Aphetto Exterminator MTG Card

Aphetto Exterminator offers card advantage by disrupting opponents’ creatures with its morph ability. Flexibility in use, thanks to instant speed morphing, gives players an unexpected edge. Specific mana needs and discard requirements may limit its inclusion in diverse decks.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities	Morph
Released	2003-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Legions
Set code	LGN
Power	3
Toughness	1
Number	59
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Scott M. Fischer

Text of card

Morph (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When Aphetto Exterminator is turned face up, target creature gets -3/-3 until end of turn.

Cards like Aphetto Exterminator

Exploring the depth of creature-based removal in Magic: The Gathering, Aphetto Exterminator stands out in its niche. This creature resonates with cards like Skinthinner, which also doubles as both a creature and a removal tool. Aphetto Exterminator requires a slight additional cost for its death-touching ability, demanding three mana and a creature to be sacrificed to destroy a target creature. Conversely, Skinthinner employs the morph ability, offering a surprise factor, albeit with the limitation of being usable only once.

Murderous Cut delves into a similar domain, allowing players to utilize their graveyard to defray part of its casting cost, thanks to delve. While not a creature, it presents an instant-speed removal option, versatile in the late game where resources are plentiful. Big Game Hunter is another kindred spirit, capable of dispatching larger threats. It adds value when discarded and then played for its madness cost, efficiently multitasking within specific deck archetypes.

Ultimately, Aphetto Exterminator’s role in the MTG ecosystem is a testament to its dual utility as both a creature and a source of targeted removal, providing strategic options that adapt to the evolving battlefield landscape.

Cards similar to Aphetto Exterminator by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aphetto Exterminator helps maintain control by allowing you to target and destroy a creature with morph, potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy and tipping the balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This card fits into a deck focused on exploiting morph mechanics, accelerating your resources by effectively dealing with threats and enabling smoother plays.

Instant Speed: Although Aphetto Exterminator is not an instant itself, the morph ability can be used at instant speed, which gives you the flexibility to surprise an opponent during combat or at the end of their turn, making it a versatile choice in gameplay.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aphetto Exterminator asks you to sacrifice a creature when it enters the battlefield. This self-inflicted loss could impact your board presence, particularly if you’re already behind.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands both black and generic mana, which can be prohibitive in multi-colored decks and potentially slow you down if you’re struggling to draw the right mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two black, Aphetto Exterminator may not be as efficient as other options available in the game. There are creatures with lower mana costs that offer similar or even stronger abilities.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Aphetto Exterminator offers a unique mix of creature removal and morph mechanics that allow it to adjust strategies mid-game. This card can be a surprise blocker or a targeted removal when flipped for its morph cost.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its ability to destroy a target creature when turned face up, it synergizes well with decks that manipulate the top of the library or repeatedly reuse morph abilities, bolstering various combo setups.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-based strategies dominate, Aphetto Exterminator’s presence can tilt the board in your favor. Its ability to potentially remove key creatures can disrupt opponent’s plans and make it a valuable asset in your game plan.

How to beat Aphetto Exterminator

Aphetto Exterminator presents a particular challenge on the battlefield with its ability to destroy target nonblack creature upon morphing. To efficiently handle this threat, a strategy focusing on card types beyond creatures would be advantageous. Emphasize spells capable of removing creatures before the Exterminator can morph, such as instant speed removal, which can disrupt the morphing process before its ability triggers.

Another effective methodology is to focus on hexproof or indestructible creatures, rendering the Exterminator’s ability irrelevant. Enchantment-based strategies also sidestep the danger as Aphetto Exterminator’s reach doesn’t extend into noncreature permanents. Utilizing a strategy that pressures the opponent early on can prevent them from accumulating enough mana to effectively use the Exterminator’s morph ability, thereby neutralizing its potential impact on the game.

In conclusion, adjusting your game plan to either bypass Aphetto Exterminator’s targeted removal or to preemptively manage the creature can ensure it becomes a non-factor. By diversifying your threats beyond creature-based strategies and employing timely removal, this card can be overcome, maintaining your hold over the game’s direction.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aphetto Exterminator MTG card by a specific set like Legions, 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 Aphetto Exterminator and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aphetto Exterminator has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	The trigger occurs when you use the Morph ability to turn the card face up, or when an effect turns it face up. It will not trigger on being revealed or on leaving the battlefield.