Festerleech MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Leech |
| Abilities | Mill |
| Released | 2024-02-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Set code | MKM |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 85 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Helge C. Balzer |
Text of card
Whenever Festerleech deals combat damage to a player, you mill two cards. : Festerleech gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Activate only once each turn.
"Four Dead in Zombie Leech Attack, Dozens Nauseated" —*Tenth District Times* headline
Cards like Festerleech
Festerleech brings a unique blend of abilities to MTG play, similar in nature to other creatures that can enhance their power at a cost. Its kinship can be seen with the creature Voracious Hatchling. Voracious Hatchling also starts with diminished stats that grow as it participates in combat, albeit through lifelink encounters rather than the mana expenditure Festerleech requires to increase its punch. Unlike Festerleech, the Hatchling doesn’t offer the same flexibility of instant stat boosts.
Another card that echoes Festerleech’s power-up mechanic is Scourge of Skola Vale. This creature thrives on devouring other creatures to bolster its strength and toughness, presenting a sacrifice-driven strategy alternative to Festerleech’s mana investment route. While Scourge of Skola Vale can potentially become larger in a single turn, Festerleech allows for more incremental and predictable growth.
Comparing Festerleech to these cards highlights its strategic value in providing players with a creature that can adapt to various game situations. While other cards offer higher risk and reward situations, Festerleech stands out with its controlled growth potential, potentially making it a match for those who prefer gradual, assured development on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Festerleech by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Festerleech, you gain potential card advantage by impacting the board state every time you play a land. This synergy can gradually outpace your opponent as you consistently turn land plays into leverage.
Resource Acceleration: Festerleech can contribute to resource acceleration by removing lower-cost creatures your opponent controls. This disrupts their early game, potentially setting back their mana development or planned combos, while you continue to advance your board position uninterrupted.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of playing Festerleech at instant speed provides the strategic upper hand of being able to react swiftly to threats during your opponent’s turn. This can disrupt their strategies and plays, ensuring you’re always one step ahead.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Festerleech demands a card to be discarded when it enters the battlefield. This requirement may strain your hand, especially if maintaining card advantage is crucial to your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Cast with a combination of black and green mana, Festerleech may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that also require other mana resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment of five mana to summon Festerleech, players might contemplate the efficiency, considering alternative creatures or spells that could offer more immediate impact or versatility for a similar or lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Festerleech thrives in any deck that emphasizes the manipulation of +1/+1 counters or life total changes. Its ability to interact with different game mechanics allows it to be a flexible addition to a variety of strategies, fitting seamlessly into counter-centric or life-gain decks.
Combo Potential: With Festerleech’s capability to give and remove counters, it opens up numerous combo avenues. It works well with cards that trigger effects when counters are placed or creatures die, enabling powerful synergies in the right deck.
Meta-Relevance: Given its unique skill set that caters well to disrupting opponent creatures and being a permanent that players must answer, Festerleech is well-positioned in a meta where creature interaction is key. Its presence can be significant in games where maintaining or altering the state of the board is crucial for victory.
How to beat
Festerleech presents a nuanced challenge for Magic: The Gathering players. Unlike other creatures that rely solely on power or abilities, Festerleech combines both, making it a resilient contender on the battlefield. To effectively combat this card, players must consider a multitiered strategy. Firstly, removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes, can bypass Festerleech’s resistance to targeted spells provided by its regenerate ability. Additionally, leveraging creatures with deathtouch can offer a straightforward approach to remove Festerleech irrespective of its size.
Another angle involves managing the battlefield itself — controlling the number of creatures in play, as Festerleech’s strength is proportionate to the number of creatures on the field. Tactics such as surgical creature removal or applying pressure with aggressive builds force opponents to answer threats, potentially weakening Festerleech indirectly. Lastly, cards that impose restrictions on regeneration, like those that grant exile or -1/-1 counters, can permanently deal with Festerleech, circumventing its otherwise formidable defenses.
Therefore, while Festerleech may initially seem daunting, understanding its dependencies and utilizing the vast array of tools available within Magic: The Gathering can deftly shift the odds in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Festerleech MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Festerleech 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Festerleech has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |