Phyresis MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Key Takeaways

  1. Phyresis shifts game dynamics significantly by granting creatures the impactful infect mechanic.
  2. It doubles as a resource accelerator in Infect decks, offering potential for quick wins.
  3. Instant-speed flexibility of Phyresis enables unexpected and strategic game plays.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature has infect. (It deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)

"Perfection is at hand. You have been freed of weakness and made *compleat*." —Sheoldred, Whispering One


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Phyresis can significantly shift the dynamics of a game by granting a creature Infect. This trait transforms damage dealt into -1/-1 counters on creatures or poison counters on players, skewing the usual combat math and making every point of damage more threatening. This adds value to every hit dealt, essentially creating a form of incremental card advantage over time as your threats become harder to block effectively and life totals become less relevant.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly accelerating your mana resources, Phyresis can be seen as a form of resource acceleration in an Infect-focused deck. By enabling a creature to deal damage in poison counters, it can reduce the amount of damage needed to win from 20 to just 10, effectively halving the ‘resource’ needed to achieve victory—your opponent’s life points.

Instant Speed: Phyresis can be cast at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to make strategic combat decisions during the heat of battle or to catch an opponent off-guard. This mirrors tactics typically seen in control decks but utilized here to turn an unassuming creature into a lethal threat out of nowhere. The surprise factor and the ability to convert any creature into a game-ending threat at any time can be incredibly powerful.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Phyresis can turn any creature into a formidable threat by granting it infect, it comes with the cost of potentially discarding another valuable card. Players must weigh the option carefully, particularly in instances where their hand size is dwindling or the card pool contains crucial pieces for the game’s strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Phyresis demands a black mana to cast, which might restrict its integration into multicolored decks that may not consistently provide the needed mana type. This makes it a less flexible option for decks that are not primarily black or those that do not have reliable mana fixing capabilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though two mana might not seem exorbitant, for an enchantment that solely grants infect, it’s relatively steep. Considering other cards in a similar mana range might provide a broader spectrum of abilities or affect the board state more significantly, Phyresis could be considered a costly investment for the ability it offers.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Phyresis is an adaptable card that can turn any creature into a significant threat with its infect ability. Being able to lay down poison counters bypasses life totals and offers another win condition for diverse deck types.

Combo Potential: With Phyresis, players can concoct lethal combinations by pairing it with high-power creatures or those with evasion, quickly closing games through infect damage. It’s a key component in strategies focused on rapidly accumulating poison counters.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games are protracted and life-gain decks are prevalent, Phyresis shines by shifting the victory focus away from traditional damage. This can give decks an edge by presenting an unexpected angle of attack that isn’t easily countered by popular meta strategies.


How to beat

Phyresis is a card that embodies the infect mechanic, turning any creature into a potent threat capable of ending games with its poison counter abilities. Unlike traditional combat damage, infect deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters, with ten poison counters spelling defeat regardless of a player’s life total.

To effectively counteract Phyresis, consider cards that offer protection from specific colors or abilities such as enchantment removal. Cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant can remove Phyresis from the field before its infect ability becomes a problem. Additionally, utilizing instant-speed removal can catch opponents off guard, disrupting their strategy and preserving your standing in the game.

Counterspells also pose an efficient solution, preventing Phyresis from even entering the battlefield. Ensuring your deck has answers to threats like Phyresis helps maintain control of the match. Remember, being proactive and reactive in your strategy is crucial when facing cards that can quickly end the game if left unchecked.


BurnMana Recommendations

The addition of Phyresis to your MTG arsenal brings a tactical edge to your play style. By converting damage to poison counters, it can drastically redefine win conditions. If you’re eager to enhance your Infect strategy and relish in games where a single creature can become a ticking time bomb for your opponent, Phyresis is a vital inclusion. Dive deeper into diverse synergies and deck construction wisdom that embraces this enchantment’s unique capabilities. We encourage you to advance your gameplay by integrating the latent power of Phyresis and securing victories that are as satisfying as they are strategic. Learn more with us and become adept at wielding the power of Infect.


Cards like Phyresis

Phyresis holds a unique place in the realm of infect mechanics within Magic: The Gathering. When examining cards that share similar attributes, Grafted Exoskeleton emerges as a noteworthy comparison. Both cards effectively grant the infect ability to a creature, but the Exoskeleton comes with an equip feature at the expense of a higher mana cost and the risk of losing life points when it becomes unattached.

In the shadow of Phyresis, we also find Tainted Strike, which provides a sudden, single-turn infect ability boost with an added power increase, all at a low cost. It’s a different tactical choice that can create explosive and unexpected wins. Conversely, Lost Leonin is a creature that inherently possesses infect, presenting a more consistent but predictable threat over turns.

The lasting impact of Phyresis in player decks can be attributed to its low cost and the permanence of the infect ability it bestows upon creatures. It stands as a potent card in MTG strategies focused on delivering poison counters and solidifies its value among other cards that modify creature abilities.

Grafted Exoskeleton - MTG Card versions
Tainted Strike - MTG Card versions
Lost Leonin - MTG Card versions
Grafted Exoskeleton - MTG Card versions
Tainted Strike - MTG Card versions
Lost Leonin - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Phyresis by color, type and mana cost

Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
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Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Chains of Mephistopheles - MTG Card versions
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - MTG Card versions
Brain Maggot - MTG Card versions
Aphemia, the Cacophony - MTG Card versions
Oversold Cemetery - MTG Card versions
Lingering Death - MTG Card versions
Cover of Darkness - MTG Card versions
Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
Fear - MTG Card versions
Warp Artifact - MTG Card versions
Deathgrip - MTG Card versions
Blight - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Chains of Mephistopheles - MTG Card versions
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - MTG Card versions
Brain Maggot - MTG Card versions
Aphemia, the Cacophony - MTG Card versions
Oversold Cemetery - MTG Card versions
Lingering Death - MTG Card versions
Cover of Darkness - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phyresis MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged and The List, 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 Phyresis and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Phyresis Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2011-02-04. Illustrated by Izzy.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-02-04Mirrodin BesiegedMBS 492003NormalBlackIzzy
22020-09-26The ListPLST MBS-492003NormalBlackIzzy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Phyresis has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Phyresis card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2011-06-01 Multiple instances of infect on the same creature are redundant.

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