Chained Throatseeker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Horror
Abilities	Infect
Released	2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set name	New Phyrexia
Set code	NPH
Power	5
Toughness	5
Number	30
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Stephan Martiniere

Key Takeaways

Chained Throatseeker’s infect ability applies pressure on opponents, threatening with poison counter accumulation.
Requires discarding and has a specific mana cost, limiting its versatility in various decks.
Stands out with a larger body compared to similar infect creatures, enhancing its in-game impact.

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.) Chained Throatseeker can't attack unless defending player is poisoned.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Despite not having a direct card draw ability, Chained Throatseeker offers a formidable body that often requires multiple cards from your opponent to handle. When it connects with a player thanks to infect, it contributes to the enduring advantage of poison counters accumulating on opponents.

Resource Acceleration: This card may not ramp up your mana base in a traditional sense, but its infect ability can accelerate your path to victory. Each hit brings your opponent closer to the critical total of ten poison counters, effectively making each successful strike a significant step towards winning the match.

Instant Speed: While Chained Throatseeker operates at sorcery speed, its impact on the board is instantaneous in terms of pressure. Plus, it encourages strategic play, potentially holding back enemy creatures in fear of what’s lurking on your side of the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chained Throatseeker demands you pitch another card to unleash its potential. In the ebb and flow of the game, this can be a steep price, especially when your hand is already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a precise Phyrexian mana cost, Chained Throatseeker requires a committed deck build. Its requirement for both blue mana and life payment can restrict its playability to specific archetypes, potentially clashing with more flexible strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total converted mana cost that’s on the higher end for its effects, Chained Throatseeker competes with a suite of other creatures and spells. Players may find other cards that accomplish similar goals with lower investment or additional benefits, leaving it overshadowed in a crowded field of options.

Reasons to Include Chained Throatseeker in Your Collection

Versatility: Chained Throatseeker offers a unique blend as a formidable creature in any infect or proliferation-focused deck. Its ability to receive buffs while also having infect makes it a compelling choice in various game situations.

Combo Potential: This card’s synergy with increasing the number of poison counters on your opponents is notable. Pairing it with cards that add or double counters can quickly escalate the threat level and pave the way for a swift victory.

Meta-Relevance: Given that certain players are constructing decks that can be vulnerable to non-traditional damage sources, Chained Throatseeker can be a significant player in breaking through such defenses, making it a relevant addition in ever-evolving metagames.

How to beat

Mastering the intricacies of Magic: The Gathering involves not only using your cards wisely but also knowing how to counter your opponents’ strategies effectively. Chained Throatseeker presents a unique challenge with its Infect ability, potentially dealing damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters. To tilt the game in your favor against this formidable threat, a smart approach is to remove it from combat scenarios. Spells that exile creatures or disable their abilities are especially effective.

One efficient way to outmaneuver the Chained Throatseeker is by leveraging creature removal spells. Direct removal cards like Path to Exile ensure that the creature doesn’t get a chance to wreak havoc. Alternatively, enchantments that pacify or prevent the creature from attacking or blocking can neuter its offensive capabilities, mitigating the Infect threat and providing you with the opportunity to push your own agenda in the duel.

To sum up, while the Chained Throatseeker can be intimidating with its potential for incremental damage, several strategic plays such as removal, creature control, and exile effects can help you maintain an upper hand and navigate safely around this dangerous card during gameplay.

Cards like Chained Throatseeker

Chained Throatseeker is a distinctive creature in the vast array of infect creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It shares the infect ability with cards like Blighted Agent, allowing it to deal damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters. What sets Chained Throatseeker apart is its larger body, making it a formidable force once it’s unblocked or suited with evasion enablers.

Comparing it to Glistener Elf, another popular infect creature, Chained Throatseeker demands a higher mana investment but compensates with a greater impact on the game. Glistener Elf is known for its early game aggression, but it lacks the staying power and size of Chained Throatseeker. We also have Phyrexian Swarmlord, which not only boasts infect but proliferates your poison counters and -1/-1 counters. The Swarmlord is a high-cost card like Chained Throatseeker, but it comes with a potential for overwhelming board presence.

In reviewing these similar cards, Chained Throatseeker has its own merit in a deck focused on infect strategies, balancing cost with power and providing an alternative to the usual suspects for players aiming to diversify their approaches in MTG.

Cards similar to Chained Throatseeker by color, type and mana cost

Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions

Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp - MTG Card versions

Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chained Throatseeker MTG card by a specific set like 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 Chained Throatseeker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chained Throatseeker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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