Pox MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Exploits symmetrical effects to gain card advantage, excelling in decks designed for resource denial.
  2. Demands precise strategy to capitalize on instant speed impact and secure game momentum.
  3. While powerful, requires specific deck construction and mana resources for optimal use.

Text of card

Each player loses 1/3 of his or her life; then chooses and discards 1/3 of the cards in his or her hand; then sacrifices 1/3 of the creatures he or she controls; and finally sacrifices 1/3 of the lands he or she controls. Round each loss up. Effects that prevent or redirect damage cannot be used to counter the this loss of life.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pox is a unique spell that disrupts the hand, field, and graveyard of each player. While each participant loses resources, savvy deck builders construct their decks to thrive on such symmetry, granting you the upper hand as opponents struggle to recover from their diminished board state and hand size.

Resource Acceleration: Although Pox does not directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense, by carefully timing its cast, you set the stage for resource acceleration by disproportionately affecting opponents who typically field more resources than you do. This imbalance can allow for a rapid comeback or further advancement on your part, as your opponents are hamstrung and unable to respond effectively.

Instant Speed: Pox is a sorcery; however, its impact resonates with the efficiency of an instant. The immediate and significant effect it has on the game creates sudden shifts in momentum, allowing you to capitalize on the new game state before your opponents can rebuild their hand and board presence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pox demands players to sacrifice a portion of their cards, life and lands, which can turn into a pivotal setback if you’re already on the back foot.

Specific Mana Cost: This card hinges on black mana exclusively. This peculiarity narrows its compatibility primarily to mono-black or heavily black-influenced decks, potentially excluding it from a varied range of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its cost is not exceedingly high, Pox is positioned at three black mana, which is a steep price for effectuating an equal loss to all players. It may not always align with your board state advantageously, especially when facing ramp decks that recover quickly from such setbacks.


Reasons to Include Pox in Your Collection

Versatility: Pox is an intriguing card due to its ability to impact various aspects of the game simultaneously. This card can fit into several deck archetypes that seek to control the board and deplete resources, aligning well with strategies focusing on resource denial or asymmetrical advantage.

Combo Potential: While notably a standalone disruption card, Pox can be leveraged in combinations that exploit discarded cards or reduced life totals. It syncs with strategies emphasizing graveyard interaction or with mechanics that trigger upon life loss, offering creative ways to turn its symmetrical effects to your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players build formidable board states or amass significant hand sizes, Pox serves as a powerful reset mechanism. This card can disrupt opponent strategies, making it a potent inclusion against decks that rely heavily on maintaining a strong presence on the battlefield or in hand.


How to Beat Pox

Pox is a notorious card in the MTG realm, known for its ability to disrupt the balance by forcing each player to sacrifice a portion of their life, lands, and creatures. To effectively counteract Pox, it’s essential to keep a diversified strategy. This allows for recovery post-Pox impact and makes it less debilitating. Playing decks that have resilient creatures or those that benefit from being in the graveyard can give you a strategic edge. Lands that can be reanimated or cards that allow land retrieval from the graveyard are also valuable in bouncing back.

Moreover, since Pox targets each player equally, using cards that offer instant or low-cost advantages can help maintain your board presence when Pox resolves. Prioritizing cards that generate tokens or value on the death of creatures can turn a Pox disadvantage into an opportunity. Lastly, include counterspells or hand disruption tools to deal with Pox before it hits the board. By preparing your deck with these considerations, you can mitigate the impact of Pox and maintain control of the game state.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the strategic depth of Magic the Gathering, Pox emerges as a card of profound disruption, offering both challenges and opportunities. Tailoring your deck to leverage Pox’s symmetrical effects can shift the tide of battle in your favor. Whether it’s integrating graveyard synergies, buffering against the impacts of resource loss, or exploiting the weaknesses of opponent’s strategies, there’s much to gain from this powerful card. Let us guide you through crafting the perfect Pox-centric deck, navigating its intricacies, and mastering the ebb and flow of resource control. Embark on this journey with us and unlock the full potential of Pox in your MTG arsenal.


Cards like Pox

Pox is a distinctive disruptive card in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, known for its symmetrical sacrifice effect. It holds similarities to Smallpox, which also forces players to discard a card, sacrifice a creature, and lose one life. However, Pox allows for a more substantial impact, demanding a third of each player’s creatures, lands, and hand, escalating the game’s tension dramatically.

Another comparative option is Death Cloud, which escalates the Pox concept to even higher stakes. Although it requires a larger mana investment, its versatility allows players to scale the effect depending on the game situation. While both Pox and Death Cloud ruthlessly equalize the playing field, the latter offers more control over the extent of devastation.

Despite their power, Pox stands out due to its lower cost and immediate impact, making it a formidable choice for decks aiming to disrupt opponents early in the game. Therefore, while both Smallpox and Death Cloud are strong contenders, Pox’s reputation endures within the MTG community for its ability to unbalance the game to a player’s advantage with precise timing and strategy.

Smallpox - MTG Card versions
Death Cloud - MTG Card versions
Smallpox - Time Spiral (TSP)
Death Cloud - Darksteel (DST)

Cards similar to Pox by color, type and mana cost

Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Inquisition - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Call from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Perish - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Midnight Ritual - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Darkpact - Revised Edition (3ED)
Demonic Attorney - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Jovial Evil - Legends (LEG)
Inquisition - The Dark (DRK)
Infernal Contract - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Touch of Death - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Call from the Grave - Astral Cards (PAST)
Wicked Pact - Starter 1999 (S99)
Nature's Ruin - Portal (POR)
Buried Alive - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Choking Sands - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Brush with Death - Stronghold (STH)
Perish - The List (PLST)
Stupor - Arena League 2000 (PAL00)
Coercion - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hand of Death - Starter 2000 (S00)
Grim Tutor - Core Set 2021 Promos (PM21)
Forced March - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Midnight Ritual - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Soul Burn - Invasion (INV)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pox MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Fifth Edition, 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 Pox and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Pox Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 1581993normalblackCornelius Brudi
21997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1891997normalwhiteScott M. Fischer
32007-09-10Masters EditionME1 821997normalblackCornelius Brudi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pox has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2007-09-16 Each part of Pox’s effect is processed separately. For each part, first the player whose turn it is makes all necessary choices (such as which cards to discard), then each other player in turn order chooses, then the actions happen at the same time. Then Pox’s effect moves to the next stage.
2007-09-16 The losses, discards, and sacrifices are rounded up. For example, if you have 5 life, you’ll lose 2 life, leaving you at 3 life. (Five divided by three is one and two-thirds. Rounding that up to the nearest whole number gives you two.)
2007-09-16 The number you need to lose, discard, or sacrifice isn’t calculated until it’s time to perform that part of the effect. For example, if your opponent casts Pox and you discard Dodecapod as part of Pox’s discard effect, Dodecapod will be put onto the battlefield instead of into your graveyard. Then, when determining how many creatures you need to sacrifice, the Dodecapod is taken into account.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks