Carrion Call MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage by summoning two 1/1 tokens with infect, bolstering battlefield presence at instant speed.
  2. The card’s mana cost claims exclusivity for green-centric decks, which may impact its utility in various strategies.
  3. Despite a higher mana cost, Carrion Call’s versatility and combo potential make it a poignant pick for certain decks.

Text of card

Put two 1/1 green Insect creature tokens with infect onto the battlefield. (They deal damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)

The natural order is out of order.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Carrion Call card offers a beneficial card advantage by creating not just one, but two 1/1 green Insect creature tokens with infect. This adds two additional components on your playing field which can be used to strategically outnumber or combat your opponent’s creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Carrion Call does give you the benefit of resource acceleration in the form of additional creatures. This can be incredibly valuable in later turns when the battlefield is more populated, or in combination with other cards that benefit from having multiple creatures.

Instant Speed: The true power of Carrion Call lies in its instant speed. This card gives you the option to call in reinforcements during any phase of any player’s turn, bringing in unexpected threats or blockers against your opponent. This flexibility can be game-changing, allowing for unexpectedly powerful plays and opening up a wider tactical landscape.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Carrion Call doesn’t require you to discard a card as a play cost, but it would be crucial to remember this might become necessary during gameplay. Failing to take this into account could result in a poor strategic position, especially when your card supply is dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: The Card requires two green mana to cast. This limits the versatility of the card and restricts it to decks heavily built around green mana generation. While green decks are typically abundant in mana, non-green or multicoloured decks may struggle to effectively utilise this card.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana for its effects, Carrion Call is a slightly costly option considering there are alternatives with cheaper mana costs. Players must consider alternative cards that might provide more insect creature tokens or similar benefits for a lesser or equal amount of mana.


Reasons to Include Carrion Call in Your Collection

Versatility: The beauty of Carrion Call lies in its flexibility. This instant speed spell can weave its magic in various deck strategies, predominantly those that focus on swarm or infect mechanics. Not only can you bring in two 1/1 green Insect creature tokens onto the battlefield but you can also use this card as an effective tool for surprise defense or offense.

Combo Potential: Carrion Call can combine seamlessly with several cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or cards that leverage the Insect subtype. Players can even chain these spells together at the end of an opponent’s turn to build a substantial board presence.

Meta-Relevance: Carrion Call is not just another card in your deck, but a silent game-changer. In a meta that favors decks with creature-based strategies, the ability of Carrion Call to instantly spawn token creatures is a serious advantage. Especially, in infect-based decks where just a few poison counters can lead to victory.


How to Beat

Carrion Call, a powerful instant in MTG, might be daunting to deal with but that does not make it unbeatable. Countering it efficiently can turn the tide in your favor. Consider deploying Tormod’s Crypt or any other card with a graveyard-exiling effect. As Carrion Call creates Insect creature tokens, it helps if you can control the battlefield with sweepers such as Supreme Verdict, Wrath of God or Damnation which can eliminate all creatures, including tokens.

If you are dealing with a strategy that heavily includes the Carrion Call card, focus on board clearing instants or sorceries to counteract their game. Make sure to have a tight control over the board state to avoid being caught unprepared by a flurry of Insect creature tokens. A card like Echoing Truth could also work as it returns all cards with the same name as the targeted spell to their owner’s hand, disrupting the enemy’s strategies.

In summary, there are multiple ways to counter Carrion Call. By understanding its workings, and employing these strategies, this instant card can be tackled effectively in your MTG gameplay.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG often means embracing the versatile might of cards like Carrion Call. As it weaves into your green-focused or infect-themed decks, the strategic depth it offers can’t be overstated. Enhancing your gameplay with its instant speed creature generation, Carrion Call stands out for its adept fitting into multiple strategies. Exploit its potential to outmaneuver opponents, leveraging swarm tactics or increasing your infect count. If diving deeper into the nuanced world of MTG tactics excites you, consider embracing the artful play Carrion Call enables. Dive into our treasure trove of resources to refine your deck and bring prowess to your play.


Cards like Carrion Call

Carrion Call, an intriguing inclusion in Magic: The Gathering, shares parallels with other spells in the game, such as Kessig Cagebreakers. Both are noted for their ability to spawn Insect creature tokens, but Carrion Call excels in summoning them at an instant speed. Kessig Cagebreakers, in its turn, trades speed against generating a larger number of tokens linked to creature cards in the graveyard.

An alternative card to consider is Hornet Queen. It also fabricates Insect tokens, but with the added advantage of dealing deathtouch. However, the difference in mana cost is substantial, making Hornet Queen a heavier investment. Carrion Call might not grant deathtouch to its tokens but brings flexibility with its mana cost and instant play advantage.

Another card worth noting is Eyeblight’s Ending. It seemingly diverges from the path as it does not produce creature tokens but factors into this comparison for its ability to destroy non-Elf creatures, effectively countering the Insect tokens of Carrion Call.

In conclusion, Carrion Call stands firm among its categorically similar cards, primarily for its efficient token generation at a modest mana cost and an instant tempo, making it a valuable asset in Magic: The Gathering.

Kessig Cagebreakers - MTG Card versions
Hornet Queen - MTG Card versions
Eyeblight's Ending - MTG Card versions
Kessig Cagebreakers - Innistrad (ISD)
Hornet Queen - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Eyeblight's Ending - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Carrion Call by color, type and mana cost

Storm Seeker - MTG Card versions
Trailblazer - MTG Card versions
Venomous Breath - MTG Card versions
Fanatical Fever - MTG Card versions
Lure of Prey - MTG Card versions
Snag - MTG Card versions
Might of Oaks - MTG Card versions
Elephant Ambush - MTG Card versions
Sudden Strength - MTG Card versions
Kamahl's Will - MTG Card versions
Dragonscale Boon - MTG Card versions
Force of Vigor - MTG Card versions
Garenbrig Carver // Shield's Might - MTG Card versions
Bloodscent - MTG Card versions
Mystic Melting - MTG Card versions
Stonewood Invocation - MTG Card versions
Heal the Scars - MTG Card versions
Gloomwidow's Feast - MTG Card versions
Slingbow Trap - MTG Card versions
Momentous Fall - MTG Card versions
Storm Seeker - Masters Edition (ME1)
Trailblazer - Ice Age (ICE)
Venomous Breath - Ice Age (ICE)
Fanatical Fever - Ice Age (ICE)
Lure of Prey - Mirage (MIR)
Snag - Prophecy (PCY)
Might of Oaks - Magic 2010 (M10)
Elephant Ambush - Odyssey (ODY)
Sudden Strength - Judgment (JUD)
Kamahl's Will - Commander Legends (CMR)
Dragonscale Boon - The List (PLST)
Force of Vigor - Modern Horizons 1 Timeshifts (H1R)
Garenbrig Carver // Shield's Might - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Bloodscent - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Mystic Melting - Coldsnap (CSP)
Stonewood Invocation - Time Spiral (TSP)
Heal the Scars - Lorwyn (LRW)
Gloomwidow's Feast - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Slingbow Trap - Worldwake (WWK)
Momentous Fall - Jumpstart (JMP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Carrion Call MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander, 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 Carrion Call and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Carrion Call Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by Adrian Smith.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 1152003normalblackAdrian Smith
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 1062015normalblackAdrian Smith

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Carrion Call has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2011-01-01 A player who has ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action.
2011-01-01 Damage from a source with infect affects planeswalkers normally.
2011-01-01 Damage from a source with infect is damage in all respects. If the source with infect also has lifelink, damage dealt by that source also causes its controller to gain that much life. Damage from a source with infect can be prevented or redirected. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt will trigger if a source with infect deals damage, if appropriate.
2011-01-01 If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a player is prevented, that player doesn't get poison counters. If damage from a source with infect that would be dealt to a creature is prevented, that creature doesn't get -1/-1 counters.
2011-01-01 Infect's effect applies to any damage, not just combat damage.
2011-01-01 The -1/-1 counters remain on the creature indefinitely. They're not removed if the creature regenerates or the turn ends.

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