Engineered Plague MTG Card
1999-02-15 - Number 51
2001-04-11 - Number 133★
2001-04-11 - Number 133
2001-08-08 - Number ar133sb
2002-06-24 - Number 32543
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
When Engineered Plague comes into play, choose a creature type. All creatures of the chosen type get -1/-1.
"The admixture of bitterwort in the viral brew has produced most favorable results." —Phyrexian progress notes
Understanding Engineered Plague’s Impact
Engineered Plague, a notable enchantment in the world of Magic: The Gathering, stands out for its ability to alter the complexion of the game by giving players a strategic edge against creature-heavy decks. Its effectiveness becomes evident when compared to cards with a similar function. For instance, take Plague Engineer, which allows for choosing a creature type when it enters the battlefield and gives those creatures -1/-1. While synergistic with Engineered Plague’s strategy, Plague Engineer affects only creatures on the battlefield and is itself creature-based, thereby potentially vulnerable to removal.
Cards like Engineered Plague
Similar in purpose to Engineered Plague, Night of Souls’ Betrayal is another enchantment that applies a -1/-1 effect to all creatures permanently. The difference lies in Engineered Plague’s specificity, targeting one creature type, versus the universal application of Night of Souls’ Betrayal. This distinction leads to a nuanced decision-making process for players, assessing whether to target a specific opponent’s deck strategy or to impact the entire field equally. Additionally, Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, continues this theme, providing an even stronger -2/-2 debuff to opponents’ creatures, while boosting your own. However, Elesh Norn’s higher mana cost and creature type, make it a less subtle tool compared to the more constant, low-profile presence of Engineered Plague.
Diving deeper into the landscape of creature control, Engineered Plague’s unique proposition becomes evident. It poses a continuous threat to decks revolving around tribal synergies, really shining in metagames where certain creature types dominate. In terms of deck construction, this enchantment can be a critical asset in the controlled matchups, obligatory in sideboards, or even main decks, especially for those looking to cripple creature focussed strategies in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Engineered Plague by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Engineered Plague. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Decklist | Free form | 80#CS | |
 | Mono-White Midrange | Premodern | Misty Premodern Winter Finals | |
| Five-color Aggro | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Deadguy Ale | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Abzan Enchantress | Legacy | Enchantress | Legacy Challenge 32 2023-11-18 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Engineered Plague offers indirect card advantage by weakening entire categories of creatures your opponent controls. Over time, this can result in card superiority as their creatures become less effective and are traded off or removed more easily.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly related to resource acceleration, Engineered Plague can disrupt your opponent’s development by making their creature-based strategies costlier and their plays less productive, effectively slowing them down and giving you more time to establish control on the board.
Instant Speed: While Engineered Plague is an enchantment that is played at sorcery speed, its continuous effect has a similar disruptive influence to that of an instant. Once on the battlefield, it can instantly alter the conditions without warning during your opponent’s turn, right as they put a creature into play, minimizing their creatures’ impact immediately.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Engineered Plague doesn’t directly cause you to discard, its effectiveness is highly situational. Without a clear target for the plague, it might as well be a dead card in your hand, creating an indirect discard-like scenario where it’s simply taking up valuable space.
Specific Mana Cost: Engineered Plague demands a specific mana arrangement of two colorless and one black. This requirement can be cumbersome for multi-color decks that might not always have the requisite black mana available when the card could be most impactful.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The three-mana cost of this enchantment is steep, considering that it only affects creatures of the chosen type. In fast-paced games or against decks not heavily reliant on creature types, Engineered Plague’s cost-to-benefit ratio decreases, making it a less favorable option over more universally impactful spells.
Reasons to Include Engineered Plague in Your Collection
Versatility: Engineered Plague can be a significant weapon in any player’s arsenal due to its ability to adapt against various creature types. Sideboards across different formats often include this card to counter tribal-focused decks, making it a strategic tool in diverse metagames.
Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with strategies to suppress opponents’ creature-based plays. Engineered Plague can work in tandem with other cards that punish players for summoning creatures, or in decks that minimize the impact of certain creature types, fortifying your position on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: Given its strength against decks that rely heavily on creatures sharing a type, including Engineered Plague in your collection ensures preparedness against swarm strategies that may dominate the game. It is particularly effective when the meta favors tribal synergies, providing a straightforward response to otherwise overwhelming forces.
How to beat
Engineered Plague has etched its place in the MTG world as a prominent enchantment capable of crippling creature-based strategies. When facing a deck built around a single creature type, it can be devastating, but there are ways to mitigate its impact. Tactics include utilizing a diversified creature base to dilute its effect. Alternatively, cards that can directly remove enchantments, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, can swiftly eliminate its threat from the battlefield.
In scenarios where your game plan revolves around tribal synergies, including countermeasures like Hexproof or Shroud to protect your creatures from such global effects is wise. Engineered Plague preys on the weak, so increasing the resilience of your forces through buffs or indestructibility can ensure their survival against this plague. Knowing the types of threats your deck may face and planning accordingly can be the difference between victory and defeat when Engineered Plague enters the fray.
Adaptability and strategic sideboarding are key. By expecting the unexpected and equipping your deck with the right tools to combat card like Engineered Plague, you can turn a potential pitfall into a mere stumbling block on the path to triumph.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Engineered Plague MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and Seventh Edition, 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 Engineered Plague 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
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Printings
The Engineered Plague Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2001-08-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-02-15 | Urza's Legacy | ULG | 51 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 2 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 133★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 133 | 1997 | Normal | White | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 4 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | ar133sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Andrew Goldhawk | |
| 5 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 32543 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Engineered Plague has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |