Pest Infestation MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates multiple Pest tokens offering board control and life gain, making games more resilient.
  2. Instant speed play allows strategic flexibility, countering opponents and expanding the board at optimal times.
  3. Requires a green mana base and a card discard, which limits its use in non-green or hand-lean decks.

Text of card

Destroy up to X target artifacts and/or enchantments. Create twice X 1/1 black and green Pest creature tokens with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life."

A thousand years of history undone by one juvenile prank.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pest Infestation grants you a distinct edge by enabling you to create multiple Pest creature tokens. Each token not only serves as a potential blocker but also translates into life gain upon its death, effectively bolstering your board presence and resilience in the long game.

Resource Acceleration: As part of the Strixhaven set, this card synergizes with the ‘Magecraft’ mechanic, potentially accelerating your plays by triggering additional effects every time a Pest token is created. This could amplify your spellcasting capabilities, giving you an extra push towards victory.

Instant Speed: The capability to cast Pest Infestation at instant speed adds a strategic layer to your play style. You have the flexibility to disrupt opponents’ strategies during their turn or end step, maintaining the element of surprise and optimizing the timing of your board expansions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pest Infestation requires the player to discard a card, adding a potential resource loss especially if you’re already facing hand depletion.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s necessity for green mana could restrict its inclusion to green-centric or multicolored decks, potentially impacting deck-building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that may be steep, players might find Pest Infestation less appealing compared to other options that could provide a more immediate board presence or utility for the same or lesser investment.


Reasons to Include Pest Infestation in Your Collection

Versatility: Pest Infestation is a multifaceted card that can be incorporated into various deck builds. It offers both creature removal and board presence, which are crucial components in any game.

Combo Potential: The pests created by this card can synergize with decks that capitalize on life gain, sacrifice mechanics, or token strategies, enhancing the deck’s overall potency.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prominence of artifact and enchantment strategies, having Pest Infestation provides a proactive response to such threats while maintaining board development.


How to beat Pest Infestation

Overcoming Pest Infestation in your MTG matchups requires strategic foresight and the ability to adapt. This versatile card can quickly turn the tides by creating numerous Pest creature tokens, which not only serve as blockers but also grant you life when they die. To efficiently counter this, consider implementing board clears that can handle multiple creatures at once. Cards like Wrath of God and Blasphemous Act are effective at wiping the field clean of pests.

Enchantment removal spells are also a vital inclusion in your deck to directly address Pest Infestation. Disenchants or Naturalize let you dispatch the troublesome enchantment before it overwhelms you with token generation. Moreover, leveraging flyers or creatures with trample can help you bypass the ground swarm and continue to apply pressure to your opponent. Focusing on these tactics can prevent the infestation from becoming uncontrollable and secure your pathway to victory.

Remember, the key to defeating Pest Infestation is to stay ahead of the proliferation. Keep control of the board, leverage your spell arsenal effectively, and maintain consistent pressure. Your success in MTG matches can hinge on how well you handle such threats and adapt your playstyle to overcome them.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into MTG not only tests your strategic thinking but also demands a resilient deck adaptable to diverse game scenarios. Pest Infestation exemplifies such versatility, coupling token generation with artifact and enchantment disruption. It’s a card that nods to tactful timing and maneuverability within the battlefield. Integrating such cards can deepen your gameplay experience, challenging opponents with a dynamic, token-infused army. Coupled with resource acceleration and creative combo possibilities, it shapes a promising component for several deck archetypes. For those looking to refine their counters against enchantment-centric foes or elevate their token game, Pest Infestation merits consideration. Expand your strategy repertoire and explore the depths of its utility to harness its clandestine power in your next MTG challenge. Dive deeper with us and discover insightful ways to deploy Pest Infestation in your favor.


Cards like Pest Infestation

Pest Infestation is a distinctive card in MTG offering both creature removal and creature generation. Its mechanics are akin to cards like Fungal Sprouting or Saproling Migration, which allow players to create multiple creature tokens. However, Pest Infestation stands out by giving the additional benefit of enabling players to destroy artifacts and enchantments, which the other cards do not offer.

Mycoloth is another card that could be parallel as it also revolves around creating creature tokens, but it does so by devouring other creatures and progressively amassing tokens each upkeep. The straightforward immediate token generation of Pest Infestation is what differs notably. Meanwhile, Casualties of War is broader in scope, targeting a wider array of permanents, yet at a significantly higher mana cost and without the token creation feature.

To sum it up, Pest Infestation provides an unparalleled combination of token generation and utility, making it an exceptional inclusion in decks focused on populating the board while simultaneously handling opponents’ key noncreature permanents.

Fungal Sprouting - MTG Card versions
Saproling Migration - MTG Card versions
Mycoloth - MTG Card versions
Casualties of War - MTG Card versions
Fungal Sprouting - Magic 2013 (M13)
Saproling Migration - Dominaria (DOM)
Mycoloth - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Casualties of War - War of the Spark (WAR)

Cards similar to Pest Infestation by color, type and mana cost

Hurricane - MTG Card versions
Stream of Life - MTG Card versions
Metamorphosis - MTG Card versions
Winter Blast - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Tutor - MTG Card versions
Fruition - MTG Card versions
Salvage - MTG Card versions
Rofellos's Gift - MTG Card versions
Thrive - MTG Card versions
Lay of the Land - MTG Card versions
Chatter of the Squirrel - MTG Card versions
Dwell on the Past - MTG Card versions
Insist - MTG Card versions
Primal Might - MTG Card versions
Scale Up - MTG Card versions
Ancient Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Glimpse of Nature - MTG Card versions
Gelatinous Genesis - MTG Card versions
Green Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions
Corrosive Gale - MTG Card versions
Hurricane - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stream of Life - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Metamorphosis - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Winter Blast - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Sylvan Tutor - Portal (POR)
Fruition - Portal (POR)
Salvage - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Rofellos's Gift - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Thrive - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Lay of the Land - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Chatter of the Squirrel - The List (PLST)
Dwell on the Past - Torment (TOR)
Insist - Torment (TOR)
Primal Might - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Scale Up - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Ancient Stirrings - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Glimpse of Nature - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Gelatinous Genesis - Double Masters (2XM)
Green Sun's Zenith - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Corrosive Gale - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pest Infestation MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander 2021, 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 Pest Infestation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pest Infestation Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Brian Valeza.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 901502015normalblackBrian Valeza
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 652015normalblackBrian Valeza
32021-04-23Commander 2021C21 3922015normalblackBrian Valeza

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pest Infestation has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-04-16 If any artifacts or enchantments were chosen as targets, and all of them are illegal targets as Pest Infestation tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. No Pests will be created.
2021-04-16 The number of Pests created is equal to twice the chosen value of X, no matter how many artifacts and enchantments were destroyed.

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