Carrion MTG Card

Generates tokens for card advantage and interactive gameplay, strengthening board presence effectively. Offers a tactical edge with instant speed, allowing flexible responses during complex situations. Demands care in deck building due to specific mana requirements and potential strategic costs.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	111
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Geofrey Darrow

Text of card

Sacrifice a creature: Put into play a number of Maggot tokens equal to the sacrificed creature's power. Treat these tokens as 0/1 black creatures.

King or herder, the maggots care not.

Cards like Carrion

Carrion presents an intriguing dynamic in creature-based decks within Magic: The Gathering, much like other cards aimed at utilizing creatures as resources. Take Dread Return, for instance, a card that also capitalizes on sacrificing creatures but serves to bring back a powerful creature from the graveyard instead. Carrion, in contrast, offers the utility to generate a swarm of creature tokens by sacrificing just one creature.

Alike in the vein of leveraging sacrifices is the card Bone Splinters. Like Carrion, it requires you to sacrifice a creature, but instead of token creation, it removes an opponent’s creature from the battlefield. It’s an efficient removal spell but lacks Carrion’s ability to populate the board. Then, there’s the classic Diabolic Edict, leading players to sacrifice creatures, though it targets opponents and does not bolster your own army.

In summary, while there are various cards that explore the sacrifice mechanic, Carrion stands out by allowing the conversion of a single creature into multiple tokens, which can be instrumental in constructing an overwhelming board presence in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Carrion by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Carrion thrives on creating card advantage, as it generates multiple creature tokens. These tokens are not just creatures; they represent potential for further card interactions and combos, providing you with increased options and board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Generate an army swiftly with Carrion. Each token created can be used as a resource for various in-game mechanics such as sacrificing for mana or using them to power up other cards, effectively accelerating your resources and giving you an edge over your opponent.

Instant Speed: Carrion’s ability to operate at instant speed gives the player a tactical advantage. This flexibility allows you to adapt to the developing game, creating tokens in response to your opponent’s moves or at the end of their turn, keeping your strategy hidden until the last possible moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Carrion requires a creature card to be discarded in order to cast it. This can be a drawback, especially when your hand lacks creatures or you’re sacrificing key pieces of your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Carrion’s casting cost includes two black mana, which may not be ideal for multi-color decks that struggle with mana fixing or for players who prefer a more balanced mana base for flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of three mana, including two that must be black, other options may provide more cost-efficient creature tokens or effects without such restrictive mana requirements, potentially making Carrion less favorable in competitive play.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Carrion thrives in a variety of deck environments, particularly those that rely on creature sacrifice mechanics or graveyard strategies. Its ability to offer instant speed creature generation makes it a flexible choice for defense and offensive plays alike.

Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well in tandem with effects that trigger upon a creature’s death, such as morbid abilities or other sacrifice synergies, establishing powerful combinations that can outmaneuver opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In matchups where attrition battles are common, Carrion shines as it provides sustainable creature resources that can be used for blocking, sacrificing, or applying pressure, maintaining its relevance in varied metagame scenarios.

How to beat Carrion

Encountering Carrion in a Magic: The Gathering duel can be a challenging hurdle, akin to dealing with a resilient threat. Carrion’s ability to create miniature creatures upon death adds a layer of complexity to the battlefield. To effectively counteract Carrion, players should consider employing graveyard hate strategies, such as including cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void in their decks, which inhibit Carrion’s potential by exiling it instead of allowing it to hit the graveyard. Moreover, sweepers that clean up multiple creatures, like Wrath of God or Damnation, can prove invaluable by managing the multitude of token creatures Carrion creates, ensuring that your opponent doesn’t gain the upper hand through sheer numbers.

Another tactical approach involves the use of instant-speed removal spells that can catch your opponent off-guard before they can capitalize on Carrion’s death trigger. Having a robust spot removal suite or bounce effects at your disposal, such as Path to Exile or Cyclonic Rift, can help control the tide of tokens while also giving you the flexibility to respond during your opponent’s turn.

Ultimately, staying one step ahead and understanding Carrion’s strengths and weaknesses will guide your deck to victory. It’s about balancing the immediate threat while remaining vigilant of its lingering effects, ensuring you’re well-equipped to handle what comes after Carrion leaves the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Carrion MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Carrion and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Carrion has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-04-15	Players can only respond once this spell has been cast and all its costs have been paid. No one can try to destroy the creature you sacrificed to prevent you from casting this spell.
2013-04-15	You must sacrifice exactly one creature to cast this spell; you cannot cast it without sacrificing a creature, and you cannot sacrifice additional creatures.