Hex Parasite MTG Card


Hex Parasite - New Phyrexia
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Phyrexian Insect
Released2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set nameNew Phyrexia
Set codeNPH
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number137
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRaymond Swanland

Key Takeaways

  1. Hex Parasite can tip the scales in resource wars, leaving you with strategic control.
  2. Instant speed reactions with Hex Parasite disrupt opponents’ plans efficiently.
  3. Resource acceleration is possible by maximizing the use of counter-reliant cards.

Text of card

{PB}: Remove up to X counters from target permanent. For each counter removed this way, Hex Parasite gets +1/+0 until end of turn. ({PB} can be paid with either or 2 life.)

Drawn by power, fueled by conquest.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hex Parasite may not draw you cards directly, but it excels at diminishing your opponent’s resources. By removing counters from permanents, Hex Parasite can effectively neutralize threat after threat, often leaving you with the upper hand in the resource war.

Resource Acceleration: Although Hex Parasite doesn’t generate mana or ramp, it allows for a unique form of acceleration by enabling repeated use of planeswalkers or other counter-driven cards. This, in turn, can accelerate your game plan by exploiting the full potential of your counter-based permanents quickly.

Instant Speed: Hex Parasite operates at instant speed, granting you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s plays. This adaptability is critical in maintaining control of the board and maximizing the tactical advantage this creature can offer throughout the game, especially in reactive and interactive matchups.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Hex Parasite often means preemptively consuming resources to maximize its ability, putting pressure on hand management for its controller.

Specific Mana Cost: Although Hex Parasite’s initial cost is manageable, repeatedly utilizing its ability requires a significant amount of colorless mana, which might not align with mana-fixing strategies in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The utility of Hex Parasite is situation-dependent, and the investment to repeatedly strip counters can be steep compared to other options. This sometimes makes it a less desirable draw later in the game when mana could be directed towards more impactful plays.


Reasons to Include Hex Parasite in Your Collection

Versatility: Hex Parasite offers flexible use across multiple deck archetypes. Its ability to remove counters not only from creatures but also from planeswalkers, and other permanents, allows it to serve various roles, from board control to resource denial against opponents.

Combo Potential: This card is a linchpin in strategies revolving around modifying or exploiting counter mechanics. Whether it’s dismantling an opponent’s strategy or synergizing with your own cards that benefit from counter removal or life payment, Hex Parasite pairs well with numerous combos.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where counters are prevalent, Hex Parasite becomes an essential tool. Its presence in your collection means you have a ready answer to popular counter strategies, making it a versatile and reactive asset in competitive play.


How to beat Hex Parasite

When facing the unique challenges of a Hex Parasite in an MTG match, it’s crucial to understand the mechanics it brings to the battlefield. This peculiar creature can remove counters from permanents, which can be a problematic ability, especially in scenarios heavy with +1/+1 counters or planeswalkers. A key to surpassing this obstacle is to limit the number of valuable counters in play, rendering the Parasite’s ability less effective.

Another strategy is to deploy spot removal spells that can handle the Hex Parasite before it disrupts your strategy. Cards with exile effects, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, can be particularly effective, as they prevent the Parasite from returning from the graveyard. Additionally, being vigilant about your opponent’s mana pool is vital, as the Hex Parasite relies on available mana to activate its ability.

To summarize, overcoming Hex Parasite in the MTG arena involves a blend of preemptive deck building and tactical play. Keep counter-heavy strategies in check, prepare direct removal options, and monitor the mana situation to ensure the Parasite doesn’t weaken your position on the board.


BurnMana Recommendations

Uncovering the layers of MTG strategy brings us to unique cards like Hex Parasite. With its ability to control the flow of counters, this card shapes the board in subtle yet impactful ways. Grasping its strengths and limitations is key to optimizing your game. If you’re looking to refine your approach to counter manipulation or widen your array of reactive tools, Hex Parasite deserves a place in your arsenal. For in-depth insights, advanced tactics, and more ways to harness the potential of cards like Hex Parasite to dominate the battlefield, enhance your strategy by following our expert guidance today.


Cards like Hex Parasite

Hex Parasite stands out as a unique artifact creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering players the ability to remove counters from permanents at a versatile cost. When we compare Hex Parasite to other cards with similar functionalities, Vampire Hexmage jumps out. This creature also excels in removing all counters from a target permanent, doing it all at once rather than one by one. This difference can be crucial depending on the state of the game and the type of counters being manipulated.

Another relative in this niche is Power Conduit, which offers a more controlled approach to counter manipulation. Whereas Hex Parasite can strip a permanent of counters to potentially weaken it, Power Conduit allows you to move counters around, providing a strategic advantage. However, it lacks the direct attack on opponent’s resources that Hex Parasite affords its user.

Assessing their impact in gameplay, Hex Parasite shines with its immediate and repeatable use, made possible by its dynamic payment option to remove counters. This flexibility can prove to be a game-changer in matches, giving it a solid position in the landscape of counter control cards in MTG.

Vampire Hexmage - MTG Card versions
Power Conduit - MTG Card versions
Vampire Hexmage - Zendikar (ZEN)
Power Conduit - Mirrodin (MRD)

Cards similar to Hex Parasite by color, type and mana cost

Vorpal Sword - MTG Card versions
Egon, God of Death // Throne of Death - MTG Card versions
Sphere of Annihilation - MTG Card versions
Necrogen Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Executioner's Capsule - MTG Card versions
Vector Asp - MTG Card versions
Nihil Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Augmenting Automaton - MTG Card versions
Corrupted Key - MTG Card versions
Witch's Cauldron - MTG Card versions
Mind Carver - MTG Card versions
Bag of Devouring - MTG Card versions
Reaper's Talisman - MTG Card versions
Blood Fountain - MTG Card versions
Clay Revenant - MTG Card versions
Vat of Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Dross Skullbomb - MTG Card versions
Bloodthorn Flail - MTG Card versions
Lead Pipe - MTG Card versions
Vorpal Sword - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Egon, God of Death // Throne of Death - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Sphere of Annihilation - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Necrogen Spellbomb - Mirrodin (MRD)
Executioner's Capsule - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Vector Asp - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Nihil Spellbomb - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Augmenting Automaton - Aether Revolt (AER)
Corrupted Key - Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 (CMB2)
Witch's Cauldron - Commander Masters (CMM)
Mind Carver - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Bag of Devouring - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Reaper's Talisman - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Blood Fountain - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Clay Revenant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Vat of Rebirth - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Dross Skullbomb - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Bloodthorn Flail - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan (LCI)
Lead Pipe - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hex Parasite MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Hex Parasite and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hex Parasite has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2011-06-01 If the permanent has multiple kinds of counters, you choose how many of each to remove when the ability resolves.
2011-06-01 You may choose a value for X that’s greater than the number of counters on the targeted permanent. However, Hex Parasite only gets the bonus for counters actually removed.

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