Carnophage MTG Card
1998-06-15 - Number 53
2014-06-16 - Number 107
2015-05-06 - Number 84
2001-01-01 - Number 10
2002-06-24 - Number 36100
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
During your upkeep, pay 1 life or tap Carnophage.
Eating is all it knows.
Cards like Carnophage
Carnophage stands out as an efficient creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering an aggressive starts for players utilizing black mana. This early game piece bears a resemblance to creatures such as Sangrophage, which also demands a life payment during your upkeep. However, Sangrophage requires two mana to cast and demands a higher life payment each turn, making Carnophage a more nimble option for players.
Examining another equivalent, Vampire Lacerator presents itself as a formidable challenger to Carnophage, sharing the same casting cost and power/toughness ratio. It also afflicts its controller with life loss unless an opponent has 10 or less life, a condition that’s sometimes easier to meet than having to pay life every turn in the case of Carnophage.
To wrap things up, Carnophage exemplifies a well-balanced card for players looking to apply early pressure with minimal investment. While similar cards exist within Magic: The Gathering, Carnophage’s low cost, and straightforward requirement make it a prime choice for many aggressive black decks.
Cards similar to Carnophage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: In the context of Carnophage, the advantage may not be direct in drawing cards but lies in efficiently deploying a threatening creature early in the game. It provides pressure on the opponent, forcing them to react, which could indirectly lead to card advantage as you dictate the pace of the game.
Resource Acceleration: Carnophage excels in an aggressive deck by being a 2/2 creature for just one black mana. Its cost-effectiveness means you’re accelerating your board presence without expending significant resources, allowing you to allocate mana for other impactful plays in the subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: While Carnophage itself is not an instant, its low cost allows you to summon it while keeping mana open. This flexibility lets you play other instant-speed interaction, such as removal or hand disruption, without sacrificing your turn’s development.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: With Carnophage, each turn begins with a tough decision, as it demands a discard if you can’t make the life payment. This can quickly erode your hand size and leave you at a disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Carnophage’s reliance on black mana restricts its inclusion to decks with a strong black mana base, potentially limiting deck-building versatility and synergies with cards of other colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Carnophage’s upfront cost is moderately low, its cumulative life payment can be considered a hidden mana cost. As the game progresses, you might find that maintaining this creature on the battlefield rivals the cost of more potent creatures or spells.
Reasons to Include Carnophage in Your Collection
Versatility: Carnophage, though a classic card from the Exodus set, can still find a home in aggressive black decks thanks to its cost-effective stats. Its ability to come into play early makes it a relevant choice for strategies focused on quick damage.
Combo Potential: The life loss from Carnophage can be utilised in decks that benefit from life-payment mechanics. It fits well with synergies that exploit life loss for gain, or with effects that negate the drawback such as life gain or damage redirection.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where the pace of gameplay favors early threats and quick wins, Carnophage can still be a formidable card to reckon with. Its relevance gets a boost particularly in “suicide black” or similar archetypes that prioritize aggressive starts over long-term survival.
How to Beat Carnophage
Carnophage stands out in the realm of early aggressive creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It has the notable trait of dealing damage to its controller during the upkeep if not fed mana, a small price for its efficient cost-to-power ratio. In this aspect, it bears some resemblance to the classic card Sarcomancy, which also presents an aggressive stance with a manageable upkeep sacrifice.
Likewise, it reminds seasoned players of Blood Pet. This vampiric creature also deals damage to its user but offers mana once sacrificed. Despite the similarities, Carnophage’s continuous threat on the board distinguishes it. The key to overcoming Carnophage lies in leveraging its upkeep cost. Control the pace with instant-speed removals or stalling tactics that exhaust your opponent’s resources. It’s about seizing the right moment to turn the tide, when the upkeep cost becomes a liability for its controller.
Understanding this subtle dance of advantages and costs makes it easier to navigate matches against Carnophage. It’s not merely a creature; it’s a double-edged sword that demands strategic respect. Victory often hinges on forcing your opponent to face the full weight of the card’s downside while minimizing its offensive impact on your life total.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Carnophage MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Friday Night Magic 2001, 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 Carnophage and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Carnophage Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Pete Venters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-06-15 | Exodus | EXO | 53 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 2 | Friday Night Magic 2001 | F01 | 10 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | ||
| 3 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36100 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | ||
| 4 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 107 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 5 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 84 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Carnophage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |