Malicious Affliction MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Morbid

Key Takeaways

  1. Malicious Affliction grants exceptional card advantage by potentially removing two creatures simultaneously.
  2. The card’s instant speed allows players to respond deftly to opponents’ actions during their turn.
  3. Two black mana cost and morbid activation condition illustrate its strategic, yet selective, usability.

Text of card

Morbid — When you cast Malicious Affliction, if a creature died this turn, you may copy Malicious Affliction and may choose a new target for the copy. Destroy target nonblack creature.

"Such an affliction appears to seek out the pure." —Byro, plague doctor


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Malicious Affliction provides a potential two-for-one removal, capable of eliminating two threats with one card. This efficiency is excellent for gaining the upper hand and depleting an opponent’s resources while conserving your own.

Resource Acceleration: Although Malicious Affliction doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the tempo gained by removing two threats for only two mana is akin to catapulting ahead in the game’s pace. It allows you to utilize mana more effectively which indirectly translates to a form of resource advantage.

Instant Speed: The fact that Malicious Affliction works at instant speed gives players the flexibility to react during the opponent’s turn. This characteristic also integrates well with strategic play, allowing you to keep mana available for other instant interactions and respond accordingly to your opponent’s actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Malicious Affliction card does not require a card discard to play, it does require a triggering event – the death of a nonblack creature. This can potentially limit its immediate usability if such a condition isn’t already met on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Malicious Affliction comes with a specific mana cost that includes two black mana symbols. This means it fits primarily in mono-black or dual-color decks that can reliably produce black mana, potentially limiting its use in a more varied multicolor deck setup.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a mana cost of two black may not seem high at first glance, in the context of removal spells, it’s more restrictive compared to other options. Spells like “Fatal Push” or “Go for the Throat” can remove creatures for a lower and more flexible mana cost, which might make them preferable in many situations.


Reasons to Include Malicious Affliction in Your Collection

Versatility: Malicious Affliction is an essential tool for any black commander or cube draft deck. Its ability to destroy nonblack creatures is a versatile answer to a multitude of threats your opponents might play.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that manipulate the graveyard or control the number of creature deaths in a turn, accelerating the potential for a two-for-one creature elimination and combing with cards that benefit from creature deaths.

Meta-Relevance: Given its power to rapidly alter the board state by removing key creatures, Malicious Affliction fits well in metas dominated by creature-based strategies, ensuring your deck remains competitive.


How to beat

Malicious Affliction is a potent removal tool in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to target nonblack creatures. One strategy to outplay this card involves using versatile creatures that have protection from black or that are black themselves. This hinders Malicious Affliction’s efficacy, forcing the opponent to waste resources or seek alternative removal options.

Another effective tactic is to bait out Malicious Affliction with less critical creatures and then deploy your more valuable nonblack threats once the path is clear. Counterspells can also prove invaluable, negating the spell entirely and maintaining board presence. Lastly, a focus on instant-speed spells and abilities that can rescue or regenerate your targeted creature can diminish the blow, preserving your formidable creatures and their impact on the game.

To conclude, beating Malicious Affliction requires a mixture of clever creature selection, strategic baiting, protective counterspells, and on-the-fly creature saving techniques. By considering these actions, players can navigate around this destruction spell and maintain control of the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unlocking the full potential of Malicious Affliction in MTG can transform your gameplay, turning a simple removal spell into a game-changing maneuver. The unique conditions of this card offer an avenue to strategic superiority when wielded wisely. From constructing a deck that synergizes with creature death to mastering the timing of its casting, Malicious Affliction can be a linchpin in your quest for dominance at the table. We encourage you to delve deeper into the art of removal spells and their tactical applications in MTG; join us to further explore this spell’s intricacies and ensure your collection is equipped for victory.


Cards like Malicious Affliction

Malicious Affliction earns its place amongst the impactful removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It is often measured against the staple ‘Murder’, which also destroys target creatures without exceptions. The edge Malicious Affliction has lies in its morbid ability, doubling its potential when a creature has died on the same turn. Murder, while consistent, lacks this possibility of eliminating two threats with one card.

Another parallel can be drawn with ‘Go for the Throat’, a popular removal option. Go for the Throat is cheaper but it’s restricted to nonartifact creatures. Malicious Affliction does not have this limitation, though it comes with a slightly higher mana cost. ‘Doom Blade’ is also in the conversation, a less expensive alternative, yet it cannot target black creatures, a significant drawback in certain matchups when compared to the versatile Malicious Affliction.

Assessing the functionality and application, Malicious Affliction could be categorized as a highly potent card for players aiming to control the board. Its conditional double-trigger effect offers a tactical advantage that can significantly turn the tides of a game, carving its niche in the removal spell roster of Magic: The Gathering.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Murder - Magic 2013 (M13)
Go for the Throat - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Doom Blade - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Malicious Affliction by color, type and mana cost

Word of Command - MTG Card versions
Terror - MTG Card versions
Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Transmutation - MTG Card versions
Headstone - MTG Card versions
Soul Rend - MTG Card versions
Wicked Reward - MTG Card versions
Urborg Justice - MTG Card versions
Imps' Taunt - MTG Card versions
Rapid Decay - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Tainted Pact - MTG Card versions
Toxic Stench - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Cast Down - MTG Card versions
Smother - MTG Card versions
Hero's Demise - MTG Card versions
Sickening Shoal - MTG Card versions
Chill Haunting - MTG Card versions
Word of Command - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Terror - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Simulacrum - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Transmutation - Legends (LEG)
Headstone - Homelands (HML)
Soul Rend - Mirage (MIR)
Wicked Reward - Visions (VIS)
Urborg Justice - Weatherlight (WTH)
Imps' Taunt - Tempest (TMP)
Rapid Decay - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Diabolic Edict - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Tainted Pact - Odyssey (ODY)
Toxic Stench - Judgment (JUD)
Doom Blade - Magic 2012 (M12)
Go for the Throat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cast Down - Commander Legends (CMR)
Smother - Worldwake (WWK)
Hero's Demise - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Sickening Shoal - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Chill Haunting - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Malicious Affliction MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2014 and Eternal Masters, 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 Malicious Affliction and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Malicious Affliction Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-11-07 and 2016-06-10. Illustrated by Erica Yang.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-11-07Commander 2014C14 252015normalblackErica Yang
22016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 962015normalblackErica Yang

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Malicious Affliction has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-06-08 The copy of Malicious Affliction is created on the stack. It’s not cast, so the copy won’t cause the morbid ability to trigger again.
2016-06-08 The copy will have the same target as the original spell unless you choose a new one. You don’t have to change this target if you don’t want to or can’t choose a new legal target (perhaps because there are no other nonblack creatures on the battlefield).

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