Phyrexian Juggernaut MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Phyrexian Juggernaut
Abilities Infect
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. The Juggernaut’s infect ability can turn games in your favor by rapidly accumulating poison counters.
  2. Its presence forces opponents to use up resources, potentially to their own detriment.
  3. Though powerful, it may be slow to play and requires careful deck construction to optimize.

Text of card

Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.) Phyrexian Juggernaut attacks each turn if able.

Where nature impedes, Phyrexians overcome.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With the Phyrexian Juggernaut’s potential to decimate an opponent’s creatures, it can shift the balance in your favor on the battlefield, effectively providing card advantage as you deplete your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Though it doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its imposing presence requires immediate answers from opponents, often causing them to deplete their resources more quickly and paving the way for your other threats.

Instant Speed: While Phyrexian Juggernaut doesn’t operate at instant speed, its Infect ability can create an immediate impact, offering the advantage of possibly winning the game in a single combat phase if unblocked, leveraging a similar pressure as that of instant-speed threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to the Phyrexian Juggernaut is its inclusion in strategies that may force you to discard cards. If your deck isn’t built to accommodate or benefit from discarding, it might not synergize well with this card and could leave you at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact creature card comes with a mana cost that is particularly color-intensive for decks that utilize infect or artifact synergies. Being colorless itself, it shouldn’t be hard to cast in most decks, but the specific mana cost can present a problem in highly colored mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is on the higher end, the Phyrexian Juggernaut could be considered a slow play. Other creatures and spells might provide more immediate board impact or versatility, making the Juggernaut less appealing in faster metagames where early board presence is crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Phyrexian Juggernaut is a formidable artifact creature that can easily slot into artifact-based and aggro decks alike. Its infect ability makes it a credible threat on its own, regardless of the overarching deck theme.

Combo Potential: The infect mechanic allows for powerful combos, particularly when combined with cards that increase its power or provide evasion. This potentially turns Juggernaut into a one-hit knockout.

Meta-Relevance: With the prevalence of creature-heavy decks, Phyrexian Juggernaut can be an essential card, bypassing traditional life-total strategies and directly targeting poison counters for a swift victory.


How to beat

Overcoming the menace of a Phyrexian Juggernaut on the battlefield requires strategic maneuvering and the right counters. This formidable artifact creature comes with infect, meaning it can deal damage in the form of -1/-1 counters to creatures and poison counters to players. To thwart it, consider utilizing artifact removal spells that can target and destroy it before it accumulates too much power.

Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize can be key in dismantling this threat. More so, tapping into creature control cards can nullify the Juggernaut, transforming it from a potent adversary to a non-issue. Instant-speed interaction is crucial, as it allows you to respond directly to the Juggernaut’s attack, preventing any infectious damage. Additionally, chump blocking with disposable creatures can buy you precious time to find a permanent solution. Focus on a defensive strategy that minimizes the Juggernaut’s impact while you work towards your victory.

Bearing in mind these tactics, players can withstand the onslaught of a Phyrexian Juggernaut. It’s important to stay ahead of the game, keeping removal or control cards within reach to maintain an upper hand against such a relentless force.


Cards like Phyrexian Juggernaut

The Phyrexian Juggernaut stands as a formidable creature in Magic: The Gathering, sharing the battlefield with like-minded artifacts. Similar in its menace to other massive constructs, the juggernaut is often compared to cards like Darksteel Colossus. While the colossus boasts indestructibility and a game-ending trample ability, Phyrexian Juggernaut is stealthier, with a lower mana cost and infect, potentially wrapping up games swiftly with its poison counters.

Another comparable card is Triskelion, which can distribute damage rather than deal direct combat damage. Though it doesn’t carry the infect mechanic, it provides versatility in controlling the board by removing smaller creatures. Conversely, the juggernaut demands direct confrontation, capable of decimating opponents with fewer strikes due to its infect attribute. Lastly, there’s the Myr Battlesphere, which brings with it an army of Myr tokens and acts as a source of direct damage. However, the Phyrexian Juggernaut’s infect and the sheer threat it poses make it a unique adversary on the MTG landscape.

These mechanical giants each offer different advantages, but the Phyrexian Juggernaut is a distinct choice for those seeking to harness the power of infect and a quick victory on the battlefield.

Darksteel Colossus - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions
Myr Battlesphere - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Colossus - Darksteel (DST)
Triskelion - Antiquities (ATQ)
Myr Battlesphere - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Phyrexian Juggernaut by color, type and mana cost

Clockwork Beast - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions
Armageddon Clock - MTG Card versions
Mirror Universe - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Ages - MTG Card versions
Planar Gate - MTG Card versions
Urza's Avenger - MTG Card versions
Bronze Tablet - MTG Card versions
Joven's Tools - MTG Card versions
Serpent Generator - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Sculpture - MTG Card versions
Workhorse - MTG Card versions
Well of Discovery - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Hulk - MTG Card versions
Wurmcoil Engine - MTG Card versions
Brass Herald - MTG Card versions
Mirror Golem - MTG Card versions
Razor Golem - MTG Card versions
Mycosynth Lattice - MTG Card versions
Leashling - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Beast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Triskelion - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Armageddon Clock - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mirror Universe - Legends (LEG)
Sword of the Ages - Legends (LEG)
Planar Gate - Legends (LEG)
Urza's Avenger - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Bronze Tablet - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Joven's Tools - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Serpent Generator - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Sculpture - Tempest (TMP)
Workhorse - The List (PLST)
Well of Discovery - Prophecy (PCY)
Phyrexian Hulk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wurmcoil Engine - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Brass Herald - Commander Legends (CMR)
Mirror Golem - Mirrodin (MRD)
Razor Golem - Darksteel (DST)
Mycosynth Lattice - Battlebond (BBD)
Leashling - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phyrexian Juggernaut 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 Phyrexian Juggernaut and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Phyrexian Juggernaut Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2011-05-14. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-02-04Mirrodin BesiegedMBS 1212003normalblackKev Walker
22011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 632003normalblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Phyrexian Juggernaut has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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