Pestilent Syphoner MTG Card


Offers consistent card draw, essential for maintaining an edge in prolonged duels. Generates energy, enabling versatile plays and synergy with energy-reliant cards. Demands a specific mana mix and card sacrifice, which can limit flexibility.
Pestilent Syphoner - Phyrexia: All Will Be One
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Insect
Abilities Flying,Toxic
Released2023-02-03
Set symbol
Set namePhyrexia: All Will Be One
Set codeONE
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number103
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBrian Valeza

Text of card

Flying Toxic 1 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get a poison counter.)

The praetors of the other Spheres privately wonder how Sheoldred always has a surplus of glistening oil at her disposal.


Cards like Pestilent Syphoner

Pestilent Syphoner is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, bringing with it an aura of decay that can affect the tide of a match. Comparable to the notorious Blood Artist, both cards capitalize on the demise of creatures. Blood Artist lacks the direct mana benefit that Pestilent Syphoner provides but compensates with an ability to target any opponent or creature following the death of another creature.

Another card that echoes the theme of leveraging the graveyard is Zulaport Cutthroat. While similar to Pestilent Syphoner in rewarding the player when their creatures die, Zulaport Cutthroat differs because the life gain and life loss are guaranteed regardless of how the creature perished. Meanwhile, Pestilent Syphoner’s gimmick requires a creature with a +1/+1 counter, narrowing its focus but offering mana advantage.

Analysing these cards side by side, it’s evident that Pestilent Syphoner offers unique advantages in decks built around +1/+1 counters, potentially supplying both a steady stream of mana and a method to whittle down an opponent’s life total. This narrowly focused synergistic potential makes it a card that can tip the balance subtly yet substantially in longer, counter-centric gameplay.

Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Zulaport Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Zulaport Cutthroat - MTG Card versions

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Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cyclopean Mummy - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Black Knight - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Pestilent Syphoner. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Dimir PoisonDimir Poison Free formStandard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Pestilent Syphoner excels at providing a consistent flow of card draw, crucial for outpacing opponents in long games. Its ability to siphon through your deck can bring you to critical answers and threats when you need them the most.

Resource Acceleration: This card thrives on the battlefield by creating a surplus of energy counters, serving as a versatile resource that can fuel various strategic moves or synergize with other energy-based cards for a more efficient play.

Instant Speed: The capability to activate its abilities at instant speed gives you the tactical edge, allowing for surprise interactions during your opponent’s turn. This responsiveness can disrupt your adversary’s strategies while bolstering your position without sacrificing the tempo of your game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Pestilent Syphoner demands that you part ways with another card from your hand, which can be a steep price when every card counts. This requirement can strain your available resources, especially in games where maintaining a robust hand is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a precise combination of mana colours to cast, which might not always align with your deck’s mana base. This could lead to situations where Pestilent Syphoner remains a dead card in your hand, unable to be played due to color restrictions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing considerable mana to bring Pestilent Syphoner into play can be a tactical setback. There are alternative cards that can be played at a lower cost and provide immediate benefits or synergies, making them potentially more optimal choices in many strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pestilent Syphoner can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes, particularly those that revolve around life-drain or aggressive strategies. Its ability to potentially disrupt opponent plays while bolstering your own positions it as a flexible addition.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks that accentuate proliferate mechanics or -1/-1 counter synergies. It can act as a catalyst for numerous combos, intensifying the impact of each counter placed on your opponents’ creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Pestilent Syphoner’s role as a repeatable source of life loss and creature debilitation may prove to be instrumental in gaining the upper hand against creature-heavy decks.


How to beat

Pestilent Syphoner is a card that can be a real thorn in the side of many MTG players. This creature’s unique ability to drain life from opponents while adding card advantage creates a dynamic that demands immediate attention on the battlefield. One effective tactic to counter this card is through the use of removal spells. Swift actions like Shock or Fatal Push can quickly dispatch the Syphoner before it accrues too much value for your adversary.

Alternatively, countering it upon casting is another strong strategy. Keep a Counterspell or Essence Scatter handy to negate it entirely, ensuring the Syphoner never touches the board. For those who favor a more proactive approach, playing cards that grant you hexproof, like Shalai, Voice of Plenty, can make it impossible for the Pestilent Syphoner to target you, nullifying its draining ability and rendering it a mere creature without its key advantage.

Remember, staying ahead of the problem will always be the best way to beat it. Addressing Pestilent Syphoner promptly and with the right answers will ensure it never siphons the victory right out of your grasp.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of the Pestilent Syphoner can open up new avenues for MTG enthusiasts aiming to construct a deck with a competitive edge. As the canvas of Magic: The Gathering evolves, so does the potential of each card in various situations. The Pestilent Syphoner, with its manifold traits and intricacies, stands as a testament to strategic gameplay. Whether you’re seeking to finesse your current deck or are on the hunt for the next pivotal addition, this card could very well be the keystone you need. Join us for in-depth guidance and expert insights, and elevate your MTG prowess to new heights.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pestilent Syphoner MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Pestilent Syphoner and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pestilent Syphoner has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-02-04 A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action and doesn't use the stack. In other words, it happens immediately and players can't respond to it, just like a player losing the game due to having 0 or less life.
2023-02-04 Any other effects of that damage, such as life gain from lifelink, still apply.
2023-02-04 Conversely, replacement effects that apply to the number of counters put on a player can modify the counters placed this way. For example, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider's last two abilities can apply to counters placed this way.
2023-02-04 Damage dealt by a creature with toxic grants the same number of counters regardless of how much damage is dealt. Notably, if a replacement effect modifies the damage in some way (such as that of Gratuitous Violence), the number of counters given remains unchanged.
2023-02-04 If a creature with toxic deals combat damage to a creature or planeswalker, or if it deals noncombat damage, toxic has no effect and no player gets poison counters.
2023-02-04 Multiple instances of toxic are cumulative. For example, if a creature has toxic 2 and gains toxic 1 due to another effect, combat damage that creature deals to a player will cause that player to get 3 poison counters.
2023-02-04 Toxic doesn't change the amount of combat damage a creature deals. For example, if a 2/2 creature with toxic 1 deals combat damage to a player, that creature will deal 2 damage. The results of that damage are the player loses 2 life and gets a poison counter.