Contagious Nim MTG Card

Offers incremental advantages in MTG matches through its persistent infect counters ability. Perfect for decks utilizing proliferate strategies to enhance their battlefield presence. Requires mindful play due to its specific mana needs and potential hand disruption.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Zombie
Abilities	Infect
Released	2010-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Scars of Mirrodin
Set code	SOM
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	58
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Efrem Palacios

Text of card

Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)

"This species has grown to be my preferred receptacle for our divine message." —Sheoldred, Whispering One

Cards like Contagious Nim

Contagious Nim holds its unique place amongst creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It bears a resemblance to cards like Plague Myr, which not only functions as a creature but also adds mana to your pool, serving a dual purpose. Much like Contagious Nim, it also carries the infect mechanic, dealing damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.

In the same stream of thought, Core Prowler is another card that finds synergy with the infect theme. While its power and toughness may not rival the Nim, it offers an additional proliferate effect upon death, which can be pivotal in spreading -1/-1 counters or proliferating poison counters on your opponents.

Lastly, we cannot overlook Ichorclaw Myr in this circle of comparison. Though smaller in stature, this tiny Myr also boasts the infect ability and becomes a more substantial threat when blocked. The comparison sheds light on the strategic value that Contagious Nim, among others, provides to a deck focused on exploiting the infect mechanic in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Contagious Nim by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Contagious Nim offers incremental advantage through infect counters that not only diminish an opponent’s life total but can also contribute to the win without necessarily dealing direct damage.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting resource acceleration, Contagious Nim can be a key piece in a proliferate strategy that enhances your various counters, potentially unlocking additional resources and effects faster.

Instant Speed: While Contagious Nim itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed proliferate or buff spells that can surprise your opponent and turn the tide of battle unexpectedly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must be aware that playing Contagious Nim often necessitates other cards being discarded from the hand. This can lead to difficult decisions, especially when trying to maintain card advantage in a tight match.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring specific black mana to cast, this card may restrict deck-building options. Players using multi-color decks may find the specific mana cost a hurdle in optimizing their mana base to accommodate the Nim.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Contagious Nim’s mana cost leaning on the higher side, players might deliberate its inclusion, considering there are more mana-efficient creatures that could be slotted into a deck to achieve similar or better results.

Reasons to Include Contagious Nim in Your Collection

Versatility: Contagious Nim offers flexible use across various black-aligned decks, thriving particularly in those that harness the proliferate mechanic or strategies focused on +1/+1 counters.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that spread -1/-1 counters or infect, Contagious Nim can become a persistent threat, growing with each death on the battlefield and synergizing with numerous strategies.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-based aggro decks being a steadfast component of many metagames, Contagious Nim serves as a robust inclusion that can scale in power as the game progresses and creatures meet their demise.

How to Beat Contagious Nim

The Contagious Nim card presents unique challenges for players on the battleground. This artifact creature often shines in decks focused around proliferate mechanics, allowing it to accrue multiple +1/+1 counters rapidly. However, understanding its strengths also reveals its vulnerabilities. Removing the Nim before it can stack counters is crucial, urging players to utilize instant-speed removal spells that can deal with the threat before it snowballs.

Spell options like Doom Blade or Path to Exile are perfect, as they can dispatch the Nim swiftly and efficiently, bypassing the regeneration ability that many artifact creatures boast. Additionally, employing board wipes can reset the state of play, though this is more resource-intensive. It’s also beneficial to manage the proliferation sources in your opponent’s deck, as this inhibits the growth of the Nim, among other potential threats.

When facing the Contagious Nim, strategize with quick action and precise removal to maintain control of the game. Preventing momentum on your opponent’s side is the key to overcoming the Nim’s infectious presence on the field.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Contagious Nim MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Contagious Nim and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Contagious Nim has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2011-01-01	A player who has ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action.
2011-01-01	Damage from a source with infect affects planeswalkers normally.
2011-01-01	Damage from a source with infect is damage in all respects. If the source with infect also has lifelink, damage dealt by that source also causes its controller to gain that much life. Damage from a source with infect can be prevented or redirected. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt will trigger if a source with infect deals damage, if appropriate.
2011-01-01	If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a player is prevented, that player doesn’t get poison counters. If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a creature is prevented, that creature doesn’t get -1/-1 counters.
2011-01-01	Infect’s effect applies to any damage, not just combat damage.
2011-01-01	The -1/-1 counters remain on the creature indefinitely. They’re not removed if the creature regenerates or the turn ends.