Flesh-Eater Imp MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Imp
Abilities Flying,Infect
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Flesh-Eater Imp excels at augmenting card advantage through creature sacrifice synergies.
  2. Growth through Infect ability and instant speed actions strengthen battlefield dominance.
  3. Demands for creature sacrifices and specific mana costs can restrict play versatility.

Text of card

Flying Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.) Sacrifice a creature: Flesh-Eater Imp gets +1/+1 until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Flesh-Eater Imp offers a repeatable sacrifice outlet which can be pivotal in archetypes that benefit from creature death triggers. This ability sets the stage for drawing cards indirectly through synergy with other effects in your deck, effectively increasing the number of resources at your disposal.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly produce mana or Treasure, the Imp accelerates your game plan by growing larger with its Infect ability every time you sacrifice another creature. This enhances your battlefield presence and brings you closer to a win through proliferating poison counters.

Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice a creature at instant speed means you can react to opponents’ actions, such as removal spells, by turning potential losses into your own advantage. Additionally, this can be used to unexpectedly grow the Imp during combat, potentially delivering lethal poison counters out of nowhere.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Flesh-Eater Imp requires sacrificing a creature each time you wish to utilize its proliferate ability. This cost can become quite steep, especially if your board is lacking in creatures or if you’re playing against a deck that can easily remove your smaller creatures, hindering the power of this card.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Flesh-Eater Imp involves black mana exclusively. This specificity means that it will not fit in every deck and is best suited to mono-black or black-centered decks, possibly restricting its versatility when deck building.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three and one black, Flesh-Eater Imp sits at a higher price point for its starting stats. Although its Infect and flying abilities are strengths, there are other creatures in the same mana range that could have a more immediate impact on the game without the additional requirement of sacrificing creatures to grow stronger.


Reasons to Include Flesh-Eater Imp in Your Collection

Versatility: Flesh-Eater Imp provides a dynamic role in decks that focus on sacrifice tactics or those that can generate a multitude of tokens to be utilized as fodder. With its infect ability, the Imp is a formidable inclusion to any strategy looking to apply pressure with poison counters.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that provide undying or persist effects, the Imp’s sacrifice ability allows you to repeatedly benefit from these enter-the-battlefield triggers. This makes for an impactful synergy that can overwhelm opponents with recurring threat activation.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that leans towards creature-based strategies, Flesh-Eater Imp can be particularly potent. The combination of flying, infect, and the option to scale its power makes it a worthwhile contender, especially in formats where gaining incremental advantages can decisively shift the game in your favor.


How to beat

The Flesh-Eater Imp is a card that can pose a significant threat with its infect ability and potential to grow in power quickly. One strategy to overcome it is to remove it from the battlefield before it becomes too large of a threat. This can be done using instant-speed removal spells such as Path to Exile or Murder, which can disrupt your opponent’s plans to sacrifice creatures and buff the imp. Additionally, since the Imp relies on having other creatures to sacrifice, keeping their creature count low with board wipes like Wrath of God can be effective in stifling their strategy. Cards with the ability to grant creatures protection from black can also prevent the Flesh-Eater Imp from blocking or attacking effectively.

Countering the sacrifice synergy is another angle to consider; for instance, using cards like Leyline of Sanctity can protect you from being targeted by abilities, or running Grafdigger’s Cage to prevent creatures from being reanimated from the graveyard for sacrifice fodder. Watching for the right moment to disrupt your opponent’s combo chain is crucial when dealing with Flesh-Eater Imp since it can be the difference between a loss and a victorious defense.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG is ever-expanding, and cards like Flesh-Eater Imp are a prime example of the intricacies within the game. Analyzing the pros and cons, along with strategies on how to leverage or counter this card, demonstrates its potential impact on various formats. For those keen on refining their decks with a sacrifice-centric approach, adding Flesh-Eater Imp could be a game-changer. Ready to optimize your deck and master the art of calculated sacrifice? Dive deeper into the MTG universe with us, discover advanced strategies, and enhance your collection for a truly menacing presence on the battlefield.


Cards like Flesh-Eater Imp

Flesh-Eater Imp offers a unique dynamic in the realm of creature cards with a sacrifice ability. When scouting for counterparts, one might consider Carrion Feeder, another creature that lets you sacrifice a creature to put a +1/+1 counter on it. Unlike the Imp, the Feeder cannot gain flying, but shares the incremental growth without mana investment. Additionally, Bloodthrone Vampire emerges as a side-by-side contender, providing a temporary attack boost instead of permanent counters but with the same sacrifice utility.

Moving towards a blend of sacrifice synergy and evasion, the Vampire of the Dire Moon stands out with its lifelink trait, though it lacks the growth potential of Flesh-Eater Imp. Meanwhile, Nantuko Husk offers a scalable threat, allowing for potentially massive power spikes during combat similar to the Imp, albeit without infect. While each of these creatures has its unique attributes, Flesh-Eater Imp holds a distinctive place with its infect ability, posing a lethal threat that can ramp up quickly if left unchecked.

Considering the strategic depth and aggressive potential Flesh-Eater Imp brings to the battlefield, it stands as a formidable choice for players looking to exploit sacrifice mechanics and deliver poison counters in MTG.

Carrion Feeder - MTG Card versions
Bloodthrone Vampire - MTG Card versions
Vampire of the Dire Moon - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Husk - MTG Card versions
Carrion Feeder - Scourge (SCG)
Bloodthrone Vampire - URL/Convention Promos (PURL)
Vampire of the Dire Moon - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Nantuko Husk - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Flesh-Eater Imp by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Crowd of Cinders - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Faceless Butcher - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Crowd of Cinders - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flesh-Eater Imp MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged and Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia, 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 Flesh-Eater Imp and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Flesh-Eater Imp Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2011-05-14. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-02-04Mirrodin BesiegedMBS 422003normalblackJohann Bodin
22011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 582003normalblackJohann Bodin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Flesh-Eater Imp has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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