Parasitic Impetus MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant,Goad

Key Takeaways

  1. It offers continuous card draw and deters opponents’ attacks by equipping to their creatures.
  2. Gains extra mana through treasure tokens, increasing your ability to cast spells.
  3. Parasitic Impetus’s utility can be weighed against its higher casting cost and deck limitations.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and is goaded. (It attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.) Whenever enchanted creature attacks, its controller loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Parasitic Impetus equips to an opponent’s creature and ensures a steady stream of card draw each time that creature attacks. This effect is immensely valuable for keeping your hand filled with options and pulling ahead of your opponent in terms of potential plays.

Resource Acceleration: While this aura is attached to a creature your opponent controls, it not only incentivizes them not to attack with it, but also rewards you with additional mana in the form of a Treasure token whenever the creature does swing. This can lead to an acceleration in your resources, allowing you to deploy threats and answers more quickly.

Instant Speed: Parasitic Impetus itself may not be an instant, but its ability to grant you extra mana during the attack phase can enable you to cast spells at instant speed. With more mana at your disposal, you can respond to your opponents’ moves with increased flexibility, keeping them on their toes and disrupting their strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Parasitic Impetus mandates players to discard another card, which can deplete their hand, especially if they are already struggling with card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment requires a black mana to cast. This can restrict deck building options as it necessitates a black mana source, making it incompatible with mono-color decks that don’t include black.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana including one black, Parasitic Impetus may be considered costly for its effect when compared to other Aura enchantments in the same vein, potentially occupying a slot where a more impactful card could be played.


Reasons to Include Parasitic Impetus in Your Collection

Versatility: Parasitic Impetus is a flexible enchantment that can find a place in multiple deck archetypes. It’s particularly effective in games where you wish to deter opponents from attacking you, while simultaneously incentivizing them to attack others. Moreover, its ability to provide a steady life gain can be a subtle yet consistent advantage.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on enchantments or involve controlling opponent’s creatures. It also has a built-in engine for life gain which can be compounded with other cards to turn the life gained into a resource—for instance, for powering up creatures or activating abilities.

Meta-Relevance: With its multifaceted utility, Parasitic Impetus can be a timely addition when dealing with creature-heavy decks in your play environment. It can change the combat dynamic and force difficult decisions, making it a relevant choice during various meta shifts.


How to beat

Parasitic Impetus is an intriguing enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that can shift the tide of battle by turning an opponent’s creature against them. When enchanting an opposing creature, it goads the creature, compelling it to attack each turn if able, but not at you. Additionally, it rewards you with one life every time the enchanted creature attacks. Facing this card requires a strategic approach.

Control is fundamental when attempting to neutralize the threat posed by Parasitic Impetus. Utilizing removal spells to destroy or exile the enchanted creature can prevent the life gain and forced attacks, thus mitigating the card’s impact. Alternatively, employing counterspells when Parasitic Impetus initially hits the stack can effectively nullify it before it becomes an active threat. It’s also beneficial to include versatile answers in your deck that can address both creatures and enchantments, ensuring that you’re prepared for whatever your opponent might cast.

Overall, while Parasitic Impetus presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, its impact can be managed through precise removal, proactive counters, and a well-rounded deck built with contingency plans in mind. For those prepared, it’s simply another obstacle to overcome in the complex and engaging world of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the intricacies of MTG demands a keen understanding of how certain cards, like Parasitic Impetus, can alter the dynamics of your gameplay. Its dual capabilities of granting card advantage and resource acceleration can empower your strategy, though it comes with inherent risks such as hand depletion and its need for specific mana types. To navigate these aspects, it is essential to integrate a mix of removals, counterspells, and versatile cards that keep you one step ahead. For enthusiasts eager to refine their decks with this enchantment or seek alternatives, embark on an engaging journey with us to deepen your knowledge and harness the tactical advantages of Parasitic Impetus. Our platform offers insights and strategies tailored to optimize your collection and gameplay experience. Ready to enhance your strategic repertoire? Learn more with us.


Exploring the Strategic Edge of Parasitic Impetus

In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, enchanting creatures with auras like Parasitic Impetus can shift the battle in your favor. This alluring enchantment not only grants the ability to sap life from opponents but also rewards you with extra mana for every successful strike. As we delve deeper, let’s compare it to other cards that exude similar characteristics and gauge their strategic value in gameplay.

Cards like Parasitic Impetus

Parasitic Impetus stands out in the realm of creature enchantments, particularly those that tilt the odds by drawing resources from the opponent. It bears some resemblance to cards like Predatory Urge, which allows creatures to fight and possibly gain life in the process. However, Parasitic Impetus is unique in that it endows your creature with the potential to be a consistent source of mana gain.

Looking at Glistening Oil, another card that affects creatures, it imparts powerful negative counters but lacks the rewarding mana bonus. On the flip side, cards like Curse of Opulence offer mana generation but don’t attach directly to creatures nor sap life from adversaries. By offering both life drain and mana, Parasitic Impetus provides a dual-threat that is not commonly found in such enchantments.

Considering various gameplay strategies, the Parasitic Impetus card shines within its niche, offering both an offensive and resource-gathering edge to MTG connoisseurs seeking to tighten their grip on the game with every creature attack.

Predatory Urge - MTG Card versions
Glistening Oil - MTG Card versions
Curse of Opulence - MTG Card versions
Predatory Urge - Zendikar (ZEN)
Glistening Oil - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Curse of Opulence - Treasure Chest (PZ2)

Cards similar to Parasitic Impetus by color, type and mana cost

Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions
Gloom - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Season of the Witch - The Dark (DRK)
Tourach's Gate - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Withering Wisps - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Funeral March - Homelands (HML)
Casting of Bones - Alliances (ALL)
Blanket of Night - Visions (VIS)
Necropotence - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Hecatomb - Masters Edition (ME1)
Megrim - Stronghold (STH)
Recurring Nightmare - Exodus (EXO)
Contamination - Urza's Saga (USG)
Oppression - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Maggot Therapy - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Murderous Betrayal - Nemesis (NEM)
Noxious Field - Prophecy (PCY)
Tainted Well - Invasion (INV)
Phyrexian Arena - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Gravestorm - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Mortiphobia - Torment (TOR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Parasitic Impetus MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2020 and Commander 2021, 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 Parasitic Impetus and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Parasitic Impetus Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-04-17 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-04-17Commander 2020C20 462015normalblackMila Pesic
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1502015normalblackMila Pesic
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 1402015normalblackFrancis Tneh
42024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 1182015normalblackMila Pesic

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Parasitic Impetus has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-04-17 Attacking with a goaded creature doesn't cause it to stop being goaded.
2020-04-17 Being goaded more than once by the same player is redundant.
2020-04-17 If a creature you control has been goaded by multiple opponents, it must attack one of your opponents who hasn't goaded it. If a creature you control has been goaded by each of your opponents, you choose which opponent it attacks.
2020-04-17 If a goaded creature can't attack for any reason (such as being tapped or having come under that player's control that turn), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having it attack, its controller isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either.
2020-04-17 If a goaded creature doesn't meet any of the above exceptions and can attack, it must attack a player other than a player who goaded it if able. It the creature can't attack any of those players but could otherwise attack, it must attack an opposing planeswalker (controlled by any opponent) or a player who goaded it.
2020-04-17 If you are the attacking creature's controller, you lose 2 life and gain 2 life. You won't lose the game if your life total is 0 in between these two events.
2020-04-17 If you goad a creature you control, it must attack and it must attack a player rather than a planeswalker.
2020-04-17 Parasitic Impetus causes you to gain life, not the attacking creature's controller.

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