Phyrexian Broodlings MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Minion
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Phyrexian Broodlings enhance strategies by utilizing creature sacrifices for indirect card advantages.
  2. They provide instant speed flexibility, elevating game momentum and creating beneficial board states.
  3. Despite their versatility, consider mana costs and the need to sacrifice other creatures for power.

Text of card

o1, Sacrifice a creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Phyrexian Broodlings.

With limited resources and near unlimited time, Kerrick used parts from one beast to build another.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Phyrexian Broodlings come into play with a unique ability that allows you to sacrifice them for a beneficial effect. Such interactions can be essential for decks that thrive on creature sacrifice, giving you indirect card advantage as you manipulate the battlefield to your favor.

Resource Acceleration: The Broodlings’ sacrificial nature can be paired with an array of cards that capitalize on creature death, potentially accelerating your resources. They play well in strategies that utilize death triggers to ramp up your mana production or draw into more powerful threats.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Phyrexian Broodlings lies in their ability to use their effect at instant speed. This allows for strategic flexibility during the game, as you can choose the optimal moment to sacrifice them, whether it’s in response to an opponent’s actions or to create a sudden shift in the game’s momentum in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other creatures that enter the battlefield ready to act, Phyrexian Broodlings demands the sacrifice of another creature to gain +1/+1 counters. This puts players in a challenging position, especially when board presence is scarce or when they’re required to give up a valuable creature.

Specific Mana Cost: Phyrexian Broodlings requires a black mana to cast. This can present a barrier to players who do not run a deck with a sufficient black mana base, thereby limiting the card’s flexibility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a three mana cost for a basic 2/2 creature, Phyrexian Broodlings might not offer the best value for investment. There are other creatures available at the same or lower mana cost that could potentially provide more immediate impact or have abilities that don’t require an additional cost to activate.


Reasons to Include Phyrexian Broodlings in Your Collection

Versatility: Phyrexian Broodlings offer a flexible role in various deck archetypes. Their ability to serve both as an early blocker and a late-game resource makes them a useful card in any collection.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies revolving around creature sacrifice for profit, enhancing decks that capitalize on death triggers or graveyard mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: Within the ever-shifting landscape of competitive play, Phyrexian Broodlings can provide strategic advantage against creature-heavy decks, ensuring it stays relevant in various metagames.


How to beat

Phyrexian Broodlings is a unique creature card that brings with it the intimidating lore of Phyrexia and offers a versatile option for sacrificing creatures. This card acts as both a combat trick and a way to manipulate the field to your advantage. To effectively counteract the Broodlings’ ability to strengthen itself at the expense of other creatures, removing it swiftly can be key. Employing instant-speed removal spells can ensure that the broodlings are taken care of before they have the chance to grow too strong or disrupt your board presence.

Tactical use of board wipes can also excel against these Broodlings, clearing them along with any other creatures that might be slated for sacrifice. Moreover, utilizing cards that restrict the act of sacrificing can stifle the Broodlings. It’s paramount to manage your resources appropriately, allowing you to respond to their owner’s moves. Keeping a close eye on the board state and preserving the right answers for when the Broodlings are on the verge of causing significant impact is essential to maintaining control over the game.

Silencing the Broodlings with counter spells as they hit the stack or forcing your opponent to sacrifice them with effects that bypass their abilities can also prove advantageous. In the struggle against Phyrexian Broodlings, preparation and timely reaction can cement your victory.


Cards like Phyrexian Broodlings

The Phyrexian Broodlings card offers Magic: The Gathering players a unique opportunity to manage creatures on the battlefield. Its ability to sacrifice itself and give a temporary power boost to other creatures is a strategic tool akin to other sacrifice-for-benefit cards in the game.

Take Carrion Feeder, for instance, which grows permanently stronger with every creature sacrificed, providing an ongoing threat to opponents. Alternatively, Nantuko Husk operates on a similar concept as Phyrexian Broodlings, allowing a player to sacrifice other creatures for a temporary power increase but with the added advantage of being able to grow without limit within a single turn.

While Phyrexian Broodlings doesn’t provide the lasting power increase that Carrion Feeder does, or the scalability of Nantuko Husk, it requires no mana to activate its ability, a subtle yet valuable asset for players. This characteristic can lead to unexpected swings in combat, catching opponents unprepared. Though all these cards serve a similar role, the nuances in their abilities carve out distinct strategies and uses within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, each contributing to a deck’s synergy and combat tactics.

Carrion Feeder - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Husk - MTG Card versions
Carrion Feeder - Scourge (SCG)
Nantuko Husk - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Phyrexian Broodlings by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
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Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
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Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Bone - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phyrexian Broodlings MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition, 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 Phyrexian Broodlings and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Phyrexian Broodlings Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Daren Bader.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-02-15Urza's LegacyULG 581997normalblackDaren Bader
22010-03-19Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the CoalitionDDE 82003normalblackDaren Bader
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2632015normalblackDaren Bader

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Phyrexian Broodlings has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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