Phyrexian Driver MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Zombie Mercenary |
| Released | 2000-02-14 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Nemesis |
| Set code | NEM |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 64 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chippy |
Text of card
When Phyrexian Driver comes into play, all other Mercenaries get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Although the abuse was initially effective, the troops soon became numb to it.
Cards like Phyrexian Driver
The Phyrexian Driver is a noteworthy creature card that holds its ground in Magic: The Gathering compared to its counterparts. Much like the Diregraf Captain, the Phyrexian Driver enhances fellow creatures with beneficial abilities. However, the Phyrexian Driver boasts a unique synergy with the proliferate mechanic, which allows for the manipulation of counters on the field. This can have diverse implications depending on the battlefield state.
Another related card is the Death Baron, which gives skeletons and other zombies you control not just a power boost but also deathtouch, turning them into much more threatening blockers or attackers. While the Death Baron offers a more immediate offensive upgrade, the Phyrexian Driver’s ability to gradually increase counters can lead to more substantial long-term advantages.
Assessing the strategic significance, the Phyrexian Driver is a card with potential for longer games where its proliferate mechanic can cumulate into a considerable advantage. It’s a card that requires strategic planning and can reinforce a variety of counter-based strategies within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Phyrexian Driver by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Phyrexian Driver accelerates your strategy by enabling unearth, which effectively reanimates a creature to squeeze additional value out of your graveyard. This helps maintain card advantage by utilizing resources that are often considered spent, thus broadening your in-game options without depleting your hand.
Resource Acceleration: When the Phyrexian Driver is played, its ability to bring back creatures from the graveyard with unearth can act as a form of indirect resource acceleration. By tapping into the unused creatures lying in the graveyard, you effectively gain more action per turn without the need for extra mana investment.
Instant Speed: Despite its reanimation ability being sorcery speed, any abilities the unearthed creature has can potentially be used at instant speed. This provides dynamic interaction possibilities during the match, allowing for surprise blocks or unexpected effects during your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and placing you at a tactical advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Incorporating the Phyrexian Driver into your deck means accepting the trade-off of discarding cards. This action could put you at a disadvantage, especially in moments where you’re trying to hold onto key resources for strategic plays.
Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a strict mana cost that is not easily integrated into every deck type. Its requirement for Phyrexian mana restricts its versatility, often making it a less feasible choice for players running multi-color decks not focused on this specific mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Phyrexian Driver’s effectiveness needs to be weighed against its mana cost. Players must consider whether the advantages gained are worth the high investment, as there are alternative cards that offer similar effects or better cost-to-benefit ratios.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Phyrexian Driver is a card that offers a flexible approach to deck building. Its ability to synergize with various creature types, such as Horror or Phyrexian, allows it to slot into multiple archetypes with ease.
Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or proliferate mechanics, enabling explosive turns and synergistic interactions that can swiftly tip the scales in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: Given the prominence of certain creature-based strategies in the current competitive scene, Phyrexian Driver can serve as a tactical advantage, either by enhancing your board state or disrupting your opponent’s plans with its potential counters manipulation.
How to beat
The Phyrexian Driver emerges as a formidable presence on the battlefield, enhancing the threat of each Phyrexian creature’s impact in Magic: The Gathering. Players often find themselves at a disadvantage as their opponent’s creatures grow stronger and more perilous with each artifact or enchantment entering play. The key to outmaneuvering this potential powerhouse is to disrupt the synergy it promotes.
Control decks with efficient removal spells such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can effectively remove the Phyrexian Driver before its ability becomes an overwhelming problem. Furthermore, countering it upon casting ensures that the threat never materializes, employing spells like Mana Leak or Counterspell. Keeping the board clear of other creatures can also minimize the Driver’s influence, making board wipes like Supreme Verdict or Damnation critical tools to regain control.
Ultimately, successful strategies against the Phyrexian Driver involve preemptive measures and a readiness to answer the threats it potentiates. As always, knowing your deck and how it can best interact with Phyrexian synergies will serve as the decisive factor in outplaying this potent card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Phyrexian Driver MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Driver and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Phyrexian Driver has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |