Plague Wight MTG Card


Early game pressure can disrupt opponents’ strategies and provide tempo advantages. Limited to specific deck colors due to mana requirements, affecting broad deck compatibility. Understanding how to counter it is essential for mitigating its battlefield impact.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Whenever Plague Wight becomes blocked, each creature blocking it gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

For some goods, the best couriers are the dead.


Cards like Plague Wight

Plague Wight is a creature that brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. In terms of comparison, it echoes the abilities seen in cards like the classic Fearow from broader creature-based strategies. Both create a situation where an opponent must thoughtfully consider their blocks, with Plague Wight preventing nonblack creatures from blocking it effectively. What sets it apart is its formidable prowess in limiting the defensive capabilities of many creature decks.

Another card that comes to mind is Stromgald Crusader, which shares the ability to be unblockable by nonblack creatures. However, while Plague Wight thrives in the presence of multiple blockers with its enhanced prowess, Stromgald Crusader capitalizes on its evasion and significant combat bonuses. Meanwhile, cards like Duty-Bound Dead exemplify exalted mechanics, boosting themselves rather than diminishing the opponent’s potential blockers. Despite the differences, they all partake in commanding the combat phase.

In essence, Plague Wight doesn’t just attack an opponent’s life total; it simultaneously erodes an opponent’s defensive options. It offers a tactical advantage by forcing challenging decisions, showcasing why it can be a critical component in any strategy aiming to dominate the board through elusive and controlling creature play.

Stromgald Crusader - MTG Card versions
Duty-Bound Dead - MTG Card versions
Stromgald Crusader - MTG Card versions
Duty-Bound Dead - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Plague Wight itself may not directly let you draw cards, its potential to eliminate opposing creatures can indirectly lead to card advantage. If your opponent is forced to trade more than one card to deal with Plague Wight, you’re ahead on resources.

Resource Acceleration: Plague Wight’s low casting cost allows it to hit the battlefield early, paving the way for stronger offensive strategies. This early pressure can disrupt your opponent’s resource management and tempo.

Instant Speed: Plague Wight’s prowess lies more in its continuous board presence and attacking benefits. However, the instant speed spells you play can complement Plague Wight by removing blockers or enhancing its combat capabilities unexpectedly during combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Plague Wight does not directly require discarding a card, but it doesn’t offer any card advantage mechanics either, which can leave you depleting your hand just to keep creatures on the board.

Specific Mana Cost: As a black creature, Plague Wight requires black mana in your land base, potentially limiting its inclusion to mono-black or dual-colored decks that can consistently provide that type of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its cost of two mana, Plague Wight offers a fairly standard power and toughness. In a format where efficiency is key, players might opt for other two-drops that provide more impactful abilities or higher stats.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Plague Wight offers unique gameplay options for decks focused on aggressive strategies. Its ability to render blockers less effective can help other creatures push through for extra damage, making it a solid inclusion in multiple deck archetypes seeking to maintain offensive momentum.

Combo Potential: In combinations with cards that penalize or exploit -1/-1 counters, Plague Wight can be a lynchpin in a potent synergistic setup. Whether it’s enabling proliferate mechanics or interacting with cards that trigger effects when a creature’s toughness changes, this card can be the starting point for some insidious combos.

Meta-Relevance: With an ongoing presence of creature-based decks in the meta, Plague Wight stands as a potential threat that can tilt combat math in your favor. Its intrinsic ability might discourage opponents from blocking, which is particularly effective against decks that rely on board presence to secure a win.


How to beat

Plague Wight is a card that brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature, found in the Ravnica Allegiance set, can be particularly pesky for opponents due to its ability to make blocking challenging. Whenever Plague Wight becomes blocked, each creature blocking it gets -1/-1 until the end of the turn. This can turn the tide of combat in your favor.

To effectively counter Plague Wight, consider utilizing removal spells that can target creatures irrespective of their size. Spells like Doom Blade or Murder can dispose of it before it becomes an issue in combat. In addition, creatures with deathtouch act as excellent deterrents; even if Plague Wight weakens them, they’ll still destroy any creature they touch. Lastly, take advantage of Plague Wight’s limited toughness. Since it can’t withstand significant damage, using damage-dealing spells such as Shock or Lightning Bolt can easily deal with it outside of the combat phase, ensuring it won’t be a threat on the board.

Understanding when to remove Plague Wight and managing your blockers will keep this creature from overwhelming your forces on the battlefield. With strategic play, this problematic creature can be neutralized, paving the way for your victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Plague Wight MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Mystery Booster, 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 Plague Wight and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Plague Wight Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 822015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7372015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
32020-09-26The ListPLST RNA-822015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Plague Wight has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-01-25 An ability that triggers when a creature becomes blocked triggers only once if two or more creatures block it.
2019-01-25 If Plague Wight leaves the battlefield while its triggered ability is on the stack, the creatures that were blocking it before it left the battlefield get -1/-1.
2019-01-25 If all creatures blocking Plague Wight die, Plague Wight remains blocked. It won’t assign any combat damage.