Permeating Mass MTG Card

Transforms battled creatures, allowing control over the board by creating multiple Permeating Mass copies. Demands exact green mana and has a high mana value, which can limit early game utility. In the right deck, it can stall aggressive strategies and become a formidable deterrent.

Permeating Mass - Eldritch Moon Promos (PEMN)

Eldritch Moon Promos (PEMN)
2016-07-22 - Number 165s

Eldritch Moon (EMN)
2016-07-22 - Number 165

Permeating Mass - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)

Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
2023-03-21 - Number 209

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Spirit
Power	1
Toughness	3

Text of card

Whenever Permeating Mass deals combat damage to a creature, that creature becomes a copy of Permeating Mass.

Woodland geists concluded that Emrakul would be unable to warp the denizens of the forest if the geists got there first.

Cards like Permeating Mass

Permeating Mass offers a unique twist on creature control within MTG. This card can fundamentally alter the board state by turning any creature it damages into another Permeating Mass. Its closest counterparts are likely cards like Hunted Phantasm or Gilded Drake, which also manipulate creatures, but in vastly different ways. Hunted Phantasm, for example, doesn’t alter the creatures’ identities but rather fills your opponent’s side with 1/1 tokens. Gilded Drake goes a step further by outright exchanging control of creatures, a move that can have game-deciding implications.

Another card worth mentioning in this context is Curse of the Swine, which exiles creatures and replaces them with 2/2 Boars. Although this doesn’t replicate the creature like Permeating Mass does, it similarly transforms the nature of your opponent’s threats. Then there’s Darksteel Mutation, imprisoning a creature in an indestructible shell, rendering it essentially harmless, but not cloning it.

Each of these alternatives offers a different approach to creature transformation or control, but none match the potentially viral nature of Permeating Mass, which can systematically transform every combatant into a copy of itself, potentially leading to a board full of these enigmatic creatures.

Cards similar to Permeating Mass by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Permeating Mass doesn’t directly offer card draw, but its ability to convert any creature it deals combat damage to into another Permeating Mass ensures that the board is rapidly filled with your creatures, indirectly increasing the value you get from each creature you play.

Resource Acceleration: While not a traditional resource accelerator, Permeating Mass can be seen as a deterrent that can slow down an opponent’s offensive strategy. Its unique mechanic may force opponents to use removal spells on it, essentially accelerating your game plan by consuming your opponent’s resources.

Instant Speed: Permeating Mass itself isn’t cast at instant speed, but its transformation ability acts at the speed of combat, which means each combat phase can potentially alter the board state immediately. This can be combined with instant speed tricks and spells that increase its survivability or make it deal damage outside of the combat phase.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Holding onto Permeating Mass in your hand can be tricky, given that certain game scenarios might require you to discard it without reaping its full benefits, especially in control strategies where card advantage is pivotal.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Permeating Mass demands a precise green mana, making it less flexible in multicolored decks that may struggle with mana consistency, thereby potentially delaying its presence on the battlefield.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its unique ability, Permeating Mass comes with a relatively steep mana value for a 1/3 creature, which can make it a less attractive early-game play compared to other low-cost creatures that offer immediate board impact or utility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Permeating Mass offers a unique ability to transform any creature it battles into another Permeating Mass, allowing for a variety of defensive strategies. It fits well in decks focused on creature control and those built around quirky, transformative gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card can become a key piece in combos, leveraging its ability to create multiple copies of itself. It can synergize with cards that benefit from creature ETB (Enter the Battlefield) effects or those that capitalize on having numerous creatures on the board.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta full of aggro decks, Permeating Mass becomes a deterrent for attacks, potentially stalling opponents’ strategies. Its effectiveness grows as it turns sizable threats into 1/3 creatures, altering the pace and approach of the game in your favor.

How to beat

Permeating Mass presents a unique challenge on the battlefield: every creature that battles it becomes a copy of itself. This can quickly turn the tide of a game if not addressed correctly. To strategically outmaneuver this ability, you can focus on removing it from play before combat. Utilize spells that can exile or destroy creatures without initiating combat like Path to Exile or Doom Blade. Another effective strategy is to use flying or unblockable creatures to bypass Permeating Mass altogether, as its effect only triggers on creatures it blocks or is blocked by.

Keep in mind that Permeating Mass’s strength lies in its defensive capacity. Redirecting the focus of your attacks or leveraging spells that can tap creatures will prevent it from multiplying across the board. Additionally, you can capitalize on its relatively low power and toughness to ensure that when it does block, it is taken off the board with minimal impact on your own creatures. By combining evasion tactics with direct removal, you’ll be able to maintain control against this potentially game-altering card.

In summary, while Permeating Mass can radically alter the state of play, thoughtful planning and the appropriate choice of spells and creatures can effectively neutralize its threat and keep your strategy on the path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Permeating Mass MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon Promos and Eldritch Moon, 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 Permeating Mass and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Permeating Mass Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Joseph Meehan.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-07-22	Eldritch Moon Promos	PEMN	165s	2015	Normal	Black	Joseph Meehan
2	2016-07-22	Eldritch Moon	EMN	165	2015	Normal	Black	Joseph Meehan
3	2023-03-21	Shadows over Innistrad Remastered	SIR	209	2015	Normal	Black	Joseph Meehan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Permeating Mass has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2016-07-13	A creature dealt lethal damage during combat won’t survive long enough to become a copy of Permeating Mass. If Permeating Mass is dealt lethal damage during combat, the creature Permeating Mass dealt damage to still becomes a copy of it.
2016-07-13	A creature with 3 or more damage marked on it that becomes a copy of Permeating Mass will be destroyed immediately after becoming a copy.
2016-07-13	Effects that have already applied to the damaged creature will continue to apply to it. For example, if Giant Growth had given it +3/+3 earlier in the turn, it will be 4/6.
2016-07-13	If Permeating Mass becomes a copy of another creature before its triggered ability resolves, the damaged creature will become a copy of that creature.
2016-07-13	The damaged creature copies the printed values of Permeating Mass. It won’t copy counters on Permeating Mass or effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on. Notably, this means that a creature that becomes a copy of Permeating Mass has the ability to permeate other creatures as well.