Venom Sliver MTG Card


Venom Sliver turns all Slivers into deadly forces, enabling significant control over the battlefield. Boosts resource efficiency by allowing Slivers to challenge larger threats without extra card costs. Works best in a Sliver-focused deck, augmenting the potency of your Sliver army considerably.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Sliver
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Sliver creatures you control have deathtouch. (Any amount of damage a creature with deathtouch deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)

"We attacked with arrows dipped in poison. The slivers that did not die began to change." —Hastric, Thunian scout


Cards like Venom Sliver

Venom Sliver is an intriguing component of the thriving Sliver archetype in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other Slivers that enhance the entire team, such as Predatory Sliver, which also bestows a bonus to all Slivers on the board. However, Venom Sliver comes with a distinct ability – granting all your Slivers deathtouch, which can drastically alter combat outcomes and poses a significant threat to opponents.

Synapse Sliver presents another point of comparison, offering card advantage by drawing when Slivers deal combat damage. While Synapse Sliver doesn’t affect the board directly like Venom Sliver, the potential for card draw expansion is considerable. Then there’s the striking Bonescythe Sliver that allows Slivers to double their strike capacity with double strike. Although it doesn’t affect combat dynamics to the extent of deathtouch, the possibility for increased damage output is undeniable.

When evaluating their impacts in a Sliver-based strategy, Venom Sliver holds its position confidently. Its ability to turn any Sliver into a lethal threat makes it an invaluable card among its kin, balancing the scales in your favor with a single strike.

Predatory Sliver - MTG Card versions
Synapse Sliver - MTG Card versions
Bonescythe Sliver - MTG Card versions
Predatory Sliver - MTG Card versions
Synapse Sliver - MTG Card versions
Bonescythe Sliver - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Venom Sliver by color, type and mana cost

Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
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Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Ayula, Queen Among Bears - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Chosen - MTG Card versions
Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
Grizzly Bears - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Eladamri, Lord of Leaves - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Priest of Titania - MTG Card versions
Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Ayula, Queen Among Bears - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Chosen - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Venom Sliver’s presence on the battlefield instantly impacts all other Slivers you control, granting them all deathtouch. This can lead to a tidal shift in board presence, giving you control over the board by turning all your Slivers into threatening blockers or attackers.

Resource Acceleration: Deathtouch enables your Slivers to effectively deal with larger creatures without needing to invest multiple cards into the encounter. This allows you to preserve your hand while dealing with more substantial threats on the board, essentially accelerating your resource efficiency.

Instant Speed: While Venom Sliver itself is a creature card and doesn’t have an instant speed ability, it synergizes well with other Sliver cards that can be cast at instant speed or have flash. This makes your Sliver army unpredictable and able to adapt to changing game states at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Venom Sliver’s ability only triggers when it or another Sliver creature enters the battlefield under your control, meaning you could potentially be waiting to make use of its deathtouch ability. This waiting game risks holding back your tempo, especially in faster, more aggressive decks.

Specific Mana Cost: Venom Sliver demands both green and colorless mana to play. This can be restrictive, as decks not running green might not be able to include this card without altering their mana base, which could potentially disrupt the deck’s overall strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, Venom Sliver’s effect could be seen as costly given that there are other one-mana creatures with deathtouch available. This makes Venom Sliver a less optimal choice in situations where fast mana curve efficiency is crucial.


Reasons to Include Venom Sliver in Your Collection

Versatility: Venom Sliver seamlessly integrates into a Sliver deck, enhancing the threat level of each Sliver you control. As this card gives all your Slivers deathtouch, it becomes a deterrent for opponents to block or attack, making it useful in a variety of in-game situations.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in combinations with other Slivers, particularly those that increase the combat abilities of your creatures. In conjunction with Slivers that offer first strike or additional power, Venom Sliver turns your board into a minefield for the unprepared opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where powerful creatures abound, Venom Sliver can level the playing field. It’s particularly powerful against decks that rely on large creatures to dominate the game, as it allows your Slivers to tackle and eliminate threats regardless of size.


How to Beat Venom Sliver

Venom Sliver presents a unique challenge in MTG, granting all Sliver creatures you control deathtouch—a powerful ability that can destroy any creature they deal damage to, regardless of the creature’s toughness. To tackle this, one effective strategy is to use removal spells that bypass the deathtouch ability. Cards such as Path to Exile or Declaration in Stone can exile Venom Sliver without triggering a deathmatch on the battlefield.

Controlling the board is also vital. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear all creatures, including those pesky Slivers, ensuring that your opponent’s synergies are disrupted. Additionally, counter spells hold a vital role in preventing Venom Sliver from hitting the field in the first place. Consider spell stunners like Counterspell or Mana Leak to keep the Sliver menace in check.

Lastly, direct player damage spells and abilities help circumvent the problem altogether. Instead of fighting through an army of deathtouch-enabled Slivers, pointing damage directly at your opponent with a Lightning Bolt or using burn decks can avoid the confrontation with Venom Sliver, securing victory from a different angle. By focusing on these strategies, players can overcome the challenge posed by Venom Sliver and turn the tide of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the world of MTG, Venom Sliver shines in its role within the Sliver archetype. By giving your creatures deathtouch, it redefines combat, dictating the flow of the battlefield. Whether you’re countering colossal creatures or orchestrating perfect plays, Venom Sliver is your ticket to a formidable front. While it can be a gamble in fast-paced games, the tactical advantage it provides in Sliver decks is unrivaled. For those looking to outmaneuver opponents with intricate synergies, integrating Venom Sliver into your arsenal is a wise move. Discover more strategies and elevate your Sliver game with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Venom Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 and Mystery Booster, 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 Venom Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Venom Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-07-18Magic 2015M15 2052015NormalBlackDave Kendall
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 13672015NormalBlackDave Kendall
32020-09-26The ListPLST M15-2052015NormalBlackDave Kendall
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9142015NormalBlackUriah Voth

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Venom Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-07-18 Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like indestructible and the ability granted by Belligerent Sliver, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2014-07-18 If you change the creature type of a Sliver you control 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 you control.
2014-07-18 Slivers in this set affect only Sliver creatures you control. They don’t grant bonuses to your opponents’ Slivers. This is the same way Slivers from the Magic 2014 core set worked, while Slivers in earlier sets granted bonuses to all Slivers.