Greed MTG Card


‘Greed’ grants card advantage by allowing players to draw at the cost of life points. Flexibility through instant speed activation provides strategic options during gameplay. While powerful, ‘Greed’ demands careful management of both mana and life resources.
Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

oo B Draw an extra card and lose 2 life. Effects that prevent or redirect damage may not be used to counter this loss of life.

"There is no calamity greater than lavish desires./ There is no greater guilt than discontentment./ And there is no greater disaster than greed." —*Tao Tê Ching 46*


Cards like Greed

Greed stands out in the echelon of Magic: The Gathering’s card advantage engines. It shares a common archetype with other cards like Erebos, God of the Dead, which also provides a continual card draw mechanism. However, Greed offers a unique rate of conversion, trading life points for cards without restriction on the number of uses per turn, differentiating it from Erebos’s once per turn condition. Its ability to potentially draw multiple cards in a single turn can be a game changer in the right deck.

Another parallel can be drawn with Necropotence, an iconic spell offering a powerful card advantage at a different resource exchange rate – skipping the draw step for a more controlled card access. While Necropotence regulates the timing of card draws, Greed allows immediate access to the drawn cards, providing an advantage in terms of flexibility and immediate impact. Similarly, Arguel’s Blood Fast offers an alternative way to transform life into cards, but with the added late-game upside of converting into a land that can bring back creatures from the graveyard, offering a different angle of utility.

In assessing these cards side by side, it’s evident that Greed occupies a special niche for players who value the freedom to draw many cards at will, though at a potentially high life cost, making it a powerful tool in any MTG strategist’s arsenal.

Erebos, God of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Erebos, God of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Greed by color, type and mana cost

Pestilence - MTG Card versions
Lich - MTG Card versions
Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
Breeding Pit - MTG Card versions
Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Koskun Falls - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Servitude - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Embrace - MTG Card versions
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Brink of Madness - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Erebos, Bleak-Hearted - MTG Card versions
Pestilence - MTG Card versions
Lich - MTG Card versions
Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
Breeding Pit - MTG Card versions
Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Koskun Falls - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Servitude - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Embrace - MTG Card versions
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Brink of Madness - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Erebos, Bleak-Hearted - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: ‘Greed’ offers continuous card draw ability, granting access to additional cards for each point of life spent. This ability is immensely valuable for keeping a full hand and outpacing opponents in terms of options available each turn.

Resource Acceleration: While ‘Greed’ itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, it can lead to a form of indirect acceleration by drawing into more lands or ramp spells. The consistent card draw ensures that you are less likely to miss land drops and more likely to draw into cards that can accelerate your mana production.

Instant Speed: The beauty of ‘Greed’ lies in its flexibility. You can activate its ability at instant speed, meaning you can respond to your opponent’s actions by drawing a card at a moment’s notice. This can be particularly useful if you have unspent mana during an opponent’s end phase or if you need to dig for an answer during a critical moment of the game. Utilizing life as a resource at instant speed can provide the edge needed to clinch victory.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Greed demands a constant flow of cards being discarded, which can deplete your hand quickly. This can be particularly problematic if you’re facing strategies that pressure your card resources or if you’re unable to maintain a sufficient card draw to balance the discard.

Specific Mana Cost: Greed’s requirement for black mana means it fits primarily in mono-black or two-color decks with black as a primary color. This makes it less adaptable and put aside by players not engaging heavily in black mana strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing four mana to place Greed on the battlefield is a significant early to mid-game resource commitment. Considering other cards in the game can provide card advantage at a lower cost or with additional benefits, Greed sometimes underperforms in terms of mana efficiency.


Reasons to Include Greed Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Greed offers a repeatable card draw mechanism, which can be a powerhouse in many decks that thirst for more cards in hand, particularly in commander or black-focused strategies where life is a resource to be exploited.

Combo Potential: This enchantment is perfect for setups that capitalize on life payment for gain. It meshes well with effects that reward you for drawing cards or losing life, thereby empowering combo chains or bolstering synergies within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given that card advantage is paramount in the shifting landscape of competitive play, Greed holds its ground as a resilient source of cards. In a meta saturated with grindy games and attrition battles, the ability to refuel your hand at will can give you the upper hand.


How to Beat Greed

Greed is a potent card in Magic: The Gathering, offering continuous card draw at the expense of life. It’s a double-edged sword that if left unchecked, can provide an overwhelming advantage to the player wielding it. Commanding a strategy to suppress Greed’s advantage is essential.

One effective strategy is to prioritize life total preservation. Cards like Erebos, God of the Dead can prevent life gain, limiting the effectiveness of Greed. Aggressive decks can also pressure opponents who use Greed, capitalizing on their paid life points. Another angle is through enchantment removal; casting Disenchant or Naturalize can directly remove Greed from play, cutting off the card draw source.

Moreover, employing counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can nip the problem in the bud, preventing Greed from hitting the table altogether. Lastly, using hand disruption tools such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can extract Greed from your opponent’s hand before they have a chance to use it.

Ultimately, equipped with the right cards and tactics, players can effectively mitigate the advantages granted by Greed, maintaining strategic equilibrium and enhancing their chances of securing victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deepening your understanding of strategies surrounding Greed can be the edge you need for your MTG endeavors. Analyzing its role in mana efficiency, card advantage, and deck synergy is key. Greed allows skillful manipulation of resources, and integrating it could mean the difference between defeat and dominance in your next duel. Whether it’s through fostering combos or enhancing card flow, Greed remains a compelling choice for your collection. For those looking to navigate the subtleties of its use, or counteract it effectively, we invite you to delve further with us. Your journey towards outmaneuvering opponents begins here. Unlock your potential in the dynamic game of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Greed MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Greed and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Greed Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2021-06-18. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-06-01LegendsLEG 1011993NormalBlackPhil Foglio
21995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1401993NormalBlackPhil Foglio
31995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1401993NormalWhitePhil Foglio
41995-08-01RenaissanceREN 561993NormalBlackPhil Foglio
51999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 1351997NormalWhitePhil Foglio
62001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 140★1997NormalBlackPeter Bollinger
72001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 1401997NormalWhitePeter Bollinger
82013-11-01Commander 2013C13 792003NormalBlackIzzy
92019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 4022015NormalBlackKawasumi
102021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1452015NormalBlackIzzy
112021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 2742015NormalBlackIzzy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Greed has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal