Infernal Tribute MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Number	73
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Terese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

Infernal Tribute turns non-token permanents into card draw, optimizing hand replenishment.
Instant-speed activation of Infernal Tribute allows for adaptable and tactical plays.
Despite its versatility, Infernal Tribute requires careful mana management and investment.

Text of card

, Sacrifice a card in play: Draw a card.

"I would not barter my soul for any of the filth that they called power. So they took it from me and damned me to solitude." —Crovax

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Infernal Tribute provides a reliable source of card drawing. By sacrificing a nontoken permanent, you can draw a card, keeping your hand replenished and fueling your strategy.

Resource Acceleration: It allows you to convert excess or redundant board presence, including unneeded lands later in the game, into fresh cards, ensuring that your resources are working efficiently towards your victory.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Infernal Tribute at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to game developments on the fly, maximizing your tactical responses and keeping opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must sacrifice a non-token permanent to trigger Infernal Tribute’s ability. This stipulation can be a double-edged sword, especially when your board presence is crucial to your strategy and sacrificing a permanent means losing a valuable resource.

Specific Mana Cost: Infernal Tribute’s activation not only demands a discard but also requires one black mana every time you wish to draw a card. This can limit flexibility in multi-colored decks that may not have consistent access to black mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost of three mana and additional costs for each activation, Infernal Tribute can be a demanding investment. Considering that the MTG universe is teeming with more mana-efficient draw engines, playing Infernal Tribute might set you back in fast-paced games where efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Infernal Tribute offers flexibility to players, as it allows for sacrificial mechanics that can be integrated into various deck types. Whether it’s a control setup seeking card advantage or an aggro deck looking to repurpose its creatures, this card can adapt to multiple strategies.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to turn any non-token permanent into card draw fuels combos by enabling you to sacrifice unused or targeted permanents for fresh resources, thereby keeping your hand full and ready to react.

Meta-Relevance: With enchantments playing a significant role in the meta, having Infernal Tribute can be crucial. It serves not only as a tool for deck synergy but also as a reactive measure against opponent strategies that may rely on permanent-based board presence.

How to Beat Infernal Tribute

Infernal Tribute is an intriguing card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, offering players the unique ability to sacrifice a nontoken permanent to draw a card. Understanding how to effectively counter this card is essential for maintaining control of the game. The key to overpowering Infernal Tribute lies in limiting the number of sacrificial options available to your opponent. Tactics such as graveyard hate, which can exile cards from graveyards, mitigate the benefits that Infernal Tribute provides. Moreover, employing enchantment removal spells to directly dispose of Infernal Tribute itself is a direct and efficient method to halt your adversary’s card draw engine.

Another strategic move is to apply pressure with aggressive creatures and strategies, forcing the opponent to decide between maintaining their board presence and capitalizing on Infernal Tribute’s ability. Cards like Rest in Peace and Leyline of the Void are definitive in disrupting Infernal Tribute’s potential by preventing the exploitation of a robust graveyard. In summary, proactive resource denial, targeted removal, and sustained aggression undermine Infernal Tribute’s value and prove to be effective counters to this distinctive MTG card.

Cards like Infernal Tribute

Infernal Tribute stands out in the realm of sacrifice outlets and card advantage engines in Magic: The Gathering. This unique enchantment allows players to pay two mana and sacrifice a nontoken permanent to draw a card, offering a reliable source of card draw. When considering its closest relatives, you might look at Phyrexian Vault, which demands the sacrifice of a creature for the same cost to draw a card. Infernal Tribute broadens the range, giving the choice to sacrifice any nontoken permanent, which can be pivotal in a game where versatility is key.

Comparing it further, there is Jalum Tome, offering a repeatable card draw mechanism at the expense of four mana and discarding a card first. Although it does not require sacrificing a permanent, the additional cost can make it a less efficient option compared to Infernal Tribute. Altar’s Reap is another card in the conversation, allowing instant speed drawing at the cost of sacrificing a creature, but the lack of repeatability differentiates it from the Tribute’s ongoing potential.

All in all, Infernal Tribute’s flexibility in sacrificing any non-token permanent positions it as a valuable tool in decks that seek to capitalize on every asset for maximum card draw and strategic depth.

Cards similar to Infernal Tribute by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Infernal Tribute MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Infernal Tribute and other MTG cards: