Phyrexian Digester MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Construct
Abilities	Infect
Released	2011-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin Besieged
Set code	MBS
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	120
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Allsop

Key Takeaways

Phyrexian Digester excels at distributing -1/-1 counters, granting incremental advantage on the battlefield.
This card complements proliferate strategies, amplifying infect counters for a swift victory.
It can essentially alter the game’s dynamics when combined with instant-speed interactions.

Text of card

Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)

"Our cause will ripen in the fertile flesh of the unworthy." —Sheoldred, Whispering One

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Integrating Phyrexian Digester into your deck offers an advantage as it effectively disrupts your opponent’s creatures. Each time it engages an enemy unit, it spreads -1/-1 counters, slowly withering their battlefield presence and often generating a beneficial tradeoff for your side, leading to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: In decks that revolve around proliferating counters, Phyrexian Digester can be a pivotal piece. Its initial infect counters can be multiplied, hastening the victory condition for infect-based decks. While it doesn’t directly generate mana or tokens, it accelerates your resource in terms of closing the game quickly and effectively, especially when combined with other counter-doubling effects.

Instant Speed: Phyrexian Digester itself doesn’t function at instant speed, but its value is magnified when paired with instant-speed spells and abilities. It can become unexpectedly larger or more lethal on the defense during an opponent’s turn. The ability to interact with it during your opponent’s turn adds a level of strategic depth to your gameplay, allowing for surprise swings in power and board control.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Many players find that the discard condition linked with Phyrexian Digester can hamper hand advantage. If you’re already playing catch-up, pitching another card can feel detrimental, further constraining your strategic options and potentially stifling your comeback.

Specific Mana Cost: Bearing a fixed color identity within its mana cost, Phyrexian Digester mandates a particular type of mana, which might not always be readily available. This demand frequently entails deck modifications to ensure the necessary resources are at hand, potentially affecting deck fluidity against various opponents.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher end for its effects, this card could be considered less economical compared to others that might execute similar functions at a lower expense. Players must weigh this card’s impact against its cost, sometimes opting for more cost-efficient alternatives.

Reasons to Include Phyrexian Digester in Your Collection

Versatility: Phyrexian Digester finds a place in decks that capitalize on infect mechanics. As a creature with infect, it offers a different approach to dealing with opponents, focusing on accumulating poison counters rather than traditional damage.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with ways to increase its power or provide evasion, such as using equipment or pump spells. In combination with proliferate effects, Phyrexian Digester quickly accelerates the poison counter accumulation, inching you toward a win.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies are prevalent, the Phyrexian Digester’s infect ability can be a game-changer. Even if the board is stalled, a single unblocked attack can be the precursor to a swift victory, making it a significant threat at any stage of the game.

How to beat

The Phyrexian Digester emerges as a formidable threat on the battlefield with its infect ability, which can corrode life totals by dealing damage in the form of -1/-1 counters. A sound strategy to neutralize this mechanical peril involves deploying an array of removal spells to keep it at bay. Utilizing instant-speed interactions like Doom Blade and Path to Exile ensures that the Digester’s poison doesn’t seep too deep. Furthermore, inserting creatures with high toughness in your lineup provides a sturdy shield against the Digester’s relentless assault.

Occupying the same echelon of threats as the Digester, cards like Glistener Elf and Blighted Agent reinforce the danger of infect creatures. To uphold a robust defense, incorporating enchantments that limit the capabilities of your opponent’s creatures, such as Pacifism, can prove highly effective. In this way, preemptive actions and strategic choices play pivotal roles in stemming the tide of infect, safeguarding your defeat against these virulent foes.

Ultimately, when confronted with the relentless aggression of Phyrexian Digester and its ilk, the key lies in anticipation and swift countermeasures. Staying vigilant and ready to react can defuse the potential crisis posed by these toxic attackers and maintain your stronghold in your MTG engagements.

Cards like Phyrexian Digester

The Phyrexian Digester offers a unique twist in the sphere of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Comparable to the Myr Sire, which also forges a creature token upon death, the Digester introduces a layer of strategy with its infect ability. Unlike the Myr Sire’s offspring that are just mere tokens, the Phyrexian Digester can be a game-changer, dealing damage to players and creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters, potentially outperforming in slower, more methodical matches.

Aligning it with the likes of Plague Myr, another artifact creature with infect, the Phyrexian Digester doesn’t provide mana but it compensates with greater durability. This makes it a more resilient threat on the battleground. Conversely, the Ichorclaw Myr stands as another analog. It possesses not only infect but also gets stronger when blocked. However, the Phyrexian Digester shines with its consistent presence, as it doesn’t rely on combat tricks to be effective.

Scrutinizing these comparisons, the Phyrexian Digester holds its ground as a steady, threatening force in decks that capitalize on the infect mechanic, asserting its role among Magic: The Gathering’s pantheon of artifact creatures that strategically benefit from the infect ability.

Cards similar to Phyrexian Digester by color, type and mana cost

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phyrexian Digester MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, 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 Phyrexian Digester and other MTG cards: