Virulent Wound MTG Card


Efficiently targets small threats and mitigates creature abilities like undying or persist. Instant speed allows flexibility in play, disrupting opponents’ actions at critical times. Limited to black mana decks, which restricts its use in multicolored strategies.
Virulent Wound - Mirrodin Besieged
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2011-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameMirrodin Besieged
Set codeMBS
Number57
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byWhit Brachna

Text of card

Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature. When that creature is put into a graveyard this turn, its controller gets a poison counter.

Sadly, the extent of Gerkk's healing knowledge was "don't pick at it."


Cards like Virulent Wound

Virulent Wound is a potent piece in the puzzle of infect decks in Magic: The Gathering. It parallels with other one-mana removal spells like Disfigure, which also reduces a creature’s power and toughness. While Disfigure can affect any creature, Virulent Wound has a narrower focus but compensates by placing a poison counter on the creature before it dies, potentially edging the player closer to victory in an infect strategy.

Another card worth comparing is Dead Weight, an enchantment with a permanent effect of reducing a creature’s power and toughness by two. Unlike Virulent Wound, it doesn’t contribute to an infect win condition directly. Moreover, Dead Weight stays on the battlefield, possibly affecting the board longer than a one-shot spell. Then there’s Tragic Slip, known for its morbid ability that could give a creature -13/-13, far surpassing Virulent Wound’s impact but necessitating a death trigger to reach its full potential.

Ultimately, Virulent Wound holds its ground in the MTG arena by being a cost-effective removal that aligns seamlessly with infect deck objectives, demonstrating a niche advantage over similar low-cost removal spells.

Disfigure - MTG Card versions
Dead Weight - MTG Card versions
Tragic Slip - MTG Card versions
Disfigure - MTG Card versions
Dead Weight - MTG Card versions
Tragic Slip - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Virulent Wound by color, type and mana cost

Howl from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Sacrifice - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Marsh Gas - MTG Card versions
Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
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Coffin Purge - MTG Card versions
Defile - MTG Card versions
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Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions
Surgical Extraction - MTG Card versions
Howl from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Sacrifice - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Marsh Gas - MTG Card versions
Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions
Coffin Purge - MTG Card versions
Defile - MTG Card versions
March of Wretched Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions
Surgical Extraction - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WUBWUB PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-01-07
UBUB PauperPauper Challenge 64 2023-12-17

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Virulent Wound can create card advantage by efficiently dealing with small threats or creatures with undying or persist, potentially stopping a creature from returning to the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although Virulent Wound itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its low mana cost allows you to utilize your mana effectively while advancing your board position or interacting with your opponent’s creatures.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Virulent Wound offers the versatility to disrupt your opponent’s plays during their turn, remove a blocker or an attacker at a critical moment, or strategically combine with other spells to alter the state of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Virulent Wound does not have a discard requirement, understanding the implications of cards that do can help players make more informed decisions during deck construction and gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Virulent Wound demands a single black mana, making it a card that is best suited for decks that are heavy in black mana or those that can reliably produce any color of mana, potentially limiting its use in multicolored or colorless decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Virulent Wound’s mana cost is low, players should always consider the overall mana curve of their deck. In certain fast-paced or mana-efficient decks, even a one-mana spell needs to be evaluated against other available options that may offer more versatility or immediate board impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Virulent Wound is not just another removal spell; its ability to give -1/-1 counters makes it particularly effective against undying creatures, ensuring they don’t come back. Additionally, it can disrupt opponent’s strategies that rely on creatures with a single toughness, potentially changing the course of the game with just one black mana.

Combo Potential: The card shines in decks that capitalize on -1/-1 counter synergies. Pairing it with proliferate mechanics or cards like “Blowfly Infestation” can create a chain reaction, turning a simple removal into a board-wiping threat.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where aggressive creature-based strategies are prevalent, Virulent Wound provides a low-cost solution to slow down your opponents’ momentum. Its ability to remove key one-toughness creatures while also providing a slow burn with poison counters can shift the tide of battle in your favor. This makes Virulent Wound a valuable addition to sideboards or even main decks, depending on the meta.


How to beat

Virulent Wound poses an interesting strategic challenge in Magic: The Gathering, particularly because of its ability to put a -1/-1 counter on a creature and, if that creature dies during that turn, to also infect the opposing player with a poison counter. To effectively counteract Virulent Wound, the key is to focus on creature resilience. Deploying creatures with regenerate abilities or utilizing indestructible creatures can negate the fatal aspect of the card’s effect.

Another angle of defense includes using instant-speed spells or abilities that can bolster a creature’s toughness at a moment’s notice, essentially rendering Virulent Wound’s impact null. Moreover, having access to hexproof or shroud can prevent your creatures from being targeted altogether, which is invaluable against such targeted removal. Strategic use of counterspells is also a critical line of defense, especially when your opponent relies on this as an early game removal solution or a way to sneak in lethal poison counters. Consider these approaches to ensure your creatures survive and you remain out of the perilous reach of accumulating too many poison counters.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Virulent Wound MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, 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 Virulent Wound and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Virulent Wound has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Virulent Wound 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 not put into a graveyard on the turn Virulent Wound resolves, its controller won’t get a poison counter.