Festergloom MTG Card

Magic 2015 (M15)
2014-07-18 - Number 97

Festergloom - Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)

Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)
2016-08-26 - Number 135

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery

Key Takeaways

Festergloom can cripple swarms of low-toughness creatures, granting an upper hand through indirect card advantage.
Limited to black mana decks, its necessity for mana fixing reduces flexibility in multi-color deck utilization.
Despite its cost, its board control utility shines against token strategies, making it a meta-relevant inclusion.

Text of card

Nonblack creatures get -1/-1 until end of turn.

The death of a scout can be as informative as a safe return.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Festergloom does not inherently allow you to draw cards, it can potentially clear multiple one-toughness creatures from the board in one swoop. This creates indirect card advantage as it might force your opponent to expend more resources to recover their battlefield presence.

Resource Acceleration: Festergloom’s primary strength may not lie in accelerating one’s resources, but if paired with cards that benefit from creature deaths, such as those with morbid or death trigger abilities, it can catalyze the generation of value or other forms of resource acceleration indirectly. This synergy with other cards is where the unexpected potential lies.

Instant Speed: Being a sorcery, Festergloom cannot be cast at instant speed; however, this allows you to strategically plan your turns. Timing this spell to disrupt your opponent’s buildup or to clear the way for your attackers can be crucial, and doing so at the right moment during your turn can turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Festergloom doesn’t necessarily have a discard aspect, but it does have other limitations that might put players at a disadvantage, especially in terms of card efficiency and overall impact on the game’s board state.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring black mana to cast, Festergloom is restricted to decks that run Swamps or have access to mana fixing. Such a requirement can be a constricting factor, limiting the card’s versatility in multi-color decks that may not prioritize black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With three mana needed to cast, including two generic and one black, Festergloom may be considered steep for its effect – to give all nonblack creatures -1/-1 until end of turn. In decks that aim for mana efficiency, Festergloom can be a less attractive choice compared to other cards with similar but more cost-effective abilities.

Reasons to Include Festergloom in Your Collection

Versatility: Festergloom can be a strategic addition to any black deck focused on controlling the board. Its ability to weaken small creatures can hinder your opponent’s early momentum or clear pests that may be causing continuous trouble.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that capitalize on negating enemy creatures’ toughness. It pairs well with other cards that benefit from creature deaths or that trigger upon hitting certain thresholds of health.

Meta-Relevance: In metas swarming with token strategies or decks relying on utility creatures with one toughness, Festergloom can serve as an efficient counter, potentially sweeping multiple threats off the board with a single cast.

How to beat

Festergloom is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that can significantly impact the battlefield, particularly against decks that rely on smaller creatures. It deals with pesky 1/1 tokens and other low-toughness creatures by giving them -1/-1 until end of turn. To effectively counter this spell, consider using creatures with higher toughness to withstand the effect or utilize instant-speed spells that can buff your creatures in response, potentially saving them from destruction.

Moreover, strategic deck-building can mitigate Festergloom’s damage. Incorporating cards that have abilities triggered upon dying can turn a potential setback into an advantage. Also, playing creatures with undying or persist can actually benefit from the -1/-1 counter, as they come back stronger or simply return to the field. It’s evident that while Festergloom is strong against large numbers of weak creatures, it can be played around with thoughtful strategy and card choices.

Ultimately, overcoming Festergloom is about anticipating its arrival and setting up a board state that either diminishes its effect or uses it to your advantage, showcasing the deep strategic layers in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Festergloom

In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Festergloom stands as a unique black sorcery card that impacts creatures with its -1/-1 until end of turn for each nonblack creature. This type of effect is not uncommon, and there are similar cards to be considered. For instance, Shrivel offers an almost identical mechanic, providing a one-turn, -1/-1 nerf to all creatures, but without the color discrimination found in Festergloom. This could be a slight advantage in mono-black matchups.

Looking at a slightly different twist, we notice Drown in Sorrow. While it also applies -2/-2 to all creatures, it goes further by enabling a scry 1, allowing a player to control their next draw somewhat. Despite being more mana-intensive, it provides a deeper level of board control through its scrying ability, giving it a different kind of utility than Festergloom. Then there’s Crypt Rats, a creature that offers flexibility by allowing you to choose the amount of mana spent for a similar effect. Its repeatable nature can offer long-term advantages, albeit at the cost of investing in a creature that might be removed from the battlefield.

In analyzing Festergloom within the context of its peers, it provides a focused impact and can be a strategic choice in decks looking to capitalize on the weakness of multi-colored creatures, positioning itself as a highly situational yet potentially game-swinging card.

Cards similar to Festergloom by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Festergloom MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 and Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 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 Festergloom and other MTG cards: