Festercreep MTG Card

Festercreep excels in clearing multiple small creatures, creating significant card advantage on the board. Its flexibility to add counters at instant speed allows for unexpected combat tricks or board alterations. Limited by specific mana requirements and higher casting cost, Festercreep demands careful deck integration.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Power 0
Toughness 0

Text of card

Festercreep comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it. , Remove a +1/+1 counter from Festercreep: All other creatures get -1/-1 until end of turn.

A single festercreep isn't alone. It's already an infestation.

Cards like Festercreep

When it comes to utility creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Festercreep provides a unique function in disrupting opponent strategies. It is reminiscent of cards like Plague Engineer which also offers a way to deal with creatures of a certain type. However, Festercreep comes with the potential for widespread impact by placing +1/+1 counters and then eliminating creatures with its power to clear out multiple targets regardless of type.

Another card with similarities is Massacre Wurm, which proves to be a game-changer with its broader ability to give creatures -2/-2 upon entering the battlefield. Where Festercreep requires a build-up to be effective, Massacre Wurm immediately impacts the board. Engineered Plague also shares a thematic link, allowing the choice of a creature type to weaken but, unlike Festercreep, affects only opponents’ creatures statically without the potential for increase.

The comparison reveals that while Festercreep may require more set-up and mana investment, its scalability and flexibility can make it a key tactical component. Its ability to evolve and confront different board states gives it a distinct niche among creature control options in Magic: The Gathering.

Plague Engineer - MTG Card versions
Massacre Wurm - MTG Card versions
Engineered Plague - MTG Card versions
Plague Engineer - MTG Card versions
Massacre Wurm - MTG Card versions
Engineered Plague - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With the potential to wipe out a board of tokens or small creatures, Festercreep can swing the game in your favor by effectively dealing with multiple threats at once. This can lead to a significant advantage in card economy as it often trades one card for many of your opponent’s.

Resource Acceleration: While Festercreep itself doesn’t accelerate your resources directly, it can create situations that are favorable for your upcoming plays. Clearing the board of smaller creatures makes way for your larger threats to dominate the playing field without contest.

Instant Speed: The ability to add +1/+1 counters at instant speed allows Festercreep to adapt to the evolving board state, surprising an unsuspecting opponent during combat or at the end of their turn. This disruptive potential makes it a flexible play, fitting into your strategy as the need arises.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Festercreep demands a card sacrifice to unleash its potential, a strategy that could backfire when your hand is already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Festercreep’s summoning demands a precise blend of mana, anchored in black. This rigid requirement can hamper its inclusion in a varied color deck lineup.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might eclipse its immediate impact on the game, players could find themselves weighing Festercreep against more mana-efficient creatures or spells that offer quicker board presence or advantage.

Reasons to Include Festercreep in Your Collection

Versatility: Festercreep offers a unique flexibility in dealing with numerous creatures on the board simultaneously. As a creature that can fit into black control or midrange decks, it can be a surprising tool to sweep away an opponent’s tokens or x/1 creatures.

Combo Potential: With Festercreep, the possibility to enhance its power and thus its board-clearing ability is significant. It works well in decks that focus on +1/+1 counters or managing the number of creatures each player controls.

Meta-Relevance: Given the frequent presence of creature-heavy strategies in various metagames, having a card like Festercreep can shift the tide of battle. It’s particularly useful in metas where token strategies are prevalent, allowing it to act as a potent silver bullet.

How to beat

The Festercreep card in Magic: The Gathering offers an intriguing layer to creature strategies with its potential to control the board. At its core, Festercreep is a utility creature, adept at wiping out tokens or small creatures with a simple mechanic – placing +1/+1 counters and then removing them to weaken the opponent’s squad. While this might seem like a powerful deterrent, overcoming Festercreep is about strategic timing and resource management.

One approach is utilizing removal spells when Festercreep hits the battlefield. Since its ability relies on counters, targeting it before it becomes a threat is key. Instant speed spells allow you to react swiftly, disarming the threat before it escalates. Alternatively, summoning creatures with more resilience, with toughness beyond the reach of Festercreep’s effect, makes for a reliable counterplay. Creatures with hexproof or shroud also offer you a protective edge as they’re impermeable to Festercreep’s ability. Additionally, bolstering your creatures’ toughness in response to a Festercreep activation can safeguard them, turning a critical situation into a manageable one.

Understanding the nuances of managing threats and anticipating your opponent’s moves ensures that even a potentially disruptive card like Festercreep can be effectively contained and overcome in MTG.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Festercreep MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide and Commander 2016, 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 Festercreep and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Festercreep Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2008-02-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Jeff Easley.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-02-01MorningtideMOR 622003NormalBlackJeff Easley
22016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1102015NormalBlackJeff Easley
32018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 632015NormalBlackJeff Easley
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6582015NormalBlackJeff Easley
52020-09-26The ListPLST CM2-632015NormalBlackJeff Easley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Festercreep has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal