Vishgraz, the Doomhive MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Insect
Abilities Menace,Toxic
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Vishgraz aids in quickly building a large army of insect tokens, significantly impacting the game’s dynamics.
  2. Its ability to spawn tokens at instant speed provides strategic advantage, enhancing flexibility in play.
  3. Despite its strengths, Vishgraz’s specific casting requirements and discard cost may limit its use in certain decks.

Text of card

Menace, toxic 1 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get a poison counter.) When Vishgraz, the Doomhive enters the battlefield, create three 1/1 colorless Phyrexian Mite artifact creature tokens with toxic 1 and "This creature can't block." Vishgraz gets +1/+1 for each poison counter your opponents have.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vishgraz, the Doomhive allows players to rapidly populate the battlefield with pesky Insect creature tokens, potentially overwhelming the opponent with sheer numbers. This leads to a substantial card advantage as each token represents a potential threat that must be dealt with.

Resource Acceleration: The creation of multiple tokens with Vishgraz, the Doomhive serves as a form of resource acceleration. This accelerates the player’s board presence and can be pivotal in ramp strategies where the number of creatures in play directly translates to more power and possibilities on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The token-generating ability of Vishgraz, the Doomhive can be activated at instant speed, adding a layer of flexibility and strategic depth to gameplay. This enables savvy players to capitalize on the end of an opponent’s turn to expand their army, or to unexpectedly bolster their defenses right before a critical combat phase ensues.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vishgraz, the Doomhive necessitates discarding another card as part of its casting process, which may be a serious setback for players running low on hand options. This could compromise your game strategy, especially in tight situations where every card in hand is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Vishgraz, the Doomhive includes specific mana symbols, requiring a carefully tuned mana base. Players not running a deck with the necessary color identity might find it challenging to include it without inconsistent mana availability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an imposing mana investment to get Vishgraz onto the battlefield, players may find its cost hard to justify, especially if facing strategies that benefit from lower-cost creatures or spells with similar or better impact.


Reasons to Include Vishgraz, the Doomhive in Your Collection

Versatility: Vishgraz, the Doomhive boasts an adaptable role across various decks due to its ability to spawn numerous insect creature tokens. This makes it an excellent card for strategies emphasizing creature presence and token generation.

Combo Potential: Each insect token created by Vishgraz holds potential for combo interactions, particularly in decks that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield. These tokens can synergize with sacrifice outlets, doubling effects, or anthems to create powerful board states.

Meta-Relevance: Given its substantial presence on the board, Vishgraz can be a game-changer in metas where overwhelming opponents with creatures is viable or against decks that struggle with multiple threats. Its impact can be immediately felt, altering the tide of the game in your favor.


How to beat

Vishgraz, the Doomhive is a formidable creature that can overwhelm your defenses in MTG with its swarm of Insect tokens. To effectively counter this threat, it’s important to employ strategies that can deal with both the legendary creature and its tokens. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation are particularly effective as they can clear the tokens while also dealing with Vishgraz itself. Spot removals like Doom Blade or Path to Exile assist in handling Vishgraz before it becomes a larger problem, while cards with exile effects prevent any recurrence from the graveyard.

Ensnaring tactics that restrict the creature’s ability to attack or block—cards like Pacifism or Frost Lynx—can also mitigate the impact of Vishgraz on your gameplay. Moreover, employing instant-speed removals allows you to respond to creatures being declared as attackers or blockers, maintaining the upper hand. Finally, cards like Leyline of the Void hinder recurring strategies, removing the threat of Vishgraz returning from the graveyard to the battlefield. It is vital to have a game plan not only for Vishgraz but also for other threats that may accompany it in a well-rounded deck.


Cards like Vishgraz, the Doomhive

Vishgraz, the Doomhive enters the battlefield as a unique presence in the realm of creature tokens generation in Magic The Gathering. It shares a kinship with cards like Tendershoot Dryad, as both excel at populating the field with tokens. Tendershoot Dryad, however, focuses on creating Saproling tokens during each upkeep, whereas Vishgraz brings the novelty of Insect tokens with its distinctive ability to generate them whenever another nontoken creature you control dies.

Comparing it further, we see that Siege-Gang Commander is another creature that thrives in token-generation strategies. It generates Goblin tokens upon entering the battlefield, giving you instant army-in-a-box utility. Vishgraz, the Doomhive requires a bit more setup to start its token production line but, the Insect tokens have the added advantage of being equipped with a deathtouch ability, amplifying their board impact.

Avenger of Zendikar presents another comparison point, especially when evaluating the potential of late-game swarm strategies. While Avenger of Zendikar’s Plant tokens grow in power with landfall triggers, Vishgraz offers consistent token churn with a death-triggered mechanic. It’s an interesting trade-off between immediate board presence and long-term strategic value inherent in Vishgraz, the Doomhive’s design.

Tendershoot Dryad - MTG Card versions
Siege-Gang Commander - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Tendershoot Dryad - MTG Card versions
Siege-Gang Commander - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Vishgraz, the Doomhive Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-02-03 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by Andrew Mar.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 42015NormalBlackAndrew Mar
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 402015NormalBlackAndrew Mar

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vishgraz, the Doomhive has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Vishgraz, the Doomhive 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 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 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 The bonus Vishgraz receives due to its last ability may cause it to survive combat damage in some cases. For example, if an attacking Vishgraz is blocked by a 3/3 and another creature with toxic 1 is attacking at the same time and is unblocked, Vishgraz with deal 3 damage, receive 3 damage, and get +1/+1 at exactly the same time. The end result is that it will stay alive and be a 4/4 creature with 3 damage marked on it.
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.