Infernal Contract MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 129
1999-04-21 - Number 139
2001-04-11 - Number 143★
2001-04-11 - Number 143
2005-08-22 - Number A13
2006-01-01 - Number 13
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Pay half your life, rounded up: Draw four cards.
"But I signed nothing!" —Taraneh, Suq'Ata mage
Cards like Infernal Contract
Infernal Contract stands out in the library of card-drawing spells for its high-risk, high-reward nature. In the context of Magic: The Gathering, it draws a stark comparison to other draw mechanics such as Ad Nauseam. While both cards allow for a significant card advantage, the distinction lies in Ad Nauseam enabling the player to reveal cards until they stop, potentially paying less life but also gaining fewer cards.
Another card often brought into comparison is Dark Confidant, due to its ability to continually provide card advantage at the expense of life. However, Dark Confidant offers a more controlled and steady stream of cards, with a cost distributed over several turns. Opposed to that is Infernal Contract’s one-time cost of half your life, which is a drasti
Cards similar to Infernal Contract by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Drawing four cards at once provides a significant boost in resources, potentially swinging the game in your favor by giving you more options and responses to your opponent’s moves.
Resource Acceleration: Even though there’s an upfront cost to your life total, this acceleration in card availability can help set up powerful plays much earlier than normal, paving the way for a quicker victory.
Instant Speed: While Infernal Contract is not an instant, its potentially game-changing effect can be likened to the immediate impact that instant-speed interactions can offer, setting up your game state for immediate response or overwhelming advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Necessitating three cards to be discarded upon resolution, Infernal Contract can be significantly detrimental in situations where hand preservation is crucial for maintaining strategic options.
Specific Mana Cost: The strict demand for one black mana in addition to two of any color may exclude Infernal Contract from the toolkit of multicolored decks not heavily invested in black mana resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, this card’s instant advantage can be outweighed in decks that prioritize lower mana curves or when other options for card draw exist at a reduced mana investment.
Reasons to Include Infernal Contract in Your Collection
Versatility: Infernal Contract is a powerful draw card that can slot into various competitive and casual decks. Its ability to provide a significant draw advantage at the cost of half your life makes it particularly useful in situations where life total isn’t your primary concern, or in decks that can offset the life loss.
Combo Potential: This card shows immense combo potential, particularly in decks built around life manipulation or storm strategies. It can be used as a part of a larger combination of plays that can potentially lead to a game-winning turn.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where fast combo decks or aggressive strategies prevail, Infernal Contract can be the key to pulling off your game plan before your opponent can establish their board presence. Keeping ahead in resources is often crucial, and this card ensures you maintain that edge.
How to beat
Infernal Contract is a potent draw spell in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a high-risk, high-reward chance to gain a significant card advantage. At face value, drawing four cards for half your life points might seem like a steep cost, but in the right deck, it can be a powerhouse move. Understanding its potential and risks is key, but if you’re on the opposing side, countering it involves strategic planning. Maintaining pressure and reducing your opponent’s life total before they can stabilize post-Contract is crucial.
Life gain can mitigate the negative impact of Infernal Contract. Therefore, including cards that disrupt life gain strategies can be effective. Artifact destruction spells to remove enhancements or creatures that block life gain paths can help. Moreover, instant speed removals that thwart key creatures pivotal to leveraging the card’s advantage can tilt the scales in your favor. Be mindful of the timing — denying your opponent’s attempts to stabilize after playing Infernal Contract can break their strategy, leading your path to victory.
Ultimately, consistently adapting to the dynamic gameplay and understanding when to disrupt your opponent’s plans are pivotal elements to combating Infernal Contract’s explosive potential in any match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Infernal Contract MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Classic Sixth 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 Infernal Contract 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 Infernal Contract Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2006-01-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 129 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Roger Raupp | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 139 | 1997 | Normal | White | Roger Raupp | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 143★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 4 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 143 | 1997 | Normal | White | Pete Venters | |
| 5 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | A13 | 2003 | Normal | White | Pete Venters | |
| 6 | 2006-01-01 | Hachette UK | PHUK | 13 | 2003 | Normal | White | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Infernal Contract has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Infernal Contract card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-02-01 | If you attempt to halve a negative life total, you halve 0. This means that the life total stays the same. A life total of -10 would remain -10. |