Carnifex Demon MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Demon
Abilities Flying
Power 6
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Significantly impacts board state, strategically clearing the field of smaller creatures while preserving valuable ones.
  2. Demands heavy black mana commitment, posing a deck-building challenge for multicolored decks.
  3. High mana cost can be restrictive in fast-paced games where early plays are critical.

Text of card

Flying Carnifex Demon enters the battlefield with two -1/-1 counters on it. , Remove a -1/-1 counter from Carnifex Demon: Put a -1/-1 counter on each other creature.

Every contagion has a host.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Carnifex Demon offers a repeatable way to clear the board of smaller creatures, preserving your more valuable ones. This can lead to a decisive lead in card advantage as opponents lose multiple creatures to your one Demon.

Resource Acceleration: This formidable flyer can have a significant impact on the game the moment it hits the battlefield. While it doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its ability to manage the board state can defend your other resource-generating permanents, indirectly boosting your mana development and board presence.

Instant Speed: Although Carnifex Demon’s abilities are not at instant speed, its -1/-1 counter distribution is a formidable and flexible tool. This mechanic allows you to strategically weaken your opponent’s creatures on your turn, preparing for their moves and disrupting their strategies before they can fully take shape.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bringing Carnifex Demon into play demands certain sacrifices, like -1/-1 counters on your creatures, which may not always align with your strategy, especially if board presence is crucial to your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Carnifex Demon’s casting cost is entrenched in black mana, needing four black mana symbols. This can be restrictive, making it challenging to fit into multicolored decks that require a balanced mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana value of six, including the heavy black mana requirement, Carnifex Demon is on the higher end of the spectrum, potentially slowing down your tempo in faster-paced games where early plays can determine the winner.


Reasons to Include Carnifex Demon in Your Collection

Versatility: Carnifex Demon brings a level of adaptability to black-themed decks. Its ability to place -1/-1 counters on all creatures proves useful in a wide range of situations, from breaking stalwarts to resetting persist creatures.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in counter-centric builds, synergizing with proliferating mechanics to amplify its impact, setting the stage for widespread creature control and enabling intricate win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In environments ripe with creature-heavy strategies, Carnifex Demon emerges as a formidable foil. Its persistent board presence disrupts opponents’ tactics, providing a strategic edge in creature-dominant metas.


How to beat

Within the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, the Carnifex Demon offers a formidable challenge with its board control capabilities. As a player facing this threat, it’s essential to focus on prevention and removal strategies. One effective tactic involves countering the demon’s casting, employing spells like Negate or Essence Scatter to keep it off the battlefield entirely.

Utilizing removal as soon as the demon hits the field is another approach. Cards with exile effects such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can bypass the demon’s -1/-1 counter distribution ability. If the creature manages to stick, keep in mind its ability requires a considerable influx of mana to be activated. This can be turned to your advantage with mana disruption cards and strategies that limit your opponent’s resources—hindering their ability to manipulate the demon’s deleterious power.

Ultimately, facing a Carnifex Demon demands proactive tactics and a solid game plan. A mix of counterspells, removal, and mana disruption will enhance your odds of neutralizing this potent threat and maintaining control of the game board.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG means constantly evolving your strategy and knowing when to introduce a game-changer like Carnifex Demon into your collection. With its board-altering abilities, it’s a card that can turn the tides in creature-heavy metas by offering unique and potent board control. Whether you’re looking to fortify a counter-based deck or simply seeking to diversify your strategic options, this demon could be your key to dominating the battlefield. Delve deeper with us, integrate smart plays into your deck, and enhance your gaming expertise. Visit BurnMana for more insights and strategies to optimize your MTG gameplay.


Cards like Carnifex Demon

Delving into the world of Magic: The Gathering, Carnifex Demon offers a unique presence on the battlefield. Its closest relatives are perhaps cards like Pestilence Demon and Thrashing Wumpus, which also possess the ability to deal damage across the board. Carnifex Demon distinguishes itself with the capacity to distribute -1/-1 counters, fundamentally altering the state of all creatures on the field and skirting indestructibility.

Corrosive Mentor is another creature that synergizes with -1/-1 counters, but unlike the sweeping influence of Carnifex Demon, it is limited to granting Wither only to black creatures you control. Sheoldred, Whispering One can also act as a game-changer with its recurring creature revival ability. However, it lacks the immediate board impact that Carnifex Demon commands through its counters and mass removal potential.

Assessing the plethora of options within Magic: The Gathering, Carnifex Demon holds a specialized niche for players wielding counter-heavy strategies. Its blend of direct control over creature states and formidable stats make it a strategic pick for certain black decks looking to maintain board presence and manipulate counters to their advantage.

Pestilence Demon - MTG Card versions
Thrashing Wumpus - MTG Card versions
Corrosive Mentor - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Pestilence Demon - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Thrashing Wumpus - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Corrosive Mentor - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Sheoldred, Whispering One - New Phyrexia Promos (PNPH)

Cards similar to Carnifex Demon by color, type and mana cost

Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Demonic Hordes - MTG Card versions
Ihsan's Shade - MTG Card versions
Necrosavant - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Lancer - MTG Card versions
Face of Fear - MTG Card versions
Wire Surgeons - MTG Card versions
Grave Titan - MTG Card versions
Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions
Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions
Anurid Murkdiver - MTG Card versions
Gempalm Polluter - MTG Card versions
Nefashu - MTG Card versions
Twisted Abomination - MTG Card versions
Iname, Death Aspect - MTG Card versions
Deathcurse Ogre - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth Demon - MTG Card versions
Ascendant Evincar - MTG Card versions
Bog Hoodlums - MTG Card versions
Helldozer - MTG Card versions
Nightmare - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Demonic Hordes - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Ihsan's Shade - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Necrosavant - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Dakmor Lancer - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Face of Fear - Odyssey (ODY)
Wire Surgeons - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Grave Titan - Fallout (PIP)
Chittering Harvester - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Crossway Troublemakers - Crimson Vow Commander (VOC)
Anurid Murkdiver - Onslaught (ONS)
Gempalm Polluter - Legions (LGN)
Nefashu - Scourge (SCG)
Twisted Abomination - Scourge (SCG)
Iname, Death Aspect - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Deathcurse Ogre - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Yawgmoth Demon - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Ascendant Evincar - Tenth Edition (10E)
Bog Hoodlums - Lorwyn (LRW)
Helldozer - Planechase (HOP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Carnifex Demon MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Jumpstart Arena Exclusives, 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 Carnifex Demon and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Carnifex Demon Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Aleksi Briclot.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 572003normalblackAleksi Briclot
22020-07-17Jumpstart Arena ExclusivesAJMP 572015normalblackAleksi Briclot

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Carnifex Demon has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2011-01-01 As Carnifex Demon’s last ability resolves, you’ll put a -1/-1 counter on each creature on the battlefield — including creatures you control — except for that Carnifex Demon.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks