Tendrils of Corruption MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants card advantage by removing threats and providing life based on Swamp count.
  2. Instant speed allows for flexible and disruptive play during opponents’ turns.
  3. Life gain can be a pivotal resource-acceleration tool in sustaining your strategy.

Text of card

Tendrils of Corruption deals X damage to target creature and you gain X life, where X is the number of Swamps you control.

"Even swamps need sustenance. We will give it to them, and in turn, they will sustain us." —Ezrith, druid of the Dark Hours


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tendrils of Corruption shines when it comes to card efficiency within a game. It not only deals with a threatening creature your opponent controls but also rewards you with life gain equivalent to the number of Swamps you control. This two-for-one effect is pivotal for maintaining card advantage and can swing the momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although Tendrils of Corruption doesn’t directly provide mana or acceleration resources, the life gained can indirectly accelerate your game plan. It can help stabilize your board, giving you more time to draw into your key resources or to safely develop your mana base without being under too much pressure from the opponent’s creatures.

Instant Speed: The instant-speed nature of Tendrils of Corruption adds an essential layer of flexibility to your play. You can adapt to your opponent’s moves and use it as a surprise factor, potentially disrupting their combat strategies. Additionally, the ability to cast it on your opponent’s turn conserves your mana, keeping it available for responses or other strategic plays during your own turns.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Tendrils of Corruption’s casting cost necessitates one generic and three black mana, which can be restrictive for multi-color decks not heavily focused on black mana sources. If your deck cannot reliably produce the required black mana, this card may consistently remain uncastable in hand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of four mana, Tendrils of Corruption might be considered slow compared to other instant-speed removal options available. In fast-paced games or against agile decks, the mana investment in this spell might not be the most efficient use of resources, especially when options that cost less mana can accomplish a similar goal.

Discard Requirement: While Tendrils of Corruption doesn’t have a discard requirement explicitly, it does require a significant commitment of mana, which could have been used to execute multiple spells or actions within the same turn. Furthermore, since the card’s effectiveness is tied to the number of swamps you control, it becomes less impactful if you’re forced to use it prematurely or without sufficient swamp count, essentially causing an indirect sort of card disadvantage.


Reasons to Include Tendrils of Corruption in Your Collection

Versatility: Tendrils of Corruption is a solid pick for any black-focused deck. Its ability to target any creature provides flexibility, and it scales well as you increase the number of Swamps you control. This makes it an excellent tool for control and midrange decks alike.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks high in Swamp count, potentially pairing with cards that benefit from life gain or spell casting. It’s also effective in strategies that capitalize on destroying creatures, a stepping stone for larger and more detrimental combos.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-heavy decks often populate the playing field, Tendrils of Corruption can act as a key piece of removal. It keeps your life total healthy while clearing the way for your victory. In a meta where creatures are king, having an efficient removal spell like this is crucial.


How to beat

Tendrils of Corruption can be a powerful tool in controlling the board within black decks in Magic: The Gathering. It gains you life equal to the damage dealt to the target creature, which is dependent on how many Swamps you control. To mitigate its impact, consider strategies like land destruction to reduce the number of Swamps your opponent controls, thereby weakening the potential of Tendrils of Corruption.

Another effective tactic is to utilize indestructible or hexproof creatures. Cards like Darksteel Myr or Slippery Bogle become invaluable since Tendrils of Corruption won’t be able to target or destroy them. Moreover, leveraging counterspells can directly negate the spell and protect your creatures from being removed. Cards such as Counterspell or Negate can serve as the perfect defense against this destructive black instant.

Ultimately, playing around Tendrils of Corruption involves anticipating when your opponent might use it and proactively protecting your board presence. Keeping these strategies in mind will help you maintain the upper hand against decks that wield this life-linking removal spell.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG includes understanding the strengths and limitations of cards like Tendrils of Corruption. This card’s ability to deal damage while gaining life makes it powerful in the right context, especially valuable in those swamp-heavy decks. Whether you’re looking to perfect your strategy or expand your repertoire, considering cards like Tendrils of Corruption is vital. As the MTG landscape evolves, so should your collection and tactics. Exploring different card synergies and metagame trends can give you a competitive edge. Ready to optimize your deck’s performance with impactful card choices? Dive deeper with us and transform your play experience.


Cards like Tendrils of Corruption

Tendrils of Corruption offers a unique spin on removal spells within Magic: The Gathering. It shares common ground with the likes of Murder, a classic spell that simply destroys a target creature with no prerequisites. Yet Tendrils of Corruption adds a layer of strategy by granting life equal to the number of Swamps you control. While Murder is unconditionally straightforward, Tendrils requires a Swamp-centric deck to unlock its full potential.

Comparatively, Corrupt is another spell that deals damage and provides life gain in proportion to the number of Swamps under your control. However, Corrupt can target players or creatures, giving it flexibility in closing games or removing creatures. Yet its higher mana cost makes Tendrils more accessible in the early to mid-game.

Lastly, Consume Spirit bears semblance by also scaling with the number of Swamps. Despite its versatility in targeting creatures or players, it’s the increased mana cost and the necessity for X amount of mana that sets it apart from the efficiency of Tendrils. In essence, while each has its merits depending on the situation, Tendrils of Corruption strikes a compelling balance of cost, damage, and life gain for MTG players who harness the power of Swamps.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Corrupt - MTG Card versions
Consume Spirit - MTG Card versions
Murder - Magic 2013 (M13)
Corrupt - Urza's Saga (USG)
Consume Spirit - Mirrodin (MRD)

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Sewers of Estark - HarperPrism Book Promos (PHPR)
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Grisly Spectacle - Iconic Masters (IMA)
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Cutthroat Maneuver - Theros (THS)
Silence the Believers - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Empty the Pits - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tendrils of Corruption MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Magic 2010, 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 Tendrils of Corruption and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tendrils of Corruption Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 1362003normalblackMike Dringenberg
22009-07-17Magic 2010M10 1142003normalblackVance Kovacs
32010-03-19Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the CoalitionDDE 302003normalblackVance Kovacs
42014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1662015normalblackVance Kovacs
52014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. LilianaGVL 542015normalblackVance Kovacs
62016-09-02Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob NixilisDDR 632015normalblackVance Kovacs
72019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7892015normalblackVance Kovacs
82019-11-21Historic Anthology 1HA1 92015normalblackVance Kovacs
92020-09-26The ListPLST C14-1662015normalblackVance Kovacs
102021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1452015normalblackMike Dringenberg

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tendrils of Corruption has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-03-19 If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Tendrils of Corruption tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You don’t gain X life.

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