Tainted Observer MTG Card


Tainted Observer provides card advantage via card draw, essential for gaining the upper hand in matches. Strategically, the card enables alternative win conditions, bypassing traditional resource buildup methods. Instant speed activation offers strategic flexibility, allowing play alteration at the most crucial moments.
Tainted Observer - Phyrexia: All Will Be One
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Bird
Abilities Flying,Proliferate,Toxic
Released2023-02-03
Set symbol
Set namePhyrexia: All Will Be One
Set codeONE
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number217
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohann Bodin

Text of card

Flying Toxic 1 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get a poison counter.) Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay . If you do, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)


Cards like Tainted Observer

Tainted Observer is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique twist on creature dynamics. When looking for comparables, we can assess its place next to cards like Death’s Shadow, which thrives on lower life totals to become more potent. However, Tainted Observer distinguishes itself with its blend of defensive and late-game potential, its static ability closely tied to the player’s life total just like Death’s Shadow.

Additionally, creatures such as Chancellor of the Dross present a different approach by impacting life totals upon entering the battlefield but lack the Observer’s ongoing influence on the game. Unlike the Tainted Observer, Chancellor of the Dross doesn’t have the continuous ability to exploit life total fluctuations as a resource for growing stronger.

Finally, considering the insidious durability of Tainted Observer and its threat level that increases as life decreases, it’s an attractive option for players designing decks that capitalize on low-life strategies. In terms of versatility and the ability to turn the tides in dire situations, Tainted Observer stands out among creatures that interact with life totals.

Death's Shadow - MTG Card versions
Chancellor of the Dross - MTG Card versions
Death's Shadow - MTG Card versions
Chancellor of the Dross - MTG Card versions

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Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist - MTG Card versions
Augmenter Pugilist // Echoing Equation - MTG Card versions
Vigean Hydropon - MTG Card versions
Silkwing Scout - MTG Card versions
Cold-Eyed Selkie - MTG Card versions
Gilder Bairn - MTG Card versions
Wistful Selkie - MTG Card versions
Winged Coatl - MTG Card versions
Lorescale Coatl - MTG Card versions
Nulltread Gargantuan - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Elusive Krasis - MTG Card versions
Drakewing Krasis - MTG Card versions
Vorel of the Hull Clade - MTG Card versions
Beetleform Mage - MTG Card versions
Trygon Predator - MTG Card versions
Bounding Krasis - MTG Card versions
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Tainted Observer. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Bant AggroBant Aggro StandardBant PoisonReCQ - Standard - SCG CON Philadelphia - Saturday - 12:00 pm (Bronze)
Bant ToxicBant Toxic StandardBant PoisonThe Pizza Box Open: Standard
Bant PoisonBant Poison StandardBant PoisonStandard League 2024-01-11
WUGWUG StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 19, 2024
Selesnya ToxicSelesnya Toxic Standard4c Poison2023Players Convention Aichi 2023 Standard Open

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tainted Observer grants an edge in card economy by providing a critical card draw feature when certain conditions are met, increasing the chances of pulling more answers or threats from your deck.

Resource Acceleration: This card can potentially alter the pace of the game by offering an alternative win condition. While not directly producing resources, this flexible win condition can reduce the need for traditional resource accumulation, thereby indirectly accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: The reactive nature of Tainted Observer’s ability to contribute to a win condition can be triggered at instant speed. This lets players keep their options open until the most opportune moment, adding layers of strategy to both their own turn and their opponent’s.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tainted Observer demands a card be discarded to activate its primary ability, a trade-off that can be costly when you’re running low on hand options. This trade-off means you might be hesitant to use its ability when it could leave you at a card disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck construction can be challenging with Tainted Observer’s exact mana cost, requiring both black and green. It’s less flexible and could be difficult to fit into decks that aren’t tailored to this specific color combination.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for getting Tainted Observer on the field is significant. Within its mana range, there are alternatives that might not carry the same immediate board impact but offer greater long-term benefits or versatility.


Reasons to Include Tainted Observer in Your Collection

Versatility: Tainted Observer isn’t just another creature for your deck – its synergy with life change mechanics makes it a strong addition to decks that revolve around life manipulation for advantage.

Combo Potential: The card shines when paired with effects that either cause life loss or gain, offering potential for powerful combinations with other cards that respond to these triggers and leading to game-changing plays.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the persistent presence of life-based strategies in the competitive scene, having Tainted Observer in your arsenal ensures you have a relevant card that interacts with common deck themes and counters various strategies effectively.


How to beat

Tainted Observer presents an interesting challenge for players in the realm of Magic the Gathering. As a creature that can potentially be a threat if left unchecked, understanding how to effectively counter it is key to a player’s strategy. Removal spells are a surefire way to rid the board of this conniving creature. Opting for instant-speed options like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can quickly turn the tide of the game by removing Tainted Observer before its ability becomes a problem.

Another method involves employing creature blockers with enough toughness to withstand its attack or to deter your opponent from attacking altogether. Countering the card is also an effective strategy — having mana open for countermagic like Counterspell can preemptively deal with threats like the Tainted Observer. Finally, attacking an opponent’s hand with Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can preemptively remove Tainted Observer from play before it can affect the battlefield. Overall, keeping pace with removal, counters, and hand disruption will help maintain control over Tainted Observer and any other threats that come your way.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the depths of MTG gameplay reveals cards like Tainted Observer that open doors to versatile and potentially game-winning strategies. If card advantage, instant speed interactions, and alternative win conditions resonate with your playstyle, this creature could be a valuable addition to your deck. As you look to outmaneuver your opponents with crafty combinations and thrive in the perpetual dance of life totals, keeping a card like Tainted Observer in your collection might be the ace up your sleeve. For those seeking to deepen their understanding of such complex interactions and elevate their game to new heights, we are here to guide you. Discover more about how to harness such cards and refine your approach to achieve victory in your MTG battles.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tainted Observer MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Tainted Observer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tainted Observer has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-02-04 A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action and doesn't use the stack. In other words, it happens immediately and players can't respond to it, just like a player losing the game due to having 0 or less life.
2023-02-04 An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.
2023-02-04 Any other effects of that damage, such as life gain from lifelink, still apply.
2023-02-04 Conversely, replacement effects that apply to the number of counters put on a player can modify the counters placed this way. For example, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider's last two abilities can apply to counters placed this way.
2023-02-04 Damage dealt by a creature with toxic grants the same number of counters regardless of how much damage is dealt. Notably, if a replacement effect modifies the damage in some way (such as that of Gratuitous Violence), the number of counters given remains unchanged.
2023-02-04 If a creature with toxic deals combat damage to a creature or planeswalker, or if it deals noncombat damage, toxic has no effect and no player gets poison counters.
2023-02-04 If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
2023-02-04 If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.
2023-02-04 Multiple instances of toxic are cumulative. For example, if a creature has toxic 2 and gains toxic 1 due to another effect, combat damage that creature deals to a player will cause that player to get 3 poison counters.
2023-02-04 Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.
2023-02-04 To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
2023-02-04 Toxic doesn't change the amount of combat damage a creature deals. For example, if a 2/2 creature with toxic 1 deals combat damage to a player, that creature will deal 2 damage. The results of that damage are the player loses 2 life and gets a poison counter.
2023-02-04 You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.