion Engine itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability to interact with instant-speed mechanics like charge counters on storage lands or +1/+1 counters from instant spells amplifies its strategic value, making it a versatile tool in any matchup.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Contagion Engine doesn’t require discarding as a direct cost, its high activation fee can limit your ability to hold onto cards, effectively forcing a discard situation during tight gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Contagion Engine demands a substantial colorless mana investment, six to be precise. This requirement can be challenging for decks that aren’t geared towards producing copious amounts of colorless mana, affecting deck building and mana base decisions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial cost is on the higher side, which could leave you vulnerable as you prioritize getting Contagion Engine on the field. Other lower-cost options might provide proliferate or board control effects sooner, hence affecting the speed and rhythm of your deck’s performance.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Contagion Engine is a dynamic card that can adapt to numerous deck strategies. With its ability to manipulate counters, it can be paramount in decks focused on proliferating and enhancing creatures, planeswalkers, and even players’ poison counters for a comprehensive impact on the game.

Combo Potential: This artifact shines when combined with cards that benefit from, or contribute to, the proliferation mechanic. Creating compound interactions, it can rapidly escalate the number of counters on the battlefield, tipping the scales in favor of players who synergize with counter-based cards.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where counter-centric decks are prevalent, Contagion Engine becomes a valuable asset. Whether slowing down opponents by increasing their counters or accelerating your own board state, the significance of this powerful card should not be underestimated.


How to beat

Countering the effects of the Contagion Engine can be a strategic priority for players facing this potent artifact. In the world of Magic: The Gathering, Contagion Engine is known for its ability to proliferate not once, but twice, which can quickly tip the scales in favor of the player wielding it. This card excels in decks built around counters, be they +1/+1, loyalty, or even poison counters, which can lead to a devastating board state if left unchecked.

One effective approach to overpower this card is to utilize artifact destruction or counter cards that specifically target noncreature spells. Green offers an array of options, such as Naturalize or Krosan Grip, granting the ability to remove problematic artifacts promptly. Blue players may rely on countering the spell outright before it takes effect, using classic spells like Cancel or the more versatile Disallow that can also counter abilities. Red, ever chaotic, can utilize Shattering Spree or Vandalblast to dismantle the Contagion Engine, stalling the proliferating threat. Ensuring you have answers in your deck to remove or nullify the Engine is crucial, as it can buy you valuable time or even turn the tide of the match in your favor.

Preparedness and flexibility in your deck construction are key to overcoming the challenges posed by powerful artifacts like the Contagion Engine. Always expect the unexpected and plan your sideboard accordingly, keeping an eye out for the proliferating danger that this card represents.


BurnMana Recommendations

Contagion Engine goes beyond being merely a card in MTG; it’s a strategic powerhouse for proliferate-centric decks and a pivotal tool for controlling the pace of the game. Understand that while its six-mana demand may seem daunting, the engine’s counter-manipulating capability can be game-defining. It’s essential to integrate counter-play measures in your deck, such as direct artifact removal or spell counters, to ensure you’re equipped against this imposing artifact. Join us at BurnMana, where we uncover more nuances and strategies, ensuring your collection is not just vast but robust, ready to confront and employ cards like Contagion Engine with finesse and tactical acumen on your journey to becoming an adept MTG player.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Contagion Engine MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Contagion Engine and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Contagion Engine Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 1452003NormalBlackDaarken
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 10952015NormalBlackNils Hamm
32020-09-26The ListPLST SOM-1452003NormalBlackDaarken
42024-04-19Breaking NewsOTP 782015NormalBorderlessMagnus Jansson
52024-04-19Breaking NewsOTP 612015NormalBorderlessMagnus Jansson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Contagion Engine has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2011-01-01 As Contagion Engine’s activated ability resolves, you’ll complete an entire proliferate action, then you’ll complete a second proliferate action. You may choose different players and/or permanents, or different counters on those permanents, when you proliferate the second time.
2011-01-01 If a permanent chosen this way has multiple kinds of counters on it, only a single new counter is put on that permanent.
2011-01-01 Players can respond to the spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it’s too late for anyone to respond.
2011-01-01 Players can’t respond between the first and the second proliferate actions.
2011-01-01 You can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can’t choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them, such as suspended cards or a Lightning Storm on the stack.
2011-01-01 You can choose any player that has a counter, including yourself.
2011-01-01 You don’t have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since “any number” includes zero, you don’t have to choose any permanents at all, and you don’t have to choose any players at all.