Plague Sliver MTG Card
2006-10-06 - Number 124
2019-12-02 - Number 633
2019-12-02 - Number 633Φ
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Sliver |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Plague Sliver’s presence demands multiple cards from the opponent, offering significant card advantage.
- It indirectly allows resource acceleration by saving mana for instant speed spells.
- However, its drawbacks require careful deck integration and strategy to avoid self-harm.
Text of card
All Slivers have "At the beginning of your upkeep, this creature deals 1 damage to you."
A sliver shares everything with its hive—even its afflictions.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Plague Sliver is a potent force that not only poses a substantial threat on the battlefield but also bolsters your board position by often necessitating multiple cards from your opponent to be dealt with. Every turn it remains in play, it applies pressure, potentially leading to a favorable exchange for the player using it.
Resource Acceleration: This formidable creature, although not directly impacting your mana resources, can allow for indirect resource acceleration by dominating the field and freeing up your mana each turn that would otherwise be allocated for casting creatures or control measures.
Instant Speed: While Plague Sliver itself may not be an instant, its mere presence on the board can indirectly impact your game strategy at instant speed. With it in play, you are free to use your mana for other instant speed spells in your arsenal, knowing that your adversary must first address the significant threat that Plague Sliver represents.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The presence of a Plague Sliver on the field comes with an inherent risk for those wielding it due to its ability that negatively affects all Slivers. This can lead to inadvertent discard or sacrifice of precious Slivers from your own army, forcing Sliver enthusiasts to strategize selectively when including it in their deck.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a blend of generic and black mana, Plague Sliver demands a dedicated mana base. This specific mana cost could be a potential setback in multi-colored Sliver decks, limiting the card’s versatility and requiring careful mana management.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of 3 colorless and 1 black mana, Plague Sliver is not the most mana-efficient creature in a Sliver deck. While its power and toughness are formidable, the mana investment might seem steep when compared to other Sliver options available that provide utility or synergy at a lower cost.
Reasons to Include Plague Sliver in Your Collection
Versatility: Plague Sliver offers flexibility in deckbuilding, fitting flawlessly into Sliver decks or those looking to benefit from high-powered creatures. Its capability to sway the board state makes it a valuable asset in various game situations.
Combo Potential: In a Sliver-centric deck, Plague Sliver can be a game-changer, working in tandem with other Sliver cards to create an overwhelming force. Its synergy opportunities can often lead to fast and decisive victories when combined with the right cards.
Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely on creature swarms or token strategies, Plague Sliver could provide a significant edge. Its mere presence can disrupt opponents’ plans and tilt the odds in your favor, demonstrating its relevance in certain competitive environments.
How to beat
Plague Sliver, a formidable creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, brings sheer power to the Sliver tribe. It boasts a potent effect that can be a double-edged sword; while it strengthens your cohort of Slivers with its 5/5 stats, it also presents the risk of bleeding your life away if left unchecked.
To combat this behemoth, focus on removal spells that can handle large creatures without triggering any on-death effects. Dire Tactics and Path to Exile are excellent choices that can exile Plague Sliver before it amplifies your opponent’s board presence or hinders your life total. Ensuring you have a way to respond to Plague Sliver hitting the field is crucial. Alternatively, utilize board control strategies such as sweepers or cards that can change the creature’s base power and toughness, turning it into a less threatening presence.
Moreover, consider crafting a game plan that puts your opponent on a different axis of attack. If they are heavily reliant on their Slivers to seal the game, diversify your threats and answers so that Plague Sliver becomes more of a liability for them than an asset. Incorporating this strategic depth will discourage reliance on a single creature and provide you with a pathway to victory.
Cards like Plague Sliver
Plague Sliver has carved out its niche within the tribal-centric offerings of Magic: The Gathering. This particular creature is a nod to the iconic Sliver archetype which is celebrated for its hive-mind ability to share potent effects among each other. However, what sets Plague Sliver apart is its duality; while it’s a sizeable creature for its cost, it can be a double-edged sword due to its ability that causes its controller to lose life equal to the number of Slivers on the battlefield.
When comparing Plague Sliver to its kin, such as Pulmonic Sliver or Sinew Sliver, the contrasts become apparent. Pulmonic Sliver yields a more defensive benefit by offering a form of resilience through its graveyard-recursion ability, while Sinew Sliver is more straightforward by bolstering every Sliver’s power and toughness. Plague Sliver, with its life-draining aspect, introduces a calculated risk, rewarding players who navigate its drawback strategically.
In evaluating the overall impact of Plague Sliver, it’s clear that while it may not have the unifying bolster effects of other Slivers, its significant presence on the board can be an asset, especially in a well-orchestrated Sliver deck where its drawback can be mitigated or even harnessed as an advantage.
Cards similar to Plague Sliver by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Plague Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Sliver and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Plague Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by Dave Allsop.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006-10-06 | Time Spiral | TSP | 124 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dave Allsop | |
| 2 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 633 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dave Allsop | ||
| 3 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 633Φ | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dave Allsop |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Plague Sliver has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Plague Sliver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-09-25 | Each Sliver deals damage to its controller (not to Plague Sliver’s controller). |
| 2013-07-01 | Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit. |
| 2013-07-01 | If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures. |
