Plague Mare MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Nightmare Horse
Released	2018-07-13
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2019
Set code	M19
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	114
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	G-host Lee

Key Takeaways

Plague Mare offers card advantage by reducing opponent creatures, streamlining victory pathways.
Though not instant speed, its entrance simulates an instant’s disruptive impact in-game.
In specific metas, Plague Mare acts as a counter to creature-dense decks with efficiency.

Text of card

Plague Mare can't be blocked by white creatures. When Plague Mare enters the battlefield, creatures your opponents control get -1/-1 until end of turn.

When it passes, those who sleep dream of sickness and death.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Plague Mare carves through the opponent’s creatures, it delivers not just damage but also a potential boost in card superiority. By diminishing the number of threats on the opposing side, it often results in card advantage as your opponent will need to draw and play more resources to rebuild their board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Plague Mare doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, but it can serve as a tempo play. By dealing with a horde of smaller creatures, it helps maintain board control, indirectly accelerating your path to victory without the need to spend additional cards or mana in dealing with those creatures individually.

Instant Speed: Though Plague Mare itself isn’t an instant, its impact when entering the battlefield can be as sudden and disruptive as an instant speed spell. The ability to cast it following an opponent’s swarm of creatures can quickly turn the tide, much like an instant would during an opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Plague Mare is that it doesn’t directly require a discard upon casting, but it may lead to indirect discard situations, as its effect might not match the impact of other cards you hold, compelling you to prioritize resources differently.

Specific Mana Cost: Plague Mare comes with a black and generic mana cost which could be restrictive for decks that aren’t heavily invested in black mana or run multiple colors, possibly causing it to be a dead card in hand until the proper mana is acquired.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With three mana needed to bring Plague Mare into the battlefield, it’s vital to consider other creatures or spells available within the same cost range that might provide a higher value or more versatile effects to the game state.

Reasons to Include Plague Mare in Your Collection

Versatility: Plague Mare is a dynamic piece in decks targeting creature-heavy opponents. Its ability to give all creatures your opponents control -1/-1 until the end of turn can be instrumental in disrupting token strategies or clearing a path for your own attacks.

Combo Potential: As part of the “mare” cycle, Plague Mare can be an essential component in decks that capitalize on the enter-the-battlefield effects. Its synergy with cards that care about the number of creatures dying can lead to powerful turns and swing the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by aggressive go-wide strategies, Plague Mare serves as an efficient answer. Its non-targeted ability skirts around hexproof and can often act as a board wipe against low-toughness creatures, making it a relevant choice for creature-heavy matchups.

How to beat

Plague Mare is a card that comes with a unique capability of giving other creatures -1/-1 until end of turn when it enters the battlefield, making it a stealthy nemesis for token strategies and creatures with low toughness in MTG. To counter this equine menace, you’ll want to look towards cards that can remove it before its enter the battlefield ability triggers, such as instant speed removal spells. Additionally, buffing your own creatures’ toughness can mitigate the impact of its ability, safeguarding your board presence.

Another strategy is to employ graveyard manipulation. Cards that can exile Plague Mare from the graveyard thwart recursion tactics, ensuring it won’t make a second appearance. Also, consider employing hexproof or indestructible creatures; these types can withstand the Mare’s detrimental effect and maintain a solid frontline. Lastly, holding onto counter spells when you suspect the opponent is about to cast Plague Mare may offer the preventive defense needed to avoid its disruptive entry altogether.

With these strategies in play, overcoming the challenge Plague Mare poses becomes a manageable task, allowing you to maintain dominance on the battlefield and leading your deck to victory.

Cards like Plague Mare

Delving into the black creature cards of Magic: The Gathering, Plague Mare comes across as an unassuming yet strategic player on the battlefield. It could be closely compared to Nekrataal, another creature that similarly offers a form of removal upon entering the battlefield. While Nekrataal can destroy any nonartifact, nonblack creature outright, Plague Mare carves its niche by affecting multiple creatures and potentially evading counterplays through its ‘can’t be blocked by white creatures’ ability.

Another card that echoes the essence of Plague Mare is Massacre Girl. Massacre Girl also manipulates the board by causing a chain reaction that can wipe out multiple creatures. Unlike Plague Mare, which has a static effect that only applies to white creatures, Massacre Girl has a more dynamic potential, affecting all creatures on the board and potentially escalating to a full wipe. Despite this, Plague Mare’s lower mana cost and specific impact on white creatures might make it a more fitting choice in decks that focus on targeted creature control.

In summary, while other cards offer more sweeping removal effects, Plague Mare holds its ground within MTG with its targeted utility and evasion capabilities, securing a specialized role in black-centric creature strategies.

Cards similar to Plague Mare by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Plague Mare MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019, 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 Plague Mare and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Plague Mare has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2018-07-13	Plague Mare’s second ability affects only creatures your opponents control at the time it resolves. Creatures they begin to control later in the turn won’t get -1/-1.