Pest Summoning MTG Card


Pest Summoning - Strixhaven: School of Mages
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery — Lesson
Released2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameStrixhaven: School of Mages
Set codeSTX
Number211
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byZoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

  1. Pest Summoning grants card advantage by adding two creatures to the battlefield from one card.
  2. It enables resource acceleration and flexibility when fetched during the game’s critical phases.
  3. No discard requirement makes it a strategic asset, although mana cost considerations are needed.

Text of card

Create two 1/1 black and green Pest creature tokens with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life."

"Step 1: Put the pests in mud. "Step 2: Wait." —*Gyome's Guide to Pest Breeding*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pest Summoning can significantly improve your board presence by creating multiple creature tokens with a single card. This effectively gives players more actionable options during gameplay and can bolster defenses or create opportunities for aggressive strategies.

Resource Acceleration: The creature tokens generated by Pest Summoning can contribute to resource acceleration in decks that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield. These tokens can be used in conjunction with sacrifice mechanics or other synergistic effects to ramp up mana or trigger powerful combos.

Instant Speed: While Pest Summoning is not cast at instant speed, its status as a lesson means it can be fetched instantly with a learn mechanic, allowing strategic flexibility during a critical phase of the game. This utility ensures that you have access to additional creatures exactly when you need them, without sacrificing tempo.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the intricacies of gameplay, holding onto every card can be pivotal. Pest Summoning does not impose a discard requirement, offering a slight strategic edge in maintaining hand volume during the mid to late game.

Specific Mana Cost: Pest Summoning’s strict mana cost, requiring one black and one green mana alongside another of any color, can sometimes restrict deck-building options. Players running multicolored decks must carefully manage their mana resources to cast it effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other spells vying for a place in your deck, Pest Summoning comes at the cost of three mana. This cost can seem fairly steep, especially considering other spells or creatures available might provide more immediate impact on the board state at a similar or lower cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pest Summoning is an adaptable card that integrates well into decks focusing on token generation or life gain strategies. As it creates two creature tokens, it also synergizes with effects that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield.

Combo Potential: The pests created by Pest Summoning offer more than just board presence; they provide combo potential with sacrifice mechanics or cards that trigger upon creature death, allowing for life gain and strategic advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame that favors creature-based tactics or strategies that rely on life as a resource, Pest Summoning can play a crucial role. Its ability to populate the board with pests makes it a valuable card against various decks, helping you stay ahead in the life count.


How to Beat Pest Summoning

Pest Summoning is a card that allows players to strengthen their board presence by creating Pest creature tokens, which can be a thorny issue in a match. These Pests are beneficial for their ability to give you life when they die, providing a cushion against aggressive strategies. To effectively counter Pest Summoning, one strategy is to employ sweepers or board-clearing spells. Cards like Wrath of God or Doomskar can wipe the board clean, including any pesky Pests summoned to the field.

Another potent approach is to use spot removal options that can eliminate key pieces before Pests become an overwhelming force. Consider incorporating cards like Fatal Push or Bloodchief’s Thirst. These spells can disrupt early summoning attempts and maintain a manageable state of play. Strategic planning and control decks that have access to counter-spells or permission effects can also ensure that Pest Summoning never resolves, nipping the potential problem in the bud and keeping the swarming tactics at bay.

Overall, staying proactive and having the right removal tools at your disposal will go a long way toward securing victory against decks utilizing the enduring resilience of Pest Summoning.


BurnMana Recommendations

For MTG enthusiasts aiming to broaden their arsenal, Pest Summoning can be a valuable addition. This card’s capability to create multiple tokens enriches your potential strategies and enhances your battlefield. With an ecosystem of play that revolves around synergies, the pests you summon today could be the cornerstone of a dynamic new tactic tomorrow. The strategic depth and flexibility provided by cards like Pest Summoning are what make MTG such a compelling and enduring game. Expand your collection, dive into new deck-building adventures, and sharpen your skills. Curious about integrating Pest Summoning into your gameplay? Visit us to discover more and refine your strategy.


Cards like Pest Summoning

Pest Summoning is a unique card for those who delve into creature-focused spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to summon not one, but two creature tokens, makes it a versatile tool for players looking to build their board presence. One might compare it to Selesnya Charm, which also has the versatility of creating a creature token, but with the added flexibility of other modes. However, Pest Summoning is specialized in swarming the field with multiple creatures, a tactic not offered by the Charm.

Another card that comes to mind is Dragon Fodder, known for producing two creature tokens for less mana. While Dragon Fodder lacks the life-gain aspect that each Pest token from Pest Summoning brings, its lower cost makes it an appealing alternative in faster-paced decks. Then there’s Saproling Migration, which can be particularly powerful in the late game when kicked, creating a larger number of tokens compared to Pest Summoning.

Evaluating these cards highlights Pest Summoning’s strength in token-generating strategies, especially for those looking to capitalize on life-gain synergies. Its place in MTG is carved out by its specific blend of utility and value, appealing to players fond of building armies on the battlefield.

Selesnya Charm - MTG Card versions
Dragon Fodder - MTG Card versions
Saproling Migration - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Charm - MTG Card versions
Dragon Fodder - MTG Card versions
Saproling Migration - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pest Summoning MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Pest Summoning and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pest Summoning has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-04-16 Although you may want to include Lessons in your sideboard if you’re playing with cards that instruct you to learn, Lesson cards can be included in your main deck like other instant or sorcery cards.
2021-04-16 Lesson is a spell subtype found on some instant and sorcery cards in the Strixhaven set. The Lesson subtype has no special rules associated with it.

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