Invader Parasite MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Insect
Abilities	Imprint
Released	2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set name	New Phyrexia
Set code	NPH
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	87
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Volkan Baǵa

Key Takeaways

Invader Parasite disrupts opponents by exiling lands and dealing damage when similar lands are played.
Its imprint ability can backfire, depleting your resources over the course of a game.
Despite its drawbacks, it remains a potent card to weaken opponent strategies in MTG.

Text of card

Imprint — When Invader Parasite enters the battlefield, exile target land. Whenever a land with the same name as the exiled card enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, Invader Parasite deals 2 damage to that player.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Invader Parasite offers you a strategic edge by removing a land card from your opponent’s deck every time you inflict combat damage. This can potentially strip away key components of their mana base or disrupt combo pieces, ideally pivoting the game to your favor as you deprive them of crucial resources.

Resource Acceleration: By targeting a land with Invader Parasite, whenever that land type is played by an opponent, it paves the way for resource acceleration on your end. The triggered ability to inflict 2 damage not only accelerates your opponent’s life total decrease but indirectly speeds up your own game plan by applying consistent pressure.

Instant Speed: Although Invader Parasite itself is a creature and doesn’t operate at instant speed, its presence on the battlefield has an instant impact. The threat of its Imprint ability forces opponents to play around it, often having to make less-than-optimal plays just to avoid triggering its detrimental effects.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One significant drawback of Invader Parasite is its imprint ability, which while powerful, requires you to exile a card from your hand permanently. This can deplete your valuable resources, especially in longer games where each card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Invader Parasite comes with a strict mana cost, needing both red and generic mana. This specificity can make it harder to cast, especially in multi-colored decks that may not consistently have the necessary red mana sources available when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing five mana to cast, Invader Parasite may seem burdensome compared to other cards with similar or better effects. Its mana-intensive nature could slow down your game, particularly in fast-paced matches where efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include Invader Parasite in Your Collection

Versatility: Invader Parasite offers a unique flexibility in games, adaptable to target various land strategies opponents may employ. Its ability to exile lands upon entry and whenever it deals combat damage makes it a persistent threat that can disrupt your opponent’s mana base over time.

Combo Potential: Pairing with cards that facilitate dealing combat damage to players, such as those with menace or unblockable abilities, increases the likelihood of the triggered ability. This amplifies its impact by continually removing lands from the game, which can be a linchpin in a land destruction-themed deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where land-dependent decks are prevalent, Invader Parasite becomes a strategic inclusion that can systematically dismantle your opponent’s game plan. The card’s continuous land removal can be a game-changer, slowly diminishing an opponent’s resources.

How to beat

Invader Parasite is an intriguing creature card that brings a unique disruptive ability to the table in Magic: The Gathering. This red creature not only exiles a land when it enters the battlefield but continues to deal damage to the land’s controller for each land with the same name that enters the battlefield thereafter. Yet, despite its daunting presence, there are viable strategies to counteract its effect.

Firstly, diversifying your land base can reduce the impact of Invader Parasite’s ability, making it harder for it to target a single land type effectively. Additionally, employing instant-speed removal spells to eliminate the Parasite before it can wreak havoc can be key. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently handle this threat. Another strategy involves using counter spells to prevent the Parasite from resolving in the first place, ensuring your land base remains intact.

In summary, while Invader Parasite has the potential to disrupt a player’s mana base significantly, there are several effective ways to mitigate its impact. Through careful deck construction and timely responses, players can navigate around this invasive threat and maintain control over the game.

Cards like Invader Parasite

Invader Parasite steps into the battlefield of Magic the Gathering as a unique red creature card. It bears some resemblance to cards like Phyrexian Ingester and Duplicant that also disrupt the game by dealing with threats permanently when they enter the battlefield. Invader Parasite warps the landscape by exiling a land and continues to chip away at the opponent’s life total whenever a land with the same name is played.

In the same domain lies the card Avalanche Riders. While not removing lands permanently, this card provides land destruction with the additional benefit of haste, granting immediate board impact. Conversely, Invader Parasite has an imprint ability that presents a recurring nuisance over a longer game span, albeit at a higher mana cost and without haste.

Nevertheless, when evaluating the potential of these cards in the scope of continual land disruption, Invader Parasite offers a persistent threat that can alter an opponent’s strategy for the duration of the game, positioning itself as a formidable presence in Magic the Gathering decks that focus on resource denial.

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

Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions

Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions

Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions

Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions

Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Invader 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 Invader Parasite and other MTG cards: