Phyrexian Monitor MTG Card

Phyrexian Monitor provides deck advantage by enabling efficient card search and instant play strategies. While potent, its strict mana requirements and discard cost can limit deck flexibility and utility. In the right deck, Phyrexian Monitor’s resilience and combo potential make it a meta-relevant powerhouse.

Phyrexian Monitor - Urza's Destiny (UDS)

Urza's Destiny (UDS)
1999-06-07 - Number 64

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number UDS-64

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Skeleton
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

oo B Regenerate Phyrexian Monitor.

Being one would be an honor, if the word "honor" had any meaning in Phyrexia.

Cards like Phyrexian Monitor

Phyrexian Monitor joins the array of creatures in Magic: The Gathering carrying the infect ability. It draws parallels with cards like Plague Myr, which not only infect opponents but also double as mana accelerators. Where Phyrexian Monitor distinguishes itself is its stat line-up and potential to make an impact during the mid to late game stages.

Comparatively, Ichorclaw Myr is another card that shares the infect trait, posing a threat even as a smaller creature due to its ability to become stronger when blocked. Phyrexian Monitor, being larger, naturally has a higher damage output, but lacks Ichorclaw Myr’s defensive prowess. Then there’s Blighted Agent, an unblockable infect creature, which guarantees consistent damage but doesn’t have the raw power of Phyrexian Monitor.

Ultimately, the choice between these infect wielders depends on the strategic direction of the deck. While Phyrexian Monitor confidently occupies a slot in decks seeking to leverage beefier creatures with infect, it’s clear that each of these cards offers a unique advantage tailored to certain game plans within Magic: The Gathering.

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

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Phyrexian Monitor offers a potent way to sift through your deck and ensures you have the right answers or threats at the right time.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s mechanics may provide you with the necessary edge by offering alternative ways to utilize your resources more efficiently, potentially giving you access to abilities or creatures sooner than expected.

Instant Speed: As a card that can be played at instant speed, it adds a layer of unpredictability and strategy, allowing you to adapt to the game’s state with precision while keeping your opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing the Phyrexian Monitor, players may face the predicament of having to dispose of a valuable card from their hand. This drawback becomes particularly glaring when your hand is dwindling, forcing tough decisions that could impact your game presence negatively.

Specific Mana Cost: The Phyrexian Monitor demands a precise mana configuration to cast, necessitating both colorless and black mana. This requirement can hamper deck flexibility, particularly in multicolored decks that must carefully manage their mana base to accommodate such constraints.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the heftier side, the Phyrexian Monitor may lag behind other options available within the same mana range. Savvy players might lean towards cards that yield a greater impact or provide more utility for a similar investment, making it potentially less attractive during deck construction.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Phyrexian Monitor offers solid defensive capabilities that are a great addition to any deck focusing on survival and attrition. With its ability to disrupt opponent attacks, it fits into various strategies seeking to establish board control.

Combo Potential: In decks leveraging graveyard mechanics, Phyrexian Monitor can be a crucial component. Its ability to regenerate or come back from the graveyard can synergize with multiple cards and strategies, enabling powerful combos that can turn the tide of the game.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, creatures that offer both durability and utility remain highly valued. Phyrexian Monitor’s resilience in the face of removal spells or combat damage makes it relevant, particularly in metas where creature-based strategies dominate. Its relentless presence on the board can give you a persistent advantage.

How to beat

The Phyrexian Monitor card presents an intriguing challenge for players in the realm of MTG. This card boasts an ability that can add resilience to your opponent’s board, making creatures harder to remove permanently. To navigate this obstacle, you’ll want to focus on effects that exile or transform creatures, bypassing the graveyard altogether.

Consider leveraging spells like Path to Exile or cards like Deputy of Detention that can handle problematic creatures directly from the battlefield, circumventing any regeneration or undying abilities. Additionally, using board wipes that exile, such as Merciless Eviction, ensures that the creatures don’t return from the graveyard. Relying on such strategies shifts the tide in your favor against the tenacity of Phyrexian Monitor.

Keep in mind the importance of timing and resource management; effective use of these abilities will require thoughtful play to ensure your victory. By adapting your strategy to include these angles, you’ll improve your chances of coming out on top when facing the resilience that Phyrexian Monitor brings to the table.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phyrexian Monitor MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and The List, 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 Monitor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Phyrexian Monitor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 1999-06-07. Illustrated by Carl Critchlow.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1999-06-07	Urza's Destiny	UDS		64	1997	Normal	Black	Carl Critchlow
2	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST		UDS-64	1997	Normal	Black	Carl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Phyrexian Monitor has restrictions

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